Assesement of smallholder cattle fattening practices and marketing systems of fattened cattle in Arba Minch Zuria Woreda of Southern Nations Nationalities and People Regional State
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Date
2012-04-30
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study was conducted in Arba Minch Zuria woreda of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State with the Objectives of assessing cattle fattening practices, marketing systems of fattened cattle and constraints and opportunities of cattle fattening in the woreda. A total of 100 cattle fattener households were randomly selected using purposive simple random sampling method. Major feed resources used by the fatteners were fresh cut green forage (38%) followed by natural grazing, crop residue and hay with 29%, 21% and 12% respectively. From the sampled farmers 41.8% used feed supplement, while 58.2% of did not use feed supplements. River (46%), pond (27%), and hand dug wells (27%) were the major sources of water in the area. In the study area fattening cattle were tethered either on the farmland or in fences near the homestead during the day. Most farmers house their fattening cattle during the night. Four types of diseases were identified as major health problems of the study area; trypanosomosis (32%), ecto- parasites (23%), blackleg (15%) and internal parasites (14%). In the district,
about 57% of the cattle fattening was done starting from early June up to mid September, 29% of the cattle fattening activity was done starting from late September to mid December and the remaining, 14% of cattle fattening was late December to late March. Three different marketing agents participate in the transaction of fattened cattle marketing. These included individuaVgroup of consumers (41 %), cattle traders (32%) and local butchers' (27%). Major constraints that hindered the performance of cattle fattening activity were feed shortage, lack of service (extension and input), and disease challenge, market infrastructure and information and lack of genetic improvement in order of importance. Availability of crop residues, high irrigation potential coupled with rainfed cultivation and high market demand were identified as good opportunities which could be used to enhance the performance of cattle fattening activities.
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Keywords
Arba Minch Zuria woreda, Cattle fattening and Marketing system