Assessment of Beef Cattle Fattening and Marketing System in East Badawacho District, Hadiya Zone, SNNPRS, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in east Badawacho District, Southern Nations Nationalities and people Regional state, Ethiopia, with the objective of to assess cattle fattening and marketing system in the study area. Four kebeles (Were Mazoria, Were Gere, Wera Boshera and Wera Lalo) were purposely selected based on their potential to beef cattle production. The main feed resources in the district are communal natural land, crop residue, Enset, and Atalla. Regarding beef cattle production, the district used a traditional production system with the respective duration of feeding of 3 to 5 months was identified. The purpose of keeping cattle is depends on the season, during the dry season from January to March used for traction purposes and then they used for fattening. Due to the farmers used beef animals after they used for traction purpose the age of the cattle are above 5 years. The demand for beef cattle in district, especially in the rural areas, was high around the holydays like, Meskel, Charismas, and Easter. About 96% of the beef producers prefer to sell their animal from August to September when price is highest. About 80% of the farmers sell their cattle in the local market. The price of beef cattle in district during season ranges from ETB 10,000-18,000 birr. The major identified beef cattle production constraints in the area are feed shortage and disease problems. The market facility and market chain development is also one of the main issues needs attention to solve market problem. Forage conservation strategies and improve the utilization of improved forage one of the methods to overcome the seasonal feed shortage.

Keywords: Beef Cattle, Fattening, Marketing