Abstract

This study aims to investigate determinants of adoption of the Dorper Black Head Somali (DBHS) Crossbred Sheep by the pastoralists in Yabello District, Ethiopia. Data from 123 sample respondents (pastoralists) were collected and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. A binary logistic regression model was used to estimate the effects of hypothesized independent variables on the dependent variable (adoption of DBHS crossbred sheep) which is dichotomous. The result of descriptive statistics and focus group discussion showed that lack of sources for improved sheep breed (41.5%) and information on the breed (17%) were the major factors hindering pastoralists’ decision to adopt.  The binary logistic regression model results revealed that number of livestock owned in Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU), access to credit, participation in training, total farm income and educational level of household heads positively and significantly affected adoption of DBHS crossbred sheep; while family labor/size of the household head and distance from water sources significantly and negatively influenced it as well. Therefore, all concerned sheep production bodies need to focus on those variables to maintain or enhance their positive influence and minimize or avoid their negative influences on the decision of pastoralists to adopt the newly introduced DBHS Sheep Crossbreeding to speed up the rate of adoption in the study area.

Key words: Adoption, Dorper Black Head Somali (DBHS) crossbred sheep, binary logistic regression analysis, district.