The breed origin, distribution areas, breed characteristics, production and reproductive

performance of the Horro breed

Introduction:

• Agriculture (mainly crop and livestock production) is the mainstay of the Ethiopian
economy, employing approximately 85% of the total population.
• Livestock production accounts for approximately 30% of the total agricultural GDP
and 16% of national foreign currency earnings (IBC, 2004).
• Moreover, Ethiopia has diverse animal genetic resources and its relatively large
livestock population (approximately 100 million) is well adapted to and distributed
among diverse ecological conditions and management systems.
• The major farm animal genetic resources of the country include cattle, sheep, goats,
donkeys, horses, mules,camels and chickens.

• AnGR is vital biodiversity component

• Center of origin/diversity for a number plant & animal (breeds) species

• 6400 plant species (1000 spp. indigenous)

• At least 28 Trifolium spp. (9 endemic)

 • 24(7) cattle breed (type)

• 13 goat

• 7 sheep

• 10 chicken

Contributing factors for richness in biodiversity

• Diverse ecological niches (32 AEZs) or habitats

• Varying breeding goals & priorities of farmers/pastoralists origin and distribution

 those recognized 27 indigenous cattle breeds:

• fall into 5 distinct breed groups. Nearly half of these are in the group of Small East
African Zebu, found widely distributed throughout the country, both in the highland
and lowland areas.

• Three other breeds (the Ethiopian Boran, Murle and Arsi) are classified in the group
of Large East African Zebu. The Sanga group of cattle comprises the Danakil and
Raya Azebo from northern and northeastern Ethiopia and Anuak and Aliab Dinka in
the far southwest lowlands of the country.

• Three other breeds (Horro, Fogera and Arado) from central highlands are classified
under the group of Zenga (Sanga-Zebu interbreeds).

• There is only one representative of the Humpless Shorthorn group of cattle in

Ethiopia – the Sheko - in the mid altitude southwest of the country (DAGRIS, 2007)

Origin & distribution of Horro Cattle breed

• The world dictionary of livestock breeds describes the Horro as

 a native Ethiopian breed (Mason, 1996). According to the Domestic Animal

Genetic Resources Information System (DAGRIS, 2007) of ILRI, after the
initial cattle plague (Rinderpest) epidemic and decimation of the dominant
Sanga populations, Zebu cattle were introduced from Asia into Africa at
various points on the east coast of the continent, and interbreeding with
Sanga remnants resulted in several Zebu-Sanga and Sanga-Zebu admixture
populations. The breeds that emerged from these crosses have been classified
in a separate group known as the Zenga. Naturally, the Zenga are localized in
eastern Africa, the natural point of contact of the Zebu and Sanga populations
(DAGRIS, 2007).

 Name derived from sub province Horro Guduru

  The breed inhabits the highland of western Ethiopia, mainly in the Horro
Guduru area of eastern Wollega as well as adjoining parts of western Showa
and Illubabor (DAGRIS, 2007)

Purpose of keeping livestock

 Sources of incidental expense

 Storage of food

 Financial reserve during economic stress

 Input to crop production

 Wealth accumulation & security

 Buffering against crop failure

BREED CHARACTERISTICS

 Intermediate (medium to large)

 Small & finely shaped head

 Medium to large horn

 Fine skin, uniform brown color

 Thin dewlap

 Straight & slender leg

 Small udder

 The horns are of moderate length, the hump is small to medium in size, the dewlap small, the
skin fine, and coat color is very variable (Albero and Haile-Mariam, 1982).

PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

 Milk yield of pure Horro: 0.4-6 l/day

 milk yield per cow per day of 0.4 liters and 0.8 liters in the dry and wet seasons, respectively
 and lactation length of seven months (Legesse et al., 1987). Similarly,

 Tesfaye (1991) reported an average yield of 1.7 liters (range of 0.5 to 6 liters) per cow per day

 Lactation length: 4-12 months

 Milk yield of Horro crosses (25-50% exotic blood): 800-1400 l/lactation

 Milk chemical composition (6.4% fat & 3.9 % protein)

 Birth weight:18.6 ± 0.2 kg

 birth weight (average 18.6±0.2 kg) of Horro calves increased steadily from birth to a mean
weight of 192.4±6.0 kg at three years of age without any significant difference between males
and females. However, after three years of age bulls grew at a significantly faster rate than
cows to reach mature body weight at six years of age, which is approximately 370 kg for bulls
and 270 kg for cows (Mulugeta, 1991).

 Weaning weight: 192.4 ± 6 kg

 The average daily body weight gain of Horro cattle differ among different stages of
development. Mean daily gains of 305 and 127 grams per head per day : from birth to six
months and from six months to three years of age, respectively with no significant differences
between the two sexes in both stages of growth.

 From the age of 3 to 6 years the average daily gain of males increased slightly to 150 grams.

 females on the other hand, the average daily gain of 71 gm from 3-6 years

 The live weight averages 300-350 kg, but may reach as much as 600 kg(Albero and Haile-
Mariam, 1982

 The Horro cattle, also known as Wellega (name of a zone in western Ethiopia) breed, is one of
the 27 cattle breeds identified so far in Ethiopia (DAGRIS, 2007) and was first described by
Epstein (1971) as nearly pure Zebu stock, with large body size and furnish good meat and
traction work.

REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE

 Age at 1st mating (heifer): 2.73-4.30 years

 Age at 1st calving: 3.5-5.0 years

 Weight at 1st heat:214 ± 7 kg

 Weight at 1st conception:215 ± 8 kg

 Gestation length: 280.7- 282.2 days

 NSC: natural - 1.4; AI - 1.75

 Calving interval: 14.5-24.0 months

Is this country benefiting from this rich AnGR? No

 Attitudinal problem (mind set up)

 Low R and D attention on indigenous AnGR

 Inadequate institutional & policy support

Conclusion and recommendation.

 High individual variability was observed with in the breed’s performance for milk yield and
lactation length, indicating that performance improvements are possible through management
and/or genetic interventions

 Emphases of regional/national research strategies on breeding programme.

 Albero, M. and S. Haile-Mariam. 1982. The indigenous cattle of Ethiopia. World Animal
Review, 41-42: 2-10, 27-24.

 DAGRIS, 2007. Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System (DAGRIS).

(http://dagris.ilri.cgiar.org/). International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia (Accessed in Nov. 2007).

 Epstein, H., 1971. The origin of the domestic animals of Africa. Africana Press, New
York, USA. 537p

 IBC (Institute of Biodiversity Conservation), 2004. The state of Ethiopia’s Farm Animal
Genetic Resources: A contribution to the first report on the state of the world’s animal
genetic resources. May 2004, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

 Mulugeta Kebede, 1991. Birth weight, early mortality and body development in indigenous
Horro cattle. pp.112-115. In: proceedings of the Third national Livestock Improvement
Conference. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24-26 May 1989, Institute of Agricultural Research

 Legesse Dadi, gemechu Gedeno, Tesfaye Kumsa and Getahun Degu, 1987. Bako
mixed farming systems zone, Wellega and Shewa regions. Diagnostic survey report
No. 1. Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa. 27-30pp.
 Tesfaye Kumsa, 1991. Livestock production system of the Western region of Ethiopia.
Institute of Agricultural Research. Research report No. 12. Institute of Agricultural
Research. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia