Feedlot Operations

I.
Feedlot operations (cattle fattening)
1.1 Introduction
Ethiopia covers approximately 1,221,900 square kilometers of land. The estimated

human population is 115 million. The overall average population density is around 37
people per square kilometer. Along with income, urbanization determines the tastes and
preferences of the consumers. The primary driving force behind the shift in consumption
toward high-value agriculture (fruits and vegetables, livestock products and processed
food) is rising income but changes in lifestyle with urbanization and shifts in the
demographic structure also contribute towards consumption diversification.
Cattle production in Ethiopia is an integral part of the mixed farming, agro-pastoral and
pastoral production systems. In both rural and urban areas, smallholder cattle fattening
is emerging as an important source of income. In rural area of the country cattle
fattening is based on locally available feed resources.
Ethiopia is endowed with diverse agro-ecology and is a country of plant and animal
diversity. It is a habitat to different species and breeds of animals. The agricultural
sector plays an important role in the overall development of the economy of Ethiopia.
The sector plays a major role in the national economy and it is the source of income and
employment for the rural population. The sector accounts for 46% of the gross domestic
product (GDP) and livestock contributes 30% to the agricultural GDP and 19% to the
export earnings. Meat production and consumption is important in the Ethiopian
economy and ruminants contribute over 3.2 million tons, representing over 72% of the
total meat production. The country has the largest livestock population in Africa.
According to the 2016 report of the Central Statistical Agency (CSA) the cattle
population was estimated at about 59.5 million. The indigenous breeds accounted for 99
percent, while the hybrids and pure exotic breeds were represented by 0.72 and 0.09
percent, respectively. From the total cattle population, 45.13 percent are males and
54.87 percent females. This indicates the importance of male cattle particularly oxen for
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draft power. However, in the crop/livestock mixed farming system, oxen work for a
maximum of 100 days in a year. This indicates that for the rest of the year oxen
compete for the meagre feed resources though unproductive. An appropriate alternative
strategy needs therefore to be put in place to reserve the feed for dairy cows that
produce not only milk but also replacement stock. Sheep population is 30.7 million,
while the total estimated goat population is about 30.2 million with indigenous breeds
accounting for 99.98 percent and hybrid and pure exotic breeds for about 0.02 percent.
The male and female goat population accounted for 30.83 and 69.17 percent,
respectively. The total camel population was estimated to be 1.2 million with the
proportion of male and female camels being 33.88 and 66.12 percent, respectively
(CSA, 2016a).
.Livestock has a livelihood base for farmer, job creation, draft power, source of income,
manure; etc. Animal production system is at subsistence level. Farmers are dependent
on indigenous breeds with low input and output. Animals are mainly dependent on
natural resources (free grazing). Livestock rearing is not market oriented. Production
and productivity is low. However, as the human population increases, the demand for
livestock products is increasing.
Livestock and livestock products are used for export and import substitution, thus,
requires transformation from subsistence to market oriented, clustered based
production. Most of the investment for amelioration of livestock development in Ethiopia
is expected from the private sector. The government role is creating enabling
environment for private sector engagement. This includes support to smallholder
producer, infrastructure development (animal health clinics, farmers training centers,
laboratories), provision of inputs (forage seeds, vaccines, veterinary drugs, artificial
insemination inputs), provision of services (extension service, animal health, artificial
insemination, vaccination; etc.), capacity development at different levels and market
linkages. Roles of integrated agro-industry parks is significant. It induces sustainable
market for producers, solves problem of market and market seasonality, encourages
farmers to engage in market oriented livestock production, encourages farmers to use
2
inputs to increase production and enables investors to get all services at one place and
shorten process of acquiring land, electricity, road, water; etc.
Beef cattle are those breeds of cattle that have been primarily used to produce meat.
The animals to be purchased for fattening should have large skeletal frames and body
conformation. Horro and Borana breeds have been proved for their best beef
performance in Ethiopia. The basic activities in a fattening center are feeding, watering,
housing and health care. Six vaccines are essential, which should be given to the
fattening cattle annually. They are vaccines against: 1. CBPP 2. Pasteurellosis 3. FMD
4. Black leg 5. Anthrax 6. LSD. All of them are produced by the National Veterinary
Institute (NVI) of Bishoftu. They are on Sale and available throughout the year.
The annual contribution of ruminants to meat production in Ethiopia is estimated at over

3.2 million tones, representing over 72% of the total meat production. Cattle meat
accounts for over 70% of the total red meat production and over 50% of the total meat
output in Sub-Saharan Africa. 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 fattening and
Hararghe fattening system. Each of the production systems had their own
characteristics and had positive and negative impacts. Formally, Ethiopia exports
approximately 200,000 livestock annually. In Ethiopia, recent studies estimated that
annual illegal flow of livestock through boundaries reaches as high as 320,000 cattle. In
Ethiopia the major animal sources for the export abattoirs are smallholders in the
lowlands, the production systems of which have not been properly characterized.
However, measurable stride towards that end has not been made. Informal trade
seriously affects Ethiopian economy largely. A large number of livestock and livestock
products valued at 917 billion Ethiopian Birr annually are lost via the flow into the
neighboring countries informally. Data from Livestock Marketing Authority (LMA) (2001)
revealed that an estimated 325,800 cattle, 1,150,000 sheep and goats, 300,000 skins
and 150,000 hides go through informal cross–border trade from Ethiopia to other
countries. According to Firew (2007), the major constraints for beef cattle production in
3
Ethiopian farmers was feed shortage, diseases and parasites, drought, shortage of
grazing land, market access, veterinary services, extension services and other
infrastructure. There are a number of challenges and negative impacts which limits
profitability of beef cattle production systems in Ethiopia.
Feed trough of beef cattle
Water trough for beef cattle
4
Drinking from pipe water
Fattening cattle moving to grazing land
5
1.2 Animal feed
II. Eucalyptus trees
Eucalyptus plants are native to Australia. Eucalyptus is a fast-growing tree and can gain
several feet per year. Eucalyptus grows from cuttings. New growth emerges after
cutting. Most species are able to survive 250 years in the wild. The trees reach early
maturity just seven to ten years after planting. Provided they have enough water and
are in the right climate, eucalyptus trees are a renewable resource. One of the reasons
for its being environment-friendly is the rate at which the trees grow (super-fast).
Periodic selling of trees would bring a considerable amount of income to the owner.
After cutting eucalyptus trees, more trees re-grow from the stump, making eucalyptus
trees renewable resources and few years later, more trees become ready for sale.

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I.

Feedlot operations (cattle fattening)

Ethiopia covers approximately 1,221,900 square kilometers of land. The estimated

The annual contribution of ruminants to meat production in Ethiopia is estimated at over

Feed trough of beef cattle

Water trough for beef cattle

Fattening cattle moving to grazing land

II. Eucalyptus trees

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