International Journal of Animal Science Gr up SM How to cite this article Ayeneshet B, Wondifraw Z and Abera M. Survey on Farmers Husbandry Practice for Dairy Cows in Alefa and Quara Districts of North Gondar Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Int J Anim Sci. 2017; 1(2): 1010. OPEN ACCESS ISSN: 2575-7806 Introduction Livestock production is one of the most important means to achieve better living standards in many regions of the developing world. he national economies and the livelihood of rural communities in sub-Saharan African countries are largely depended on livestock production [1]. he total cattle population of Ethiopia is estimated to be about 57.83 million. Out of this total cattle population, the female cattle constitute about 55.38 percent and the remaining 44.62 percent are male cattle [2]. According to CSA survey result, about 98.59 percent of the total cattle in the country are local breeds, the remaining are hybrid and exotic breeds that accounted for about 1.22 and 0.19 percent, respectively. Of the total livestock population, dairy cows are estimated to be around 6.74 million and milking-cows are about 11.33 million heads [2]. Challenges, like health infestation, shortage of feed and water availability, absence of proper housing and breeding management, lack of trained manpower and poor marketing practice are some of the major reasons for poor performance of dairy cattle production and cause a huge loss of production and productivity of dairy cattle in the country [3]. Similarly, [4] noted that, challenges of disease, absence of crossbreed dairy cows, insuicient feed resources both in terms of quality and quantity, poor management practice, health problem and veterinary service are afecting reproductive and productive performance of dairy cows. Inadequate quality and quantity feed, disease and parasites occurrence, poorly management of dairy animals like, housing, feeding and absence of good marketing practice are afecting productive and reproductive performance of dairy cows [5]. Amhara National Regional State is one of the most potential areas in the country for dairy production. In this area cattle types like, Semen, Dembia, Wogera, Fogera, Qocherie, Mahbre Silasie composite, Gojam and Wollo highland zebu and Raya Sanga are the major milk source of the communities [6]. However, its productivity is declining time to time, because of diferent problems like, shit of grazing lands to crop production, poor management practices, feed and water scarcity, disease prevalence and absence market access [7]. North Gondar is a part of Amhara national regional state, which dairy production is a common way of life for the communities. Dembia and Qocherie cattle types are found in North Gondar Research Article Survey on Farmers Husbandry Practice for Dairy Cows in Alefa and Quara Districts of North Gondar Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia Bernabas Ayeneshet 1 *, Zewdu Wondifraw 2 and Michael Abera 2 1 Department of Animal Production and Extension, University of Gondar, Ethiopia 2 Department of Animal Sciences, Debre Markos University, Ethiopia Article Information Received date: Nov 28, 2017 Accepted date: Dec 08, 2017 Published date: Dec 12, 2017 *Corresponding author Bernabas Ayeneshet, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Production, University of Gondar, Extension, P.O. Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia, Tel: +251921573297; Email: bernabasanicient@gmail.com Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 Keywords Alefa district; Husbandry practice; Quara District Abstract The aim of the study was to describe the dairy cow’s husbandry practice of farmers in Alefa and Quara districts of North Gondar Zone Amhara National Regional State Ethiopia. Three Kebeles from each district, a total of six Kebeles were selected through purposive sampling procedure. Finally, 376 households (208 households from Quara and 168 households from Alefa) who had at least one lactating cow were selected through systematic random sampling procedure. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire and the collected data were analyzed by using statistical package for social science (SPSS Version 20). The main source of feed for Alefa district was, crop residue and private grazing land (36.7%), crop residue, communal and private grazing land (41.4%), while for Quara district, communal grazing land (49.8%) and private, communal and crop residue (39.6%)were the main feed sources. In respective order, about 70.8 and 81.3% of respondents for Alefa and Quara districts were conirmed that river water was the main source for dairy cows. Housing system in Alefa district was simple shied adjacent to farmer’s house (97.6%), but in Quara district, it was barn system (95.2%). Trypanosomiasis (58.7%), Lumpy skin disease (18.8%) and Babesiosis (8.7%) was the most challenging livestock disease in Quara district, while in Alefa district Blackleg (30.5%), Lumpy skin disease (21%) and Trypanosomiasis (20.4%) was challenging disease. The major livestock production constraint in Quara district was feed and disease with the same indices value of 0.32 and Water 0.20 were observed. Similarly, feed followed by disease was the major constraint in Alefa district with index value of 0.5 and 0.2, respectively.