ASSESSMENT OF BEEF CATTLE FATTENING SYSTEMS AND EVALUATION OF THEIR FEED AVAILABILITIES OF BENCH SHEKO AND SHEKA ZONES, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess beef cattle fattening systems and evaluation of their feed availabilities in Bench Sheko and Sheka zones of South West Ethiopia. Multi-stage purposive and random sampling procedures were used. A total of 384 households were selected randomly and interviewed using structured questionnaire. Secondary data were collected from zones and districts offices. The collected data were managed and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Statistical differences were declared at P<0.05. Mean difference was assessed by Tukey test. The result of this study depicted that the major (87.5%) cattle fattening system prevailing in the study areas was extensive/traditional fattening system. The majority (74%) of producers housed their beef cattle separately but 26% mixed with other animals. Tethered grazing was identified as the major (51.6%) feeding practice of beef cattle while free grazing (11.5%) was the least one in the study areas. Natural pastures (60.7%) were the dominant feed resources for cattle fattening followed by crop residues (35.2%) and cultivated forages (4.2%). However, higher proportion (88.3%) of respondents did provide locally available supplementary feeds. About 37.2% respondents were conserved feed during surplus season while the rest (62.8%) did not. But higher proportion of respondents was conserved feed in Bench Sheko (43%) than Sheka (25.8%). Rivers were identified as the major water sources of beef cattle during dry (68.2%) and wet (53.4%) seasons. The majority (68.5%) of fatteners preferred local cattle for fattening in the study areas. Body condition was the major (52.3%) criteria to buy and sell their beef cattle; but the mean ages selected for fattening were 4.51±0.082 and 4.84±0.089 years for male and female, respectively. The majority (58.9%) of respondents fattened two times per year indicated that fattening was not their only activity in the study areas. The overall mean of cattle fattened per household per fattening period was 3.41±0.077 in the study area. However, significantly (P<0.001) higher amount of cattle fattened in Sheka (3.67±0.126) than Bench Sheko (3.14±0.089) per fattening period. About 81.5% of respondents were decided finishing period by considering live weight change but the rest decided by anticipated current and future price (13.5%) and calculating feeding length (4.9%). Village markets were the major (87.8%) buying and selling place of cattle; whereas local butchers accounted the highest share (62.2%) in buying finished beef cattle in the study areas. Diseases and parasites were the severe challenges for beef cattle production while seasonal fluctuation of demand and price were also challenged marketing systems. However, increase of meat demand (41.7%) and environmental suitability (28.1%) were the most important opportunities for beef cattle production and marketing in the study areas. Therefore, improved beef cattle management practices and profit oriented fattening systems should be adopted in areas through private and state collaboration .