ethiopian livestock feed project, beef team

Characterization of the livestock production system and potential

of feed-based interventions in Adama and Arsi Negelle Districts

Ethiopian Livestock Feed Project, Beef Team

INTRODUCTION

What is FEAST? A tool to assess feed resource availability and use at site-level A systematic and rapid method Broadens feed assessment to determine:

whether livestock is an important livelihood strategy importance of feed relative to other problems on the farm

Helps in the design of site-specific strategies for feed supply & utilization through technical and organizational interventions FEAST is still under refinement

OBJECTIVES

The Objectives were to:

gain an understanding of the overall production system with a particular focus on the livestock feeding practices of farmers in Adama & Arsi Negele Districts

identify key areas of intervention that could improve livestock productivity in the districts

METHODOLOGY

Adama District Kechema Wonji Kuriftu Arsi Negele

District Ali Wayo Kersa Ilala

Both Districts located in the Rift Valley

6

No. Variables Weredas

Adama Arsi Negele

Kechema Kuriftu Ali-Weyo Kersa-Ilala

1 Land size 2 ha 1.5 ha 2 ha 2 ha

2 House hold 6 6 7 10

3 Cropping Season 3 2 2 3

4 Irrigation no yes no No

5 Labour 50 46 50 45

6 Crops grown Tef, wheat, maize, barley, beans and peas

Tef, wheat, maize, barley, beans

Tef, wheat, maize, barley

Tef, wheat, maize, potato

7 Fodder crops Grown

Leucaena, Napier grass, Sesbania sesban

Napier grass, fodder beet, alfalfa and Sesbania sesban

vetch No

8 Livestock Cattle, sheep, goats, donkey and poultry

Cattle, sheep, goats, donkey, Horse and poultry

Cattle, sheep, goats, donkey, Horse and poultry

Cattle, sheep, goats, poultry donkey and

9 Source of Income 100% 100% 100% 100%9.1 Agriculture 47 74 44 25

9.2 Livestock 35 26 37 57

9.3 Labour 18 0 0 18

9.4 business 0 0 19 0

Overview of the production system Overview of the production system

METHODOLOGY

Adama Arsi Negele

Kachema Wonji Kuriftu Ali Weyo Kersa Ilala

Proximity to woreda capital Presence of Smallholder beef fattening activities

SitesSelected

Selection criteria

No. of Participants

Wereda

Adama Arsi Negele Total

Kechema Kuriftu Ali-Weyo Kersa-Ilala

Male 15 11 15 15 56Female 5 9 7 5 26

Total 20 20 22 20 82

Numbers of participants from all kebeles.

• Group discussion with farmers:

• Kechema 20 (15 men and 5 women)• kuriftu 20 (11 men and 9 women)• Aliweyo 22 (15 men and 7 women)• KersaIlala 20 (15 men and 5 women)

PRAExercisePRAExercise

• Individual interviews with 3 farmers

• Quantitative information

IndividualFarmerSurvey

IndividualFarmerSurvey

• Data entered into FEAST Template

• Ideas for Interventions developed

Data Analysis &DevelopingInterventions

Data Analysis &DevelopingInterventions

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Methodology of The FEAST Tool

Farming systems: average % contribution made by the various livelihood activities to total household income, ARSI NEGELE

ALi Wayo Kersa Ilala

Contribution of feed resources to animal diets, Adama

Adama Kechema Kuriftu

Fig. 24 & 25.The composition of the diet of animals according to season in kechema and wonji kuriftu kebeles, Ethiopia.

Contribution of feed resources to animal diets (CP%), ADAMA-

Adama Kechema Kuriftu

Fig. 21 & 21.The contributions made by the various feedstuffs (as a percentage) to the crude protein content of the diet of animals in kechema and wonji kuriftu kebele, Ethiopia

Contribution of feed resources to animal diets, Arsi Nege

Arsi Negelle Ali wayo Kersa ilala

Fig. 26 & 27.The composition of the diet of animals according to season in Ali Wayo and Kersa Ilala kebeles, Ethiopia.

Contribution of feed resources to animal diets (CP%), Arsi Negele

Arsi Negelle Ali wayo Kersa ilala

Fig. 22 & 23.The contributions made by the various feedstuffs (as a percentage) to the crude protein content of the diet of animals in Ali wayo and kersa ilala kebeles, Ethiopia

Feed Resource Availability & Seasonality

In kechema kebele the straw is usually fed as a whole fibre without any form of processing or manipulation prior to feeding and some times by mixing with concentrates

In wonji kuriftu the straw is fed by mixing with purchased concentrate feed.

But in both kebeles of Arsi Negelle district the straw is usually fed by mixing with <atela> (local liquor by product) and concentrate feed.

Feed Resource Availability & Seasonality

Cultivated forages Cultivated fodder as component of diet, ME and

CP for kechema and kuriftu kebeles comprising approximately of 24% and 27%; 19% and 24%; 21% and 16; respectively.

But in Arsi Negele district (Ali wayo and kersa ilala) there is no cultivated fodder.

Problems and Constraints: ADAMA

ADAMA Kechema Kuriftu

1stLivestock feed Livestock feed

2ndVeterinary service Cash/credit service

3rdCash/credit service Veterinary service

4thAI service Lack of training

5thLivestock inputs Livestock inputs

Problems and Constraints: ARSI NEGELE

ARSI NEGELE Ali Woyo Kersa Ilala

1st Livestock feed Livestock feed

2ndCash/credit service Cash/credit service

3rdMarket info.&

broker fraudulent

Agricultural and

livestock inputs4th

Lack of knowledge Veterinary service

5th Veterinary service Market info.& broker fraudulent

Suggested Solutions to constraintsVariables Wereda

Adama Arsi Negele

Kechema Kuriftu Ali-Weyo Kersa-Ilala

For pro.1 Forage

cultivation,

training,

minimizing

herd size

Create coops,

credit

provision by

govt,

Govt

intervention,

selling based

on weight

Provision of

improved

forage seed,

For pro.

2

Establishment

of Animal

Health

Center,

hygienic

practice,

training,

assignment of

technician

Mixing

different feed

ingredients,

training

Provision of

credit by govt

Create coops,

government

support to

facilitate

For pro.3 Joining the

saving and

credit coops,

saving, credit

service from

govt

Establishment

of Animal

Health Center

Proper use of

land

Create coops

For pro.4 Assignment

of AI

technician &

Regular

training

Training Establishing

Animal Health

Center and

Potential Interventions

Introduce least-cost fattening rations that help gradual shift away from certain crop/cottage industry byproducts that have disagreeable attributes: laborious to the women & too high wood fuel consuming that aggravate deforestation & climate change.

Limitations of the study

• In using quick questioners some questions were found ambiguous, e.g. sale of livestock and livestock products.

• In the selection procedure of three individuals for interview the selection might be fair if it is purposive rather than random. Besides, the sample size of only three respondents looks too small to represent the real situation.

Limitations of the study

• The reliance on farmer estimates for calculating animal intake from grazing and intake from collected green fodder is a possible source of inaccuracy.

• Farmers do give a rough estimate of the weight of crop residue but in the FEAST software space is not reserved in which the data was supposed to be filled in. As a result, the data analysis output shows zero value. This actually appears to be a temporary problem.

The Way Forward

• The current beef production level is definitely below consumption levels & market demands.

• The major impediment has been shortage of animal feed both in quantity and quality. For example, the fattening business in the kebeles is dependent upon crop residues & local liquor byproducts, all of which are unsustainable in supply.

• There is a need to intensify efforts on extension in aspects of efficient utilization of feed resources; improved livestock management; veterinary service, to mention just a few.

• Regardless of its considerable promise to the farming community and the national economy at large, farmers must be trained in beef fattening techniques, such as home mixing of low-cost fattening rations; etc.

Lessons Learnt

• Women who had been isolated from community discussions were now observed to have equal or even better knowledge, zeal, willingness to learn and actively participated in debates of the PRA exercise.

• Participation of the farmers in group discussions regarding their own problems increased their awareness on various issues, what to expect from input supplies, credit services, market information, etc.

• The discussion forum served as an efficient experience-sharing platform.

• The participation of District Agriculture Offices and the Kebele DAs benefited them a lot on how to probe the problems of the farmers.

~END~THANK YOU