Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. (2018).

5(6): 124-130

International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences

ISSN: 2348-8069
www.ijarbs.com
DOI: 10.22192/ijarbs Coden: IJARQG(USA) Volume 5, Issue 6 - 2018
Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijarbs.2018.05.06.012

Traditional Beef Cattle Fattening and constraints in Damot

Pullassa Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Sothern Ethiopia
Elias Wana Wabalo1
Abera Anja2
1= Damot Pullassa Woreda office of Livestock and Fishery
2= Woliata Sodo University, College of Agriculture, Department of Animal and Range Sciences
(anjabisrat@yahoo.com)

Abstract
Multi stage sampling was employed to select one hundred sampled respondents to assess traditional beef cattle fattening and
constraints using a pretested structured and semi-structured questionnaires in Damot Pullassa Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Sothern
Ethiopia. About 80% of the respondents were found in the age range of 25 and 64 while the rest 20% were having age more than
65 years old. Natural mating system was mainly used by all (100%) respondents as a means of breeding system of beef cattle in
the study area. Income was the main reason that 83.33% of the sampled respondents practiced beef cattle fattening. Grass is used
as a basal feed and proportions of supplementary feed that are used for cattle fattening. Minerals salt (local name “aduwa”) and
traditional brewery waste (“atela”) also used as a means of supplement feed for the fattened cattle. About the respondents (40%)
argued that they used spring water as source water for the fattening cattle. In the same manner, about 25, 20 and 15% of them
used hole water, river and pipe water. Higher proportion of respondents (41.6%) of them argued that scarcity of feed is one of the
major factors to affect beef cattle fattening while about 20% of them responded that shortage of land affect beef cattle market.
Therefore, for effective animals fattening there should have a means to improve quality and quantity of feeding system. In
addition to this, to improve the breeding system artificial insemination should be introduced and implemented to enhance the beef
cattle fattening operation in the study area.

Keywords: Natural mating, breeding system, beef cattle, fattening operation

Introduction
The country Ethiopia is found in sub Saharan Africa and employment for the rural production (Nigussie,
region by which the region is heavily dependent on 2001).
agriculture. As a result the agriculture sector plays an
important role in the national economy of the country. Beef cattle production system in Ethiopia is based on
Livestock is an integral part of agriculture and small scale fattening system by which animals
contribution of live animals and their products to obtained mainly from draft, dairy, land pastoralists.
agricultural economy. Ethiopia has the leading The annual contribution of ruminants to meat
livestock population in Africa and it accounts 40% for production in Ethiopia is estimated at over 3.2 million
agricultural economy. The Agricultural sector also tones which represents over 72% of the total meat
plays an important role in the overall development of production. Cattle meat accounts for over 70% of the
the country economy and it is the source of income total red meat production and over 50% of the total
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meat output in Sub-Saharan Africa (EARO, 1999). utilization of available feed. Consequently, farmers in
According to CSA (2016) survey result Ethiopia has Ethiopia provides both basal and supplementary feeds
about 409,869 beef cattle and last year 69,830 beef in a stall feeding system which is in close agreement
cattle were slaughtered for consumption and export with fourth live stock development project. Ayele et
purpose. al., (2003) reported that current knowledge on live
stock market structure performance and price is poor
Even though, the country Ethiopia has a huge potential and in adequate for designing polices and institutions
for fattening animal there are different challenges that to overcome perceive problem in the marketing
hampering the productivity. Among those factors system. Even though, beef cattle fattening is widely
challenges associated with feed source, disease, practiced and potential in Damot Pulassa Woreda, its
market accesses composes the major portions. For production system and constraints is not well
instance, Teklehaymanot et al. (2017) indicated that identified documented so far. Therefore, this study
feed shortage was considered as the major constraint was designed to assess traditional beef cattle fattening
affecting the production and productivity of the and constraints.
fattening animals and livelihood of the farmers in and
around Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. In the same manner, Materials and Methods
lack of market to sell fattened animals was also a
constraint for beef cattle fattening and this could be Description of the Study Area
due to unorganized marketing system, and unplanned
fattening periods such as being dependent on cultural The Study was conducted in Damot Pullassa Woreda
holidays and season. The same result was also of Wolaita Zone southern Ethiopia. The Woreda is
recorded by Estefanos (2014), who reported, the major located approximately at a distance of 152 and 357 km
constraints to cattle production were shrinkage of away from Hawassa and Addis Ababa respectively.
grazing land (62.4%), feed shortage (15.8%) and low The Woreda is found with an altitude range of 1600
productivity of the local cattle (7.5%) in East and and 1800 m.a.s.l. The maximum and minimum
West Zones of the high lands of Harerge, Eastern temperature is 320C and 170C respectively. The main
Ethiopia. rainy season was in between June to September (long
rainy season) short rainy season lasts from October to
February and May. The Woreda is known to have
Although, the country has huge resource of indigenous large number of livestock according to the (DPWAO,
animals which are potentials for meat production the 2000) it comprises 52817, 8972, 5482 and 4,084,
productivity is low because of little attention given to cattle sheep goat and equine respectively.
livestock development in general and animal fatting in
particular and much has not been studied about the

Table 1. Damot Pullassa Woreda Livestock Composition

Type of live stock Composition

Cattle 52817
Sheep 8,972
Goat 5482
Equine 4084
Source: Damot Pullassa Woreda Agricultural office (2000)

Sampling Method and Sampling Size based on the potential of beef fattening. Finally, from
each selected Kebele 20 households were selected
Multi stage sampling was employed for the study. In purposively based on the experience and involvement
the first stage, Damote Pullasa Woreda which has a in beef cattle fattening practice. This, a total of 100
total of twenty three Kebeles was selected for the households (i.e. 5 Kebeles * 20 households) were
study. In the second stage, five Kebeles were selected included for study.

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Data Collection and 64 while the rest 20% were having age more than
65 years old. This shows that the largest portions of
For the study both primary and secondary sources of respondents are within productive age group and this
data were used. The primary data was obtained by has positive effect in the performance of beef fattening
preparing semi-structured questionnaires and activity in the study area. Concerning sex of the
interviews and discussion with target groups. The respondents the study showed that all of respondents
secondary data was obtained from journals, articles, are male. This indicates that female participate in the
written documents and annual reports. other aspects of agricultural activities. The present
finding is slightly higher than the finding of
Data Analysis Teklehaymanot et al. (2017) who indicated that about
96.3% of the respondents participated in beef cattle
Both primary and secondary data collected were fattening were males in and around Mekelle, Tigray,
analyzed by means of descriptive statistical analysis Ethiopia. The study also revealed that from the total
such as percentage, mean and the results were reported respondents (95%) of them are married while only 5%
by table. of them are single. This shows that most of the
respondents are married and none of them are
Results and Discussion divorced.
Socio economic Characteristics of respondents.

According to table 2, the largest portion of

respondents (80%) was found in the age range of 25

Table. 2 Age structure, Sex composition, and marital status of household in the study area

Demographic characteristic Attribution No of respondents Perecentage

Age 25-64 80 80
>65 20 20
Sex Male 100 100
Female - -
Marital status Married 94 95
Single 6 5

As it is indicated in table 3, the higher (50%) of the technology. Therefore, strong attention should be
respondents were illiterate. Similarly, about 26.6, 16.6 given to improve the educational status of the
and 6.6% of the respondents were completed basic respondents in the study area. Concerning family size
education, elementary and high school educational of the respondent the majority (73.3%) of them have 5
level respectively. In addition to this the development up to 8 family sizes whereas about 11.6 and 15% of
agents in the study area discussed that it creates the respondents have less than five family sizes and
difficulty in technology transfer because it requires greater than eight family sizes respectively.
long time to educate them to adopt the new

Table. 3 Level of education and Family size of household in the study area

Level of education Illiterate 50 50

Basic education 26 26.6
Elementary school 14 14.4
High school 10 10
Family size <5 11 11.6
5-8 73 73.3
>8 15 15

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Breeding method use of artificial insemination, lack of facilities and

skilled manpower of artificial inseminations were the
The breeding method of the respondents is described major ones according to the information collected
in table 4. According to the respondents, all of the from the sampled respondents in the study area.
respondents (100%) use natural mating. According to Therefore, great attention should be given by the
the present finding there is low awareness to use respected governmental and non-governmental bodies
artificial method of insemination in the study area. to intensify and use widely the benefits obtained from
Even though, there are different reasons for the low artificial insemination methods.

Table 4. Breeding methods of the respondents in the study area

Breeding method Number of Respondents Percent

Natural mating method 100 100
Artificial method - -

Purpose of Beef Cattle Fattening According to this finding, the majority of respondents
practiced beef cattle fattening for the purpose of
As it is indicated in table 5, most of the sampled income source. Cattle keeping is important role in the
respondents (83.33%) practiced beef cattle fattening as overall development of the country’s economy and it
a means of income. In the same manner about 10 and is the source of income and employment for the rural
6.66% of the respondents kept cattle for both income population. Meat production and consumption is
and consumption and for other assets respectively. important in the Ethiopia economy Nigusie (2001).

Table. 5 Importance of beef cattle fattening

Parameter Number of respondents (N=100) Percentage

Source of an income 83 83.33
Source of income and consumption 10 10
For other asset 7 6.66

4.5 Feed Resource and Feeding System brewery waste (“atela”) and as a means of supplement
feed for the fattened cattle. The sampled respondents
In the study area, grass is used as a basal feed and in the study area provide grass at large proportion of
proportions of supplementary feed that are used for the total feed in take at the start of fattening period to
cattle fattening are described in table 6. Accordingly, minimize fattening cost. However, the amount of grass
about 33% of the respondents use green and dry maize offered gradually decrease moreover, it was reported
as supplementary feed while 21, 18, 10, 6, 5, of that feed in take is reduced as the quality of feed
respondents use green and haricot bean, boiled maize offered gets poorer and as the finishing period
and haricot bean, wheat bran, root and tuber crops, left advances. This is because of the fact that fattening
over hot drink made from coffee leaf respectively . period advances since the animal tend to show more
However about 4 and 3% of the sampled respondents preference for grains, root and tuber crops than grass.
use minerals salt (local name “aduwa”) and traditional

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Table 6. Major supplement feed source

Major supplement feed source No of Respondents Percent

Green and dry maize 33 33
Boiled maize and harcoat bean 21 21
Green and dry har coat been 18 18
Root and tuber crop 6 6
Left over hot drink made from coffe leaf 5 5
Atela* 3 3
Mineral salt (aduwa)** 4 4
Wheat brain 10 10
* Atela means traditional brewery waste
** Aduwa means local name to minerals salt

4.6 Major water sources and watering system fattening animals. With regard to the watering
frequency, the majority (85%) of respondents
As it indicated in table 7, the higher proportion of indicated that they provide water once a day for cattle
respondents (40%) argued that they used spring water while 10 and 5% of them provide water twice and
as source water for the fattening cattle. Similarly about three times a day. This shows that water in lake
25, 20 and 15% of them used hole water, river and depends up on the type of feed, weather condition and
pipe water respectively. This shows that the higher feeding mineral salt (Adwa) are increases or decreases
proportion of the respondent used spring water and a of water intake per day.
few of them use pipe water as a source of water for the

Table 7. Source of water and frequency of watering in the study area

Major sources Respondents number (N=100) Percentage

Spring water 40 40
Pipe water 15 15
Hole water 25 25
River 20 20
Water frequency
Once a day 85 85
Twice a day 10 10
Three times a day 5 5

4.7 Cattle Fattening Practice less than 5 years and greater than 10 years
respectively. According to the present findings beef
According to table 8, most of the respondents (70%) cattle fattening was a long traditional practice
practiced beef cattle fattening for about 6 up to 10 performed in the study area.
years whereas about 20 and 10% of them practiced

Table 8. Length of time the respondents practiced beef fattening

Cattle fattening Experience No respondent (N=100) Percentage

<5 year 20 20%
6-10 year 70 70%
>10 year 10 10%
Total 100 100%

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4.8 Duration or Length of Fattening Periods month and greater than 6 months respectively.
According to their response of the respondent the
As it is shown in table 9, concerning of fattening length of months or duration of fattening period
period 50% of respondents argued that fattening depends on availability of feed, body condition of
duration takes 3 up to 6 month. However, about 30 animals, managing system, and market demand.
and 20% of the respondents indicated that it takes 3

Table 9. Duration fatting period

Duration (length of fatting period) No Respondents Percentage

<3 month 30 30%
3-6 month 50 50
>6 month 20 20

4.9 Constraints of beef cattle fattening market. In the same manner, about 16.6 13.3 and
8.33% of them replied lack of proper selection, initial
Based on the findings of the current study, there are capital and lack of market information affect beef
different constraints affecting the beef cattle fattening cattle fattening respectively. In line with the present
practice in the study area. According to table 9, higher study Teklehaymanot et al. (2017) also indicated that
proportion of respondents (41.6%) of them argued that shortage of animal feeds, especially concentrates
scarcity of feed is one of the major factors to affect affects mainly the production and productivity of the
beef cattle fattening while about 20% of them fattening animals, and livelihood of the farmers in and
responded that shortage of land affect beef cattle around Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.

Table 10. Constraints of beef cattle fattening

Factors constraint of beef cattle market Respondents Percentage

Scarcity of feed 41.6 41.6
Shortage land 20 20.6
Lack of initial capital 13.3 13.3
Lack of proper selecting of fattening animal 16.3 16.66
Lack of market in formation 8.33 8.33

Conclusion respondents in the study area used different feed stuffs

like green and dry maize, haricot bean, boiled maize,
As it is revealed in the findings the largest portion of haricot bean, wheat bran, root and tuber crops, left
respondents (80%) was found in the age range of 25 over hot drink made from coffee leaf, minerals salt
and 64 and all the respondents were male headed. (local name “aduwa”) and traditional brewery waste
About 50% of the respondents were illiterate. Lack of (“atela”) as a means of supplement feed for the
facilities and skilled manpower of artificial fattened cattle. Feed was the major challenges
inseminations were the major challenges hampering affecting the beef cattle fattening in the study area.
the use of artificial insemination which forced to use Based on the current findings, strong attention should
natural insemination method. Most of the sampled be given to improve the educational status of the
respondents (83.33%) practiced beef cattle fattening as respondents and improved forage system should be
a means of income. In the same manner about 10 and introduced for better production of beef cattle
6.66% of the respondents kept cattle for both income fattening in the study area.
and consumption and for other assets respectively. The

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DOI:10.22192/ijarbs.2018.05.06.012

How to cite this article:

Elias Wana Wabalo, Abera Anja. (2018). Traditional Beef Cattle Fattening and constraints in Damot
Pullassa Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Sothern Ethiopia. Int. J. Adv. Res. Biol. Sci. 5(6): 124-130.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijarbs.2018.05.06.012

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