Study design
A survey of households from various villages was planned
to provide information about the Orma pastoralists and their cattle management
practices. The study also aimed to gather data on levels of milk production of
their cows. Twelve villages from two locations were visited during the course of
the study, 48 households from different manyattas (villages) were selected and
the household heads interviewed. At the same time milk offtakes were measured in
selected cows in lactation at the household.
The households were identified
using purposive sampling with the help of the chief of the village. On the day
of interview, milk offtake (i.e. the amount of milk collected for human
consumption apart from that consumed by the calf) for both morning and evening
milking was determined using a calibrated plastic measuring jar to an accuracy of 50 ml. Milk offtakes from a
total of 164 cows were collected and the respective ages of calves recorded, as
reported by the owner.
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