Monitoring Dairy Production, Marketing and Milk Quality in and Around Burie Town: Case of Dairy Cooperatives

Abstract

This study was conducted in Burie town administration in Western Gojjam Zone of Amhara Regional State to monitor milk production, marketing and quality. This study was initiated with the objective of generating baseline data in the area of milk production, marketing, and quality. The study was conducted in four purposively selected peasant associations (PAs) namely; Baguna, Wundige, Wangeda and Tengeha due to their dairy production potential. And four urban kebeles of the Burie town were also employed for this study. From each kebele three farmers having milking cows were purposively selected and their farms monitored and simultaneously interviewed. Accordingly, a total of 24 households were selected. The sizes of dairy farms identified were small scale dairy farms. To study butter marketing system Burie public was selected as the main market. Butter marketing systems were studied through selected retailers for 90 days for both wet and dry seasons 45 days for each season. There was a significant difference in the titrable acidity of milk among different farms, consumers and the cooperative. Mean pH of milk obtained from various sources varied between 6.5 and 6.7 and were within the normal range.Specific gravity of Samples from Burie kebele one (1.031) and Burie kebele three (1.0309) studied farms showed the highest specific gravity. While the specific gravity obtained from farms, consumers and cooperative were relatively lowered. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) among farms, cooperative and consumers on the chemical qualities of milk. The percent of protein among different farms, consumers and cooperative were not significantly (p<0.05) varied. The mean value of total solids between farms, consumers and cooperative were varied significantly (p<0.05). There were significant differences among dairy products sold in the cooperative. During the wet season 70.8% of respondents were sold their butter on average ≤80 ETB per kg and the rest 29.2% were sold with 81-100 ETB per kg. As well on dry season 70.8%respondents were sold with 101-115 ETB per kg and 29.2% respondents sold with116-130 ETB per kg.20.8%of respondents sold their milk for neighbors and 58.4%of respondents sold for hotel and restaurants. The rest 20.8%were sold for cooperative. Only 8.3% farms had private grazing land and more than 90% of the farms had used communal grazing. On average 1.46liters of whole milk, 0.77liters of yogurt and 0.96kgs of cheese were used for household consumption.41.7% of respondents had crossbreed cows.37.5% respondents can be used AI services. Average calving intervals for local and cross breed cows were 23.5 and 19 months respectively. Numbers of service per conception for local and cross breed cows were 1.71and2.33respectively. Average lactation length for local cows and crossbreed cows were 8 and 9 months respectively. And average ages at first service for local and cross breed heifers were 36 months and 20.4 months respectively. There was a significant difference on collected and processed whole milks from the period of November to January. The government should promote the dairy sector through inviting different NGOs who are engaged in dairy development interventions to reduce constraints related to forage seed, milk processing equipment, AI service and filling the skill gap of DAs and promoting the dairy producer to establish mechanized dairy cooperative.