HARARGHE TYPE BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION: OPPORTUNITIES AND

CONSTRAINT

BY:
MOHAMMED KALIF

Submitted for the course:

Animal production

HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

April, 2021

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Contents
Summary....................................................................................................................................................III
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................................IV
2. Beef Cattle Production Systems in Ethiopia............................................................................................VI
2.1 Traditional systems...........................................................................................................................VI
2.2 By-Product-Based fattening............................................................................................................VII
2.3 The Hararghe fattening system........................................................................................................VII
................................................................................................................................................................. VIII
3. Fattening Cattle Husbandry Issues..........................................................................................................IX
3.1 Experience of Fattening and Number of Animal per Fattening Cycle...............................................IX
3.2 Duration of Fattening....................................................................................................................IX
3.3. Major Feed Resources and Season of Availability........................................................................IX
3.4 Marketing System of Beef Animals................................................................................................X
3.5 Major cattle selection criteria for fattening purpose........................................................................XI
4. Opportunities of Cattle Fattening in Ethiopia.......................................................................................XIII
4.1 High demand of animals by the local abattoirs...............................................................................XIII
4.2 Official exports...............................................................................................................................XIV
4.3 Domestic Consumption..................................................................................................................XIV
5. Major Constraints of Beef Cattle Fattening..........................................................................................XVI
5.1 Illegal brokers.................................................................................................................................XVI
5.2 recurrent drought and feed shortage............................................................................................XVII
5.3 water scarcity................................................................................................................................XVII
5.4 feed price increment....................................................................................................................XVIII
5.5 weak extension service.................................................................................................................XVIII
5.6 lack of initial capital........................................................................................................................XIX
5.7 Informal traders..............................................................................................................................XIX
6. Conclusion and recommendation.........................................................................................................XXI
7. Reference...........................................................................................................................................XXIII

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Summary

This review highlights the production systems, challenges and opportunities of beef cattle in
Hararge, Ethiopia. There are three beef cattle production systems practiced in Ethiopia. These are
traditional, by-product and Hararge region production systems. In all of these three types, the
output of the farmers from beef cattle per head is low. So this system must provide the
behavioral and adaptability of the farmers change through teaching and seeing new technology
from the neighbor area and foreign countries. Governmental organizations should do on
challenge constraints (based on beef cattle production and marketing systems) like feed resource,
personal challenge, marketing structure, health care and adequate housing system for beef cattle.

The main challenges for beef cattle production and marketing are unofficial cross border trade
dominated by influential personalities and illegal exporters. Limited access to production and
market related information such as production systems, prices, competitors, consumer
preferences and lack of capital investment in assets, equipment and input that would improve
quality are the major challenges faced by marketing. High demand of animals by the local
abattoirs, increasing official exports and increasing domestic meat consumption are the
opportunities that will enhance this production and marketing system. As a result of population
growth, urbanization and others, the demand for animal product have substantially increased in
Ethiopia. Therefore, it is very critical to effectively exploit the opportunities in the sector and
overcoming limitations in the meat, milk and live animal marketing is to bring sustainable
economic development.

Keywords: Beef Cattle; Challenges; Opportunities; illegal exporters; Marketing System

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1. Introduction
Cattle production in Ethiopia is an integral part of the mixed farming, agro-pastoral and pastoral
production systems. At a national level, livestock is the source of industrial raw materials (milk,
meat, hides and skin) and high value protein to potential consumers in Ethiopia (FAO, 2015). It
also contributes about 45% to the Agricultural GDP, 18.7% to the national GDP and 16-19% to
the total foreign exchange earnings of the country. The economic contribution of the livestock
sub sector in Ethiopia is about 12% of the total GDP of the country and 33% of agricultural
Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In addition, the sector also provides about 65% of the livelihood
of the population (Ayele et al., 2003).

Ethiopia has one of the largest livestock population in Africa, which possess an estimated
number of 52.13 million cattle, 24.2 million sheep, 22.6 million goats, 1.96 million horses, 6.4
million donkeys, 0.37 million mules, 0.99 million camels, 44.89 million poultry, and 4.99
million beehives (CSA, 2011). Ethiopia’s commercial red meat (beef, mutton and goat) industry
has made remarkable progress to date and shows considerable growth potential for the future.
The government of Ethiopia encourages investments in meat processing, especially those that are
focused on exporting value-added products abroad. A large chunk of this commercially-produced
red meat, most of which is currently mutton and goat meat is largely going for export to the
Middle East in order to generate foreign exchange. Beef exports are also growing, with
additional market
opportunities on the horizon (Shapiro et al., 2015).

Our country has been earning foreign currency by exporting meat and live animals namely cattle,
sheep, camels and goats (Asfaw N, Shahidur R, and Berhanu G, 2011). Informally Ethiopia exports
approximately 200,000 livestock annually (Yacob & Catley, 2010). Crop and livestock
interactions occur directly in mixed farming systems from which the majority of global livestock
production is obtained. Recent estimates suggest that 65% of all beef, 69% of all mutton and
92% of cows’ milk is produced from mixed farms. Mid and high lands of Ethiopia are
characterized by crop-livestock farming systems, they inhabit nearly 90% of the human
population and 70% of the livestock population of the country ( Upton M 2010) . Livestock have

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various uses aside from income generation, including cash storage for those beyond the reach of
the banking system, draught and pack services, milk and meat for household consumption, and
manure for fuel and fertilizer (Azage T, Berhanu G and Hoekstra D 2010)

In Ethiopia, there is limited information about their constraints, opportunities, challenges,

economic efficiencies, production potentials and performances of beef animals under this sector
(Bezahegn, 2014) and also particularly, the constraints, opportunities and challenges faced were
not properly assessed despite the encouragement of the sector by government. Information about
smallholder fattening or feedlot practices and its constraints is important for researchers, policy
makers to take serious measures and suggest possible technologies to improve the productivity of
the sector and hence maximize its contribution to the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or
economy of the country. However, there is no adequate documented information on fattening
practices of these smallholders’ operators and their challenges in Ethiopia. Therefore, the major
objective of this paper is designed to characterize and identify husbandry practice and major
constraints marketing system of beef cattle production industries in the area.

Having an introduction in this way, the objectives of this review are:

 To List and discuss the challenges and Opportunities of beef cattle production in
Hararghe.

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2. Beef Cattle Production Systems in Ethiopia

There are different beef cattle production systems in Ethiopia. According to MOA (1996) report,
in Ethiopia there are three different types of beef fattening systems. Those are traditional, by-
product based fatting and Hararghe fattening system.

2.1 Traditional systems

In traditional beef fatting systems, oxen are usually sold after the end of plowing season when
they are in poor body condition. Meat yields obtained from this type of oxen are low, the beef is
of poor meat quality and the farmer returns are often inadequate to buy a replacement ox in this
type of production system. This is obvious scope to improve this traditional and inefficient
system through strategic feeding of good quality forage to fatten animals before they are sold, or
to buy and fatten animals sold by others. In the low lands, where pastoralists do not use cattle for
draft, cattle are sometimes fattened on natural pasture in good seasons. In average or poor
seasons, low land cattle are rarely fattened and often have to be sold in poor condition at low
prices (MOA 1996).

Cattle are kept mainly for draft power, milk and manure production and are usually only sold
when they are too old for these purposes, or drought or cash shortages force people to sell. Oxen
are usually sold after the ploughing season while they are in poor body condition. Meat yields
are low, the beef is of poor quality and returns to farmers are often inadequate even to buy are
placement ox. Cattle in the lowlands are rarely fattened and are often sold in poor body condition
and at low prices. In the lowland, where pastoralists do not use cattle for draft and sometimes
fattened on natural pasture in good seasons, however much body weight is lost during long
distance trekking to Addis Ababa and the animals may reach market in little better condition than
culled highland stock. In average or poor seasons, lowland cattle are rarely fattened and often
have to be sold in poor condition at low prices. These traditional systems are very inefficient
because they do not use the proven opportunity to add weight and condition to cull animals
before slaughter (MOA, 2004).

Grass fattening is a technique which is economical in material and human resources, but which
generally implies a certain loss of energy by the animals when they move from one place to
another to change the pasture. On the other hand, selective grazing only allows the exploitation

6
of a fraction of the available grass. Furthermore, daily-live weight gains are often low, which
takes on some significance when the forage products have true economic cost and, in particular,
when they are cultivated. Finally, this technique is subject to seasonal fluctuations of the forage
production and retains a certain expensive character for this reason (Belete A, 2006).

2.2 By-Product-Based fattening

This is a type of fattening practices around urban and per-urban area in which the agro-industrial
by-product such as molasses, cereal milling by-product and oilseed meals is the main sources of
feed for fatting. Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) began to help peasant farmers in Debre Zeit area
to fatten purchased oxen using molasses and milling by- products. This has produced profitable
results for the individuals involved and the number of animals fattened has increased every year
to about 2,000 per annum. This fattening system is not recommended for other parts of Ethiopia,
except places where oilseed cake is abundant and cheap (MOA 1996)..

Commercial feedlot is a confined yard area with watering and feeding facilities where livestock
are completely handled or mechanically fed for the purpose of production. This type of
production system gets their feed from agro-industrial by-product from urban areas. Number of
heads that would fatten at a cycle was variable across the farms depending on the capacity of the
farms. From that reason, commercial feedlots finished relatively large number of animals at a
time than small scale fattening (Tsegay T and Mengistu U, 2013).

Around Gondar town the type of beef fattening was intensive type of fattening in such a way that
the beef producers feed their beef cattle the cotton seed cake and the hulls of pea and bean as
well as oil seed cake so that the finish the cattle in short period of time and also get premium
process from the sale. The time for fattening was time bounded and was adjusted with their
regular buyers Belete A (2006)

2.3 The Hararghe fattening system

Other type of fattening system is the Hararghe fattening system when the farmers by young oxen
from the adjacent law lowlands pastoral areas use them for ploughing purpose for 2-3 years and
then fatten and sell them before they become old and emaciated. The system is largely based on
cut and carry feeding of individually tethered animals, sometimes they use grazing. Fattening

7
enterprise in western region of the country typically take in mature feeder animals and being
them to market weight for sale to a slaughter, cattle in these enterprises normally enter the fed lot
at cell under one-year-old and are fattened for six months (Gebreselassie N, 2018)

Intensive feeding of the available feed supply to young oxen they are using for draught power
could best describe this fattening practice.

The feed types used for this purpose are entirely obtained from crop production especially from
maize and sorghum. Pagot J (1992) describes that in Ethiopia the farmers fatten young bullocks
at the edge of the fields with lower leaves taken from the stems of sorghum. Among the most
common feed types used for fattening, thinning, leaf strip and part of maize and sorghum plants
are major feeds offered to fattening animal during the main and early dry seasons. During short
rainy season, they allow their oxen to graze at the edge of farm plots or roadsides for up to three
hours every morning before sunrise. In the cases where the farmer has more than one ox, he
transfers the second one to his relative or person in the same village to feed for him after using
for traction (Abbey A, 2004)

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3. Fattening Cattle Husbandry Issues

3.1 Experience of Fattening and Number of Animal per Fattening Cycle

Study indicated that (25.83%) of the farmers had long years of fattening experience 6-10 years,
but most of the farmers (43.33%) had 3-5 years and (20%) of them have greater than 10 years
but only (10.83%) of the farmers have fattening experience of less than three years (Table 1).
Evidence obtained from the study revealed that most of the farmers (58.33%) fatten one ox per
cycle and (30.83%) of them fatten two animals per cycle which means about (89%) of the
farmers fatten less than three animals per cycle. Moreover, (9.17%) and (1.67%) of the farmers
had engaged in fattening with 3-5 and greater than five animals per cycle respectively. Therefore,
most of the farmers fatten 1-2 head of cattle per cycle (Bezahegn Abebe, 2019).

3.2 Duration of Fattening

It was observed that the length of fattening period varies according to the type of agro-ecology. It
indicated that, fattening length in highland regions was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than
those of midland regions with mean value of 5.0±0.18 and 4.1±0.18 respectively. According to
the farmers’ perception, the long duration in the highland regions is due to slow body weight
gain of fattening animals as a result of low feed offered because of less availability of feed and
effect of cold environmental temperature. In addition to this, the reason of this can also be
explained by the fact that animals in cold climate may be forced to utilize parts of the energy
obtained from absorbed nutrients to cope up with cold weather rather than for body weight gain.
Duration of 3 to 4 months of fattening length is also reported in commercial beef fattening farms
(Tsegay & Mengistu, 2013).

3.3. Major Feed Resources and Season of Availability

The major sources of livestock feed were crop residues, grass hay, green feeds from crop lands,
agro industrial byproducts and marginal grazing land. However, the importance and availability
of feed resources indicated above is varied based on seasonal fluctuation. Accordingly, crop
residues, agro-industrial by products (mainly wheat-bran), grass hay and stubble grazing are
important feed resources during dry season whereas green feeds from crops like maize and
sorghum origin, crop residues, weeds, crops thinning, and marginal lands for grazing or cut-carry

9
feeding are principal feed resources. Crop residues (mainly maize and sorghum stover) are the
dominant feed resources in both dry and wet season. This is due to the shortage of grazing land
as a result of intensified utilization of land for crop cultivation which results scarcity of grassland
for livestock feed production. Therefore, farmers are forced to use crop residues such as cereal
straws, legume haulms, and maize and sorghum stovers as the main livestock feed resources in
order to minimize the constraints of feed shortage (Abdi et al., 2013)

The availability of sorghum stover is due to the fact that farmers grow sorghum as a sole crop
and store sorghum stover for a long period, which is a common practice almost by all small
farmers in the area. The Farmers harvest and utilize green feed resources as livestock feeds like
maize and sorghum thinning, leaf strips and stalks locally called ‘Qaxara’, green grassers from
marginal land and also green weeds are feed resources for fattening animals under both highland
and midland agro-ecology during wet season. Industrial by product from flower factory mainly
wheat bran which is locally known as frushika is readily available on local market at a price and
widely used by all farmers to supplement their animals. It is supplemented to fattening cattle
after wetted with water and added salt in cut-barrels or wooden feed boxes. Some of the farmers
also used linseed meal (Linum asitatissimum) and cottonseed cake as a protein supplement but
they complain the high price of these supplement. In highland areas the importance of stubble
grazing is also not undermined which is common immediately after harvest time (Fekadu and
Alemu, 2000).

3.4 Marketing System of Beef Animals

Cattle fattening holds the major share of income sources for household heads in Hararghe. This
may be due to an increase in demand for beef as the result of increase in urbanization in the
country as whole and emerging middle-class urban dwellers with higher income and more
buying power that brings opportunities for beef cattle production. As a whole, in the area cattle
fatteners mainly fatten their oxen for the purpose of generating income and profit. Therefore, the
farmers supply their fattened animals to the market using different marketing systems. Cattle
fatteners take animals to local market place for selling, sell at farm gate to brokers, traders, and
consumers. Therefore, most of the beef cattle producers taken their fattened animals to the
market place for sale may be because of the inadequate information of the beef cattle market

10
price. On the other hand, this indicated that without market price assessment by them, the
farmers were not satisfied with the prices determined at their farm site (Bezahegn Abebe, 2019).

3.5 Major cattle selection criteria for fattening purpose

Body confirmation/condition, breed type, frame/width size, cot color (mainly white color) was
the primary cattle selection criteria for fattening purpose and ranked as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th,
respectively. They think that any cattle breeds meet all these criteria perform well on fattening
than others. Health, initial price, age/teeth eruption, length/height, adaptation, and horn size, and
ranked as 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th, respectively was also another selection criterion of
cattle for fattening purpose. The choice of cattle based on those criteria could be to meet the
market demand and finishing ability of the animal (Table 7).

Table 1: Major selection criteria of cattle for fattening ranked in their order of importance

Variables Rank
Body conformation 1
Breed 2
Frame/width size 3
Coat color 4
Health 5
Initial price 6
Age/teeth eruption 7
Length 8
Adaptation 9
Horn size 10

Source: (Dinku A, 2019).

Young bull of local and Borena breed within the age of 3-6 year were mostly used for fattening
operation. Most of the draught oxen are used for fattening after 1-3 years of services. Majority of
the purchased young bull and few home born are used for fattening purpose in both districts.
Information from focus group discussion also shows that, cattle fatteners bought mainly Borena
and Ogaden cattle breeds in addition to home breed in the zone due to their high performance on
fattening than other. Better preference of young bulls at the age of 3-6 years suggested that
animals after grown to these ages are more suitable to fatten and produce high yield and quality

11
beef to the local market and the standard required by the export market niche of Ethiopian
(Ayalew H, Tamru G, and Abebe D, 2018)

Body size (frame size) as an individual trait is said to be very important since it is related to
potential growth at every stage of the development process (Sintayehu et al., 2010) and affect the
whole production system, due to its influence on aspects such as the food conversion efficiency,
the time taken to meet a specific market finishing degree, or the final quality of the product
obtained (Romera et al. 1986). The body frame had significant effect on the live-weight change
and gross profit of fattening cattle. The producers used largely white color young bull for
fattening purpose because traders would not prefer to purchase black coated animal at market
place due to consumer preference (Shewangizaw W, Zekarias B, and Tesfaye A ,2014; Yesihak
YM and Webb EC, 2015)
Fatteners in northern part of Ethiopia were selected cattle for fattening by using phonotypical
selection criteria like select tall height, big and stand hump, good body condition, and glossy coat
cattle (Takele T, Habtamu L, and Woldu T 2009).
The others study in other part of Ethiopia also found that, body frame; wide/deep body condition,
skeletal frame confrontation, thick neck, castration, age, and glossy coat color are the top priority
criteria that are considered while selecting cattle for fattening purpose (Alemayehu Y, et al.,
2016; Ayalew H, Tamru G, and Abebe D 2018).

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4. Opportunities of Cattle Fattening in Ethiopia

Among the agri-business sector, cattle fattening is one of the outstanding strategy to the
development of economy. Fattening is considered profitable as a business in general terms
especially for countries with large cattle population like Ethiopia. The participants that play part
in fattening package fetch’s a good profit in a short period of time per head of cattle that they
kept in fattening (Ayenew et al., 2012). As a result, large number of smallholder producers
participated in the fattening activities. These are due to many opportunities (variable agro
ecology, huge number of livestock population, and feed resource of agricultural by-products,
cheap labor, good fattening weather and good indigenous knowledge of fattening activity and
recent introduction of some improved forages) that make the land of fattening suitable for them
(Abdi et al., 2013).

The good opportunities important to enhance the performance of fattening activities are
availability of crop residues, high irrigation potential, better meat type cattle, and the better
potential of breed in feed conversion efficiency and resistance to disease and high demand of
finished cattle in the market. In addition, the smallholder producers used these potentials jointly
with advice of experts in the area; cattle fattening activity were one among outstanding strategy
to improve their income (Shitahun, 2009).

Currently the federal as well as regional government of Ethiopia was given great emphasis to
mixed-agriculture (both crop and livestock production) which includes cattle fattening as one of
the source of livelihoods and development structure. This is also the case for the Hararghe zone
when the land holding size is much more less than national average due to high population
density and geographic futures of the zone. The growth and transformation plan two (GTP II) of
the federal government and Oromia Regional state considered also cattle fattening as primary
and most focused important activity (Dinku A, 2019).

4.1 High demand of animals by the local abattoirs

Existence of different abattoirs and live animal exporters in and around peri-urban, urban towns
and large cities such as Addis Ababa, Adama, Mojo, Dukam and Bishoftu created a favorable
environment for cattle fattening in Ethiopia. The export abattoirs are required to ensure a

13
consistent and continuous supply of meat in order to meet the demand of the customers in the
importing countries. Thus, there is an urgent need for export abattoirs to devise alternative
strategies to ensure adequate market supply of quality live animals to meet their processing needs
in order to improve their efficiency and competitiveness. There are seven abattoirs in Ethiopia
which processed canned meat products mainly for the army, domestic market and some exports
(ACDI/VOCA, 2008).

Beef production and marketing made the West Hararghe zone known in domestic and export
market. Harerghe beef locally called ‘Harar Sanga’ is very famous in domestic markets of larger
cities like Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Adama, Harar, Jijga and other towns in and outside the
zones, and export markets which is a good opportunity for small scale cattle fattening business
(Dinku A, 2019; Workneh and Rowland, 2004).

4.2 Official exports

According to [Belachew H, and Jemberu E, 2003] there are few legal exporters engaged in the
export of live animals and meat in the country. These exporters secure livestock from pastoral
areas by themselves or through agents for export in live or meat form (chilled mutton, goat meat
and beef). The exports of meat and live animals have dramatically increased in 2010-2011
Ethiopian fiscal. Ethiopia exported 16,877 tons of meat and 472,041 head of live animals,
recording a 69 % increment from last year’s export revenue. Ethiopian revenue and customs
authority reported that live animal export in 2010 contributed 70% of the earnings while 30%
was obtained from meat export (Trade bulletin, 2011). The same bulletin also revealed that
chilled sheep and goat carcass accounted for 80%, beef 9% and offal 11% of the exported meat.
Of the number of exported live animals, cattle accounted for 46%, sheep 35%, camels 13% and
goats 6%. In terms of revenue, cattle contributed 67%, camels 25% and sheep and goats 8% to
the revenue generated. There is also the possibility of expansion to Asian markets such as
Malaysia, which require halls-slaughtered, frozen, skin-off carcasses with less stringent hygienic
regulations (Kefyalew A 2011).

4.3 Domestic Consumption

The domestic meat demand is believed to increase with increasing literacy and family income.
Meat consumption is often an indicator of the economic status of a country or an individual.

14
People with a higher social or economic status demand a greater amount of high-quality meat
products. The per capita consumption of meat in developed/industrialized countries is much
higher than in developing countries. Countries whose population consumes the least amount of
meat are located in Africa and Asia. Developed countries consumed a consistent level of 77 kg
of meat per capita annually, while developing countries struggled to maintain a diet with only 25
kg of meat per capita annually. Ethiopians remained slightly below the meat intake of all low-
income countries and consuming 9 kg per capita annually (Abbey A 2004).

The current increase in demand for meat due to the increase in number of hotels, and restaurants
in and around the study area towns, and emerging middle-class urban dwellers with increasing
income and more buying power are among good opportunities the study identified. Currently, the
Hararghe zone becomes more urbanized than before and urban dwellers increased the use of
animal product, particularly, meat comes from fattened cattle uncompromisingly which is an
opportunity for cattle fatteners. Correspondingly, in the country, the demand for livestock
products like meat is increasing due to the growing urban population, while farm areas are
shrinking much as a result of an increase in the rural population which creates an opportunity for
cattle fattening on small land (Dinku A, 2019; GebreMariam S, et al 2010; Siegmund-Schultze
M, et al., 2009).

There are also exploding demand of beef cattle as a result of rapidly increasing population
growth to 127 million people and rising per capita income, based on the projections over the next
15 years, which will result in a deficit of about 1.3 million, 53% MT of meat in 2028. Per capita
meat consumption will then be about 24.5 kg/year, with countries currently at a similar stage of
development. Thus, meeting this gap will require substantial investments in the sector which is
immense opportunity for small-scale farmers for extensively participate in cattle fattening
(Shapiro B.I, et al., 2017).

Major markets in the Middle East are also growing in terms of population and income, providing
a range of niches for targeting by Ethiopian meat exporters. There is substantial regional demand
for cattle and beef, which Ethiopia could further, exploit the opportunities. Generally, there are
potentials of cattle fattening, and geographic location offers substantial opportunities for
exportation, thus earning foreign exchange from export of beef cattle and its products, especially
of red meat to the Middle East and across African countries (GebreMariam S, et al., 2010).

15
5. Major Constraints of Beef Cattle Fattening

Illegal brokers, recurrent drought and feed shortage, water scarcity, feed price increment, weak
extension service, lack of initial capital, and informal cattle trade were among the major
constraints betrothed small-scale cattle fattening business and ranked as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th,
6th and 7th, respectively (Table 2). these constraints reduce the performances of beef cattle,
prolong the fattening period and number of cattle fatten per cycle thereby decrease their
frequency of market
participation. Inadequate veterinary services, management knowhow, inaccessibility (unpredicta
ble) of beef cattle market, shortage of improved fodder species, inadequate infrastructures,
limited access to credit and absence of functional flour factories were identified as the other
constraining factors of small-scale cattle fattening business and ranked as 8, 9 ,10, 11, 12, 13,
and 14 (Table 2). (Dinku A, 2019; Ayalew H, Tamru G, and Abebe D, 2018; Dadi G, Urge M,
and Teklebrhan T, 2017; Alemayehu Y, et al., 2016; Ahmed K, Tamir B, and Mengistu A, 2016;
Bezahegn A, 2014;).

5.1 Illegal brokers

Beef cattle marketing was highly influenced and constrained by the problems created by brokers
during market time. The brokers influence the market special by limiting the owners’ rights to
decide the price of his own cattle and affecting the processes of negotiation between the seller
and buyers. Most of cattle owner has almost no privacy to sell cattle without the influence of
brokers. There is locally adopted Amharic word called ‘teyizewal’ which means, if one broker
comes and see fattened cattle of the owner, other brokers may not come since the cattle of this
owner already hold by the former broker, such process locally called ‘teyizewal or qabameera in
afaan orommo’. Sometimes brokers collect better benefits than the cattle fattener without any
reasonable reason as the farmers reported. Moreover, if the brokers are not satisfied with the
benefit they try to force the purchaser to breach the negotiation and finally, the cattle fatteners
forced to return back the proposed cattle to sell. This explain the negative influence and
interference of the broker in the market and their better collection of benefits than the cattle
16
fattener with an hour Therefore, such condition results in additional management cost and
discouragement for cattle fatteners. which. On the other hand, problems reported as the result of
seasonality of market price variation is also not undermined (Bezahegn Abebe, 2019; Ahmed et
al., 2016).

5.2 recurrent drought and feed shortage

Seasonal variations in feed quality and quantity are the main limitation to animal production and
cause fluctuation in productivity throughout the year, particularly in the dry seasons during
which feed is limited. The most available feeds were crop residues mainly sorghum stover and
industrial byproducts (concentrates) with expensive purchasing prices, and there were no other
green feeds during dry season. Most of the farmers have shortage of animal feeds, special during
the dry season. They also high prices of agro-industrial concentrate feeds. This might be due to
the lack of feed processing factories and suppliers. Hence, the problems mentioned above
regarding animal feed was highly affects the production and performances of the fattening
animals, and livelihood of the farmers. There is almost no production practice of cultivation of
improved forages in the area. The reason why the farmers failed to practice improved forage
production were lack of land, lack of forage seed, lack of knowledge about forage crops and
combination of the above problems (Bezahegn Abebe, 2019; Tewodros Alemneh, and Mebrate
Getabalew 2019).

5.3 water scarcity

Since rainfall rather than livestock density determines net primary production and vegetation
cover, its variability is the most important climatic factors determining the state of the natural
resources base. Hence, rainfall variability and the correspondingly productivity of the vegetation
determines livestock production (Kedija H, 2008). Ruminates as any other animal require water
to maintain the water content of the body, and water availability affects voluntary feed intake;
less water leads to inadequate intake of dry matter. For animals kept under pastoral production
system, the frequency of watering is very important. During the dry season, water is available
only from wells and some lakes and streams (Ibrahim H, and Olaloku E, 2002). This leads to
over grazing around watering points. Water intake increases as watering frequency is decreased
and feed conversion efficiency becomes lower as watering interval increase (Kedija H, 2008).

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Poor quality of water leads to pathogens and helminthes infestation among the animals there by
resulting in disease outbreaks, higher morbidity and mortality, and lower productivity
(Andualem T, et al., 2015)

5.4 feed price increment

Inadequate feed supply is one of the major physical constraints hampering market oriented
livestock development and to further expansion of the livestock population in Ethiopia in
general. According to [40], result from stakeholder discussions revealed that the average price of
animal feed increased by 3.2 times over the last 5 years - faster than the rate of increase for
prices of food for human consumption, and more quickly than overall inflation (Shapiro B.I, et
al. (2017); Anteneh B, et al. 2010; Gebre Mariam S, et al., (2010) .

The result from Key Informant Interview (KII) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) also
indicates that the first and second limiting factors that constrain small-scale cattle fatteners were
found to be water scarcity and feed shortage. Comparatively, this could be due to recurrent
drought and shortage of grazing land in which most of cattle fatteners depend mostly on crop
residues. They also argued that feed availability was season dependent and lead to variation in
cost between seasons. For that reason, ample amount of hey is produced starting from end of
October to beginning of March and within which the price of hay is reasonable. Whereas,
starting from April to September the availability of hay decreased and cost of hay is very high.
Similarly, the availability of concentrate decreased starting from March to the end of June.
Because at that time there is shortage of pasture and crop resides and leads to high competition in
purchasing of concentrate.

5.5 weak extension service

Since feed scarcity is the main problem, stronger extension services and trainings on forage
production (especially backyard forage production) is vital. Extension activities should focus on
feed resource management such as communal and private grazing land improvements (clearing
unpalatable species and weeds, e.g. amykila), rotational grazing and fodder conservation system
(haymaking), irrigation and over sowing of the improved forage species. Training of farmers on
feeding regimes and marketing information through extension is vital for beef cattle fatting
development program (Belete A, et al., 2010).

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5.6 lack of initial capital

Shortage of capital was the first constraint to cattle fattening in Ethiopia. Credit provision was a
crucial problem to animal fatteners in the region which might be due to sources of financing,
generally involving subsidized, low interest credit; tend not to allow small holders to borrow
money unless they are organized in groups or through cooperative arrangements (Azage et al.,
2006). Also, lack of initial capital is the first ranked constraints whereas lack of credit provision
was the main challenges in Central Southern Region of Ethiopia (Shewangizaw W et al., 2014).
Smallholder farmers need support of working capital if they are to be engaged in cattle fattening
investment program. Farmers who are willing to involve in beef cattle fattening program are not
able to purchase animals due to lack of capital (Belete A et al., 2010).

5.7 Informal traders

Current knowledge on livestock market structure, performance and price is poor and inadequate
for designing policies and institutions to overcome perceived problems in the marketing system
of Ethiopia (Ayele et al., 2003). Knowledge on how marketing routes and systems could
contribute to the spread of diseases and the implications of these for national and international
trade in livestock is also highly inadequate to design any policy or institutional innovation to
improve marketing for the benefit of the poor. African pastoral systems are currently
characterized by instability, food insecurity, decreasing income, increasing poverty, and
environmental degradation, loss of key grazing lands to cultivation, annexation by government
and private interest, drought, inappropriate development policies, and population growth
(Getachew G, et al., 2005). The annual outflow of beef cattle from Ethiopia through illegal
market is huge. The immediate destinations of this illicit export are Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and
Kenya which are further re–exported to the Middle East countries after meeting domestic
demands (NEPAD–CAADP, 2005). The legal export of both live animal and processed meat is
thus constrained due to shortage created by the illicit export. Recent studies estimate annual
illegal flow of livestock through boundaries to be as high as 320,000 cattle (Workneh A, 2006).

19
Table 2: Major constraints of cattle fattening business ranked in their order of importance.

Description Rank
Illegal brokers 1
Drought & feed shortage 2
Water scarcity 3
Feed price increment 4
Weak extension services 5
lack of initial capital 6
Informal traders 7
Inadequate veterinary services 8
Management knowhow 9
Unpredictable cattle market 10
Shortage of improved fodder 12
Species 11 Inadequate infrastructures
Limited access to credit 13
Absence of functional flour 14
factories

Source: Dinku A, 2019.

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6. Conclusion and recommendation
Cattle fattening business has a significant contribution in national income in general and
smallholder farmer’s income in particular. Generally, Hararghe Zone is well known cattle
fattening areas in the country due to its favorable agroecology and high experience/indigenous
knowledge on traditional cattle fattening and limited land holding size. Following this, the
current Paper is aimed at overviewing major constraints and opportunities in cattle fattening
purpose. Cattle fattening industry is constrained with both production and marketing systems.

From opportunity side, availability of local breeds for fattening, popularity of locally called
‘Harar Sanga’ in the different local markets of the country, presence of good hay preparation
experience and indigenous knowledge of beef cattle production, cultural medications and
management, accessibility of the areas to the main rods connected to large cites and abattoirs,
presence of animal science experts and development agent at kebeles and district levels, current
increase in demand for beef cattle and it is products, and emerging middle-class urban dwellers
with increasing income and more buying power are among good opportunities the study
identified

From the constraint side, water scarcity, recurrent drought and feed shortage, illegal brokers,
feed price increment, inadequate veterinary service, lack of initial capital for the business,
shortage of improved fodder species, weak extension service, management knowhow,
inaccessibility (unpredictable) of beef cattle market, informal beef cattle traders, inadequate
infrastructures, limited access to credit and absence functional flour factories are among the
major constraints.

Based on this, the following recommendations are set for sustainable cattle fattening industry.

 The acute constraint in cattle fattening business was illegal brokers. Cattle fattening
business sustainability will highly depend on the reduction or elimination of this
bottleneck. Hence, the local livestock and fishery office by cooperating with others
stakeholder should augment cattle fatteners bargaining power and balance brokers’
interference in the market through launching cattle marketing cooperatives.
 Feed shortage and price increment animal feed is also found to be the critical problem
which reduced incentives for feeding regimes, and also prolonged the cattle fattening

21
 period. Therefore, the local extension system should plan and take action on improving
farmers’ knowledge through frequent training on how to use the marginal land not
suitable for crop production for animal feed production bythem is imperative.
 Due emphasis should be given to the market place infrastructures where beef cattle are
marketed and on how to make illegal traders to be legal and pay the tax for the
government.
 The government should design appropriate livestock strategy to optimize the population
of livestock used for fattening purpose and replacement livestock at its original area.

22
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