The study was carried from August 2022 through April 2023, with the objectives of production system characterizing and assessing breeding and husbandry practices of the communities in in the study area of East Hararghe districts of Oromia. A total of 168 households and 345 matured cattle were sampled for morphological description and linear body measurements. The average number of cattle per family was 5.91±0.35, and there were highly significant differences (p< 0.0001) between districts. Female Harar cattle on average had 71.5% white-gray, 8.9% white, 14.6%red and 1.2% white and red coat colors, whereas, white-gray 72.7%, followed by red (12.1%), white (9.1%), and white and red 1.7% in male. In coat color pattern, the plain was 85.8% and 90.2% male and female, and the remaining patterned were 4.2% and 2.2% shade; 7.0% and 3.0% spotted female and male respectively. Female cattle’ linear body measurement on major linear body measure variables was Body length (115.7±0.93), Heart girth (150.5±0.76), Height at rump (116.6±0.82), Height at withers (107±0.51), whereas in male cattle population 120.8±1.4, 153.5±1.2, 118.7±1.31, 109±0.81cm respectively. The primary issues on which an intervention was required in the study areas were a feed and water deficit, Disease and parasite gaps.

Keywords: Breeding objective, linear body measures, live weight prediction, phenotypic characterization, traits selection