Production Practices and Physiochemical Quality of Sheep Milk in Ararso District of Jarar Zone, Somali Region, Ethiopia

This study aimed to evaluate the production methods and physicochemical properties of sheep milk in the Ararso District of Jarar Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 180 households were purposively selected through a stratified sampling approach. Additionally, 60 pooled raw sheep milk samples were collected for analysis of physicochemical properties. Data collection involved questionnaires, field observations, interviews with key informants, and focus group discussions. A significant proportion of the respondents, 86.7% in pastoral systems and 64.4% in agro-pastoral systems, were illiterate. The primary reason for keeping sheep in both systems was income generation, with indices of 0.23 for pastoral and 0.24 for agro-pastoral systems. During the wet season, the main feed for sheep in both systems came from communal natural pasture (88.9%), followed by private natural pasture (22.2%). In the dry season, the primary feed sources included private natural pasture (56.7%), communal natural pasture (32.2%), and a mixture of crop residue and natural pasture (11.1%). Regarding water sources, the majority of respondents (56.1%) in both systems identified springs as the main water source during the wet season, followed by dams/ponds (32.2%) and barkas (11.7%). However, these water sources decreased during the dry season. During the dry season, barkas became the predominant water source (76.7%), followed by boreholes (17.2%) and dams/ponds (6.1%). Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the availability of water sources between the pastoral and agro-pastoral systems, with barkas, boreholes, and dams/ponds being the major water sources in both systems. Sheep were typically housed in open kraals, which do not offer adequate protection from harsh environmental conditions. The average pH, density, and titratable acidity of the milk samples were 6.51, 1.032 g/ml, and 0.19%, respectively. The average values for total solids, fat, protein, and lactose content were 17.48%, 5.99%, 5.24%, and 4.65%, respectively. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the pastoral and agro-pastoral systems regarding milk quality. The study suggests that improving hygienic practices in milk production and handling could enhance the quality of sheep milk in the area. Furthermore, additional research on sheep milk quality is recommended.