Structure of cattle herds in the agro-pastoral districts of Katakwi and Soroti in Eastern Uganda

Cattle rearing plays a pivotal role in the livelihoods of communities in Katakwi and Soroti. However, the sector faces persistent challenges, including suboptimal animal health practices, limited husbandry knowledge, and constrained market access. The absence of comprehensive information on herd structure hinders effective interventions. Filling this information would provide policymakers, agricultural extension services, and local farmers with valuable insights. The aim of the study was therefore to establish the cattle herd structure in the agro-pastoral districts of Katakwi and Soroti in Eastern Uganda. The survey employed a cross-sectional design, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. Sixty (60) cattle herds were randomly sampled from three Sub Counties. Data on herd size, breed composition, age structure, and sex ratio were collected between November and December 2024. The mean herd size was 16.53 cattle. Short horn zebu breeds dominated with 64.6%), Ankole Longhorn 8.6%, Nganda 7.2%, mixed breeds 19.3% and exotic 0.3%. Cows constituted the largest portion (37.2%), heifers 23.2%, breeding bulls 16.5%, bullocks 8.8%, heifer calves 7.9%, male calves 6.1% and castrates 0.3%. There was a higher proportion of females (68.3%) compared to males (31.7%). This study describes herd size, breed composition, age structure, and sex ratio among cattle herds in Soroti and Katakwi and how these can be manipulated to improve farmers’ income and livelihood. Indigenous breeds predominate; herds are female-biased with substantial young stock. Targeted breeding and husbandry improvements are warranted.