Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in
Transcription
Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in
Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Proceedings of the 10th annual conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, August 21-23, 2003 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production P.O. Box 80019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Members of the Executive Committee of ESAP: Dr Workneh Ayalew (ILRI, Addis Ababa), President Dr Yoseph Shiferaw (EARO, Holetta), Vice-president Ato Assefa Amaldegn (LMA, Addis Ababa), Secretary Ato Mengistu Alemayehu (EARO, Holetta), Assist. Secretary Dr Yilma Jobre (ILRI, Addis Ababa), Chief Editor Dr Getachew Gebru (ILRI, Addis Ababa), Assist. Editor Ato Olani Nemera (OADB, Addis Ababa), Accountant W/ro Almaz Kahsay (QCSAE, Addis Ababa), Treasurer Ato Dessalegn Gebre Medhin (NAIC, Addis Ababa), Auditor Ato Alemayehu Reda (USAID, Addis Ababa), Liaison officer ESAP Office Secretary: W/ro Diribua Delelaw Sponsors of the Conference: Alemaya University, Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission, Save the Children – USA, and Global Livestock – Collaborative Research Support Program in California (GL-CRSP). Correct citation: ESAP (Ethiopian Society of Animal Production) 2003. Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia. Yilma Jobre and Getachew Gebru (Eds). Proc. 10th Annual conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, August 22-24, 2002. ESAP, Addis Ababa. 407pp. CONTENTS Preface.................................................................................................................................................................................................. vii Welcome Address ................................................................................................................................................................................ ix Opening Address .................................................................................................................................................................................. xi CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF LIVESTOCK MARKETING IN ETHIOPIA Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Belachew Hurrissa and Jemberu Eshetu..........................................................................................................................................1 Historical Development of Systematic Marketing of Livestock and Livestock Products in Ethiopia Sintayehu GebreMariam..................................................................................................................................................................15 Influence of animal diseases and sanitary regulations on livestock export trade and cases of export restrictions Wondwosen Asfaw............................................................................................................................................................................23 Critical Issues Impacting Livestock Trade in Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan Yacob Aklilu......................................................................................................................................................................................35 Opportunities and challenges of hides and skins trade in Ethiopia Girma Mekonnen..............................................................................................................................................................................49 Imperative and Challenges of Dairy Production, Processing and Marketing in Ethiopia Zegeye Yigezu ...................................................................................................................................................................................61 Poultry Marketing: Structure, Spatial Variations and Determinants of Prices in Eastern Shewa Zone, Ethiopia Kenea Yadeta, Legesse Dadi, and Alemu Yami .............................................................................................................................69 Promotion of dairy marketing using farmers’ cooperatives: Lessons from India Berhane Mekete1and Workneh Ayalew .........................................................................................................................................81 Challenges and opportunities to livestock and livestock products marketing in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region: A case study of Wolaita Zone Million Tadesse ................................................................................................................................................................................89 ANIMAL BREEDING / REPRODUCTION The effect of age and sex on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Horro lambs Gemeda Duguma, Takele Kumsa, Ulfina Galmessa and Solomon Abegaz .................................................................................99 Effects of sire and dam breed genotypes on preweaning traits of calves in indigenous (Boran and Barka) and indigenous X Bos Taurus crossbred cattle Hailu Dadi ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 105 Reproduction efficiency of zebu and crossbred cows as measured by the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals at Bako Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes, Azage Tegegne, M.L.Diedhiou and B.P. Hegde ................................................................... 111 Reproductive and growth performance of Fogera cattle and their F1 Friesian crosses at Metekel ranch, Ethiopia Addisu Bitew and B.Prabhakar Hegede ...................................................................................................................................... 119 Performance of two and three way crossbred dairy cattle at Holetta Research Center in central highlands of Ethiopia: Growth Rate Gizachew Bekele, Zelalem Yielma, Taddese Bekele, Alemu G/wold, Sendros Demeke, Yohannes Gojjam and Roman H/Silassie .......................................................................................................................................................................... 127 10th ESAP-Proceedings iii Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Body weight dynamics of zebu and crossbred cows in relation to postpartum reproduction under sub humid climate of Bako Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes, Azage Tegegne, M.L.Diedhiou and B.P. Hegde ................................................................... 133 Evaluation of the General Farm Characteristics and Dairy Herd Structure in Urban and Peri-Urban Dairy Production System in the Addis Ababa Milk Shed Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and N.N. Umunna .......................................................................................... 139 PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Managing Risk in Pastoral Systems: Research and Outreach Experiences of the Pastoral Risk management (PARIMA) Project in Southern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya Getachew Gebru, Solomon Desta, and D. Layne Coppock........................................................................................................ 147 The declining pastoral environment, vulnerability status and adaptation strategy Bruke Yemane................................................................................................................................................................................ 155 Assessment of the Livestock Production System, Available Feed Resources and Marketing Situation in Belesa Woreda: A Case Study in Drought Prone Areas of Amhara Region Tessema Zewdu, Aklilu Agidie and Ameha Sebsibe.................................................................................................................... 165 Variations in nutrient intake of dairy cows and feed balance in urban and peri-urban dairy production systems in Ethiopia Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and N.N. Ummuna ......................................................................................... 177 Milk Production, milk composition and body weight change of crossbred dairy cows in urban and peri-urban dairy production systems in Ethiopia Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and N.N. Ummuna ......................................................................................... 185 Major Animal Health Problems based on the Opinion of Pastoralists, Agropastoralist, and Sedentary Farmers and Condition of Animal Health Services in Shinille Zone of Somali National Regional State Bekele Tafese, Eshetu Yimer and A. Yohanus ............................................................................................................................. 193 Traditional processing of camel meat and milk, and marketing of camels, milk and hides in After Zone of Somali National Regional State, Ethiopia Ahmed. Sh Mohamed, B.P Hegde and Bekele Tafesse ............................................................................................................... 201 On-Station and On-Farm Evaluation of the ‘Hay-Box Chick Brooder’ Using Different Insulation Materials at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center and Denbi Village, Adaa Wereda Negussie Dana, Alemu Yami, Tadelle Dessie, Samuel W/Hana ................................................................................................ 211 FEED PRODUCTION AND USE Integration of forage legumes in to maize based cropping systems in Western Ethiopia: Effect of intercropping of Lablab purpureus and Vicia atropurpurea on maize grain and total forage yields Diriba Geleti and Lemma Gizachew............................................................................................................................................ 219 Regrowth age and nitrgen application effects on yield and nutritional quality of Panicum coloratum Diriba Geleti.................................................................................................................................................................................. 223 Evaluation of sorghum and millet green fodder for their nutritive value at two stages of growth Kenea Feyissa, Mahendra Singh, M.L. Verma and Ashok Kumar ............................................................................................ 231 Plant growth characteristics and productivity of Napier Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum (L.) Schumach.) as affected by plant height at cutting, sources and levels of fertiliser Tessema Zewdu, R.M.T Baars and Alemu Yami ......................................................................................................................... 239 Effect of manure and nitrogen fertilization on establishment, herbage yield and seed productivity of perennial grasses Getinet Assefa, Fekede Feyissa and Abreham Gebeyehu .......................................................................................................... 245 iv 10th ESAP-Proceedings Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Methods of Perennial Grass Establishment, Forage Productivity on Fallow Lands and Their Effect on The Subsequent Barley Crop Getnet Assefa, Abreham Gebeyehu, Fekede Feyissa and Berhane Lakew ............................................................................... 257 Potential of forages legumes to replace the traditional fallow-barley rotation system in the cool - high land of bale Teshome Abate, Tekleyohannes Berhanu, Solomon Bogale and Dagnachew Worku .............................................................. 265 Effects of intra-row spacing and cutting height of Calliandra calothyrsus on maize grain yield in alley cropping system Abebe Yadessa............................................................................................................................................................................... 269 Strategy of leguminous fodder tree seedlings to cope with poor nursery growing media Abebe Yadessa............................................................................................................................................................................... 277 Effect of undersowing annual forage legumes on grain and dry matter stalk yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and dry matter forage yield in the Eastern Amhara region Samuel Menbere and Mesfin Dejene ........................................................................................................................................... 285 On-farm evaluation of different seeding rates of Oat and Vetch mixtures in barley-based double cropping system of the Bale highlands Tekleyohannes Berhanu, Teshome Abate, Solomon Bogale and Dagnachew Worku.............................................................. 293 ANIMAL NUTRITION Effect of plant height at cutting on rumen organic matter and neutral detergent fibre degradation of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schumach.) and their relationship with in vitro dry matter digestibility Tessema Zewdu, R. M. T. Baars and Alemu Yami ...................................................................................................................... 301 Variations in dry matter yield and nutritive value of Panicum coloratum and Stylosanthes guianensis mixed pasture as influenced by harvesting cycles Diriba Geleti, Robert Baars and M. Y. Kurtu ............................................................................................................................. 311 The effect of protein and energy concentrate supplementation on milk yield in dromedary camels Moges Dereje and Arega Peter Udén.......................................................................................................................................... 319 Effects of supplementation with L. purpureus, graded levels of L. pallida 14203 or S. sesban 1198 on feed intake and live weight gain of Menz sheep Solomon Melaku, Kurt J. Peters and Azage Tegegne................................................................................................................. 327 Effect of noug cake and Sesbania sesban supplementation on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of Horro rams Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes, Diriba Geleti, Lemma Gizachew, Yohannes Gojam and Gemeda Duguma....................... 355 Nutrient utilization efficiency of lactating crossbred dairy cows supplemented different levels of concentrate diets Tadesse Bekele, Zelalem Yilma, Yohannes Gojjam and Alemu Gebre Wold............................................................................ 341 Milk yield and economic evaluation of two concentrate feeds to crossbred Boran x Friesian (BF) and Boran Jersey (BJ) dairy cows at Holetta Research Center Rehrahie Mesfin, Yohannes Gojam and Agajie Tesfaye............................................................................................................. 347 Dry matter intake, milk production and physical measurements of crossbred dairy cows supplemented with varying levels of concentrate. Zelalem Yilma, Tadesse Bekele, Yohannes Gojjam and Alemu G/Wold ................................................................................... 355 Effect of different legume supplementation on milk production performance of Borana Goats Lemma Fita, Lemma Aberra, Nega Tolla and Tesfaye Alemu................................................................................................... 363 Effect of zinc and iodine supplementation on the intake and digestibility of nutrients by crossbred heifers Tekleyohannes Berhanu and I.S. Agrawal .................................................................................................................................. 367 10th ESAP-Proceedings v Ethiopian Society of Animal Production POSTERS The status and prospects of kombolcha poultry breeding and multiplication center Amsalu Asfaw ................................................................................................................................................................................ 375 Genetic Dilution of the Ethiopian Boran cattle Nigatu Alemayehu, Getachew Gebru and Workneh Ayalew ..................................................................................................... 377 Closing Remark ................................................................................................................................................................................. 383 List of Participants............................................................................................................................................................................. 386 vi 10th ESAP-Proceedings Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Preface This publication is the Proceedings of the 10th Annual Conference of ESAP held between 22 and 25 August 2002 in Addis Ababa at the Headquarter of the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organisation. It is the tenth publication of this series of Proceedings of ESAP with the theme. The theme of this Conference, ‘Marketing of Livestock and Livestock Products: challenges and opportunities’, was decided in a joint meeting of the outgoing and incoming executive committees of ESAP as well as members of the editorial board of the Ethiopian Journal of Animal Production (EJAP) on 28 September, 2001. The decision was made, in accordance with the constitution of ESAP, to provide a common forum for exchange of ideas on a focal issue for advancement of animal production in Ethiopia. The purpose was to draw the attention of members of ESAP, other researchers and policy makers to the dire need to identifying policy and institutional options for improving the efficiency of livestock marketing in Ethiopia. This decision went in line with the consensus built during the 9th annual Conference of ESAP, as well as in similar recent forums, that technical and policy support is needed to help transform the dominant traditional livestock production systems into market-oriented and integrated production operations. There is a general consensus that the marketing of livestock and livestock products in Ethiopia is underdeveloped. This is critical because viable markets ideally serve as engines for development of livestock production, processing, consumption, and for attracting investment, which are ultimately reflected in greater overall benefits generated from the livestock resources of the country. It is argued, therefore, that limitations at all levels of the production and marketing chain influence all the stakeholders involved, including producers, processors, traders and consumers of the products. Unfortunately, the changing official national policy guidelines on livestock marketing in the past several decades have not been very helpful to maintain sustained policy and investment support for the sector. The Proceedings is partitioned for convenience into six chapters. Nine invited and selected plenary papers on the theme of the conference are included in the lead chapter. A further 38 articles follow in the subsequent chapters: 7 in Animal breeding & reproduction, 8 in production systems, 11 in feed production & use, 10 in Animal Nutrition and 2 in poster presentations. These articles were selected out of a total of 79 submissions made to the Conference, after all of them have undergone the essential review process in an attempt to maintain high scientific standards. The reviews were done by a selected set of volunteer researchers, academicians and development practitioners, and the whole process has been managed by the elected ESAP Editors. This is important because the ESAP Proceedings happen to be the only source of current research publication for many members of ESAP who work and live far from academic and research institutions. It is unfortunate that one invited and three technical papers presented at the Conference could not be included here because the authors could not produce in time the revised versions of their articles. Most of the printing costs of this publication were covered by the finances of ESAP, which weigh heavily on the financial status of the society. Let us take this opportunity to encourage members of ESAP and other users of the Proceedings to help us in soliciting available funds from the institutions and organizations that they work with. We hereby express our gratitude to the reviewers and editors who offered their valuable time for this service of ESAP. With the support of its members and the respective institutions, ESAP will continue to promote the advancement of animal production in Ethiopia and provide scientific forums for exchange of ideas. Comments and ideas of this kind help us operate faster and wider, and these are always welcome. Workneh Ayalew, Ph.D. President, ESAP 10th ESAP-Proceedings vii Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Welcome Address Workneh Ayalew, President, Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), 22 August 2002. Your Excellency Ato Fantaye Biftu, State Minister of Trade and Industry, Invited Guests and Members of ESAP, On behalf of the Executive Committee of ESAP and myself, I welcome you all to this 10th Annual Conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production. Annual Conferences of ESAP are meant to promote the advancement of animal production in Ethiopia through scientific research, periodic exchange of ideas and information, and cultivation of interest in animal production science and development. The Conference also fosters dissemination of current information and knowledge generated in the spheres of animal production to interested professionals, policy makers and development practitioners. Ladies and Gentlemen, As you have noted, the theme of this Conference is “ Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia”, on which 10 invited and selected plenary papers are presented. A further 44 technical papers are also presented during the course of this Conference, covering a wide range of issues in production and marketing of livestock products: 12 on feed production, 12 on animal nutrition, 10 on animal breeding and reproduction and 10 on various aspects of production systems. All the papers have undergone the mandatory independent review process to maintain the required high level of scientific standard. As a matter of fact, the ESAP proceedings provide easily accessible forums for publication by professionals of animal production and associated fields in Ethiopia. Partly driven by this reality, last year ESAP launched its official peer-reviewed Journal, the Ethiopian Journal of Animal Production (EJAP), the second issue of which has just been published. This year, the Executive Committee of ESAP is pleased to have sponsored a special publication on forage development, which is the third in this series. It is an extension manual on improved forage production in Ethiopia based on the long years of experience of the author, Ato Alemayehu Mengistu. This publication is meant to serve interests in research, teaching and extension in Ethiopia. It is on sale during the Conference at reduced prices to members of ESAP, and the income generated from the sale of this publication will directly go to the Society. By donating a camera-ready version of this publication free of charge to our Society, not only has the author made another major professional contribution to the field, but also set a first-rate example for other professionals to document and share their wealth of experience. Please join me in congratulating Ato Alemayehu Mengistu for this outstanding and exemplary contribution to our Society. ESAP has also initiated, with the support of several institutions, a rather big project to prepare an electronic repository of selected research reports, strategic documents and other publications on CD-ROM. If succeeded, this could be a major undertaking, not only to our Society but also to overall agricultural research and development in Ethiopia. Your Excellency Ato Fantaye Biftu, Conference participants, Let me state some background on the theme of this Conference. As stated in the ESAP Newsletter, the concept of marketing is relevant both to the producer and consumer, irrespective of the type of livestock or livestock products and across all production systems. Markets provide the vital link and, in fact, the driving force for improvement of the production-to-consumption process. Hence, constraints at various levels of the marketing chain are the concern of producers, traders, consumers and policy makers alike. The debate on the type of appropriate interventions for the improvement of livestock production and 10th ESAP-Proceedings ix Ethiopian Society of Animal Production productivity in Ethiopia should be taken beyond production. As vividly demonstrated by the haphazard marketing practices of livestock and livestock products, and particularly the difficulties in marketing of meat and milk, serious concerns for animal production should also appreciate post-production technical and policy issues that determine overall success. Not only do markets pose technical challenges, but also provide opportunities for smallholder subsistence producers to gradually commercialise their operations to increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods. So much so that measures to improve food security in many traditional production systems, such as in pastoral communities, can mean market-centred interventions to increase the contribution of livestock to household welfare. Despite the huge livestock numbers that we always take pride from, the national and per capita production of livestock and livestock products, earnings from livestock, and per capita consumption of food from livestock origin have been declining in recent years. The estimated output of meat and milk barely increased while the human population continues to grow about 3% per annum. Explanation for this disturbing trend has to be sought not only in the production of the desired products but also in their marketing. In fact, the biological growth in production also needs the pulling effect of viable markets. The intriguing fact is that we more frequently hear and remember of the number of livestock that succumb to drought than we manage to export or trade in the domestic market. Culture and tradition alone do not fully explain why we still prefer to have home slaughter of meat animals rather than get the services of organised and safe facilities. Both small and large livestock are marketed in every corner of cities when there are designated market places. Livestock producers are deprived of the incentive of producing for a demanding market for lack of systems of grading for livestock products. This Conference is intended to address some of the following critical issues in Ethiopia, and come up with some feasible recommendations: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. What lessons, both positive and negative, can be learnt from past and present government policy support to livestock marketing, that has begun only in the early 1970s? Why is private investment very cautious to go into livestock development despite the widely held belief that our livestock resource base has huge potentials for development? Why is the demand for livestock and their products, both in the export and domestic markets, not strong, and what needs to be done to attract larger export markets and revitalise the domestic market? What is the basis for the reportedly weak (not to say poor) markets for the emerging commercial dairy and leather industries? Prevalence of certain animal diseases have been, and still are, major obstacles in the export of live animals, hides & skins and other livestock products. What realistic measures are essential, by way of policy design, in the short and long-term? Are there relevant regional/global experiences? Despite government’s vigilant controls, and even bans, cross-border trade of livestock continues to operate. What is the rationale behind, and the implications of, the current policy that regards crossborder trade of livestock as illegal? Ladies and Gentlemen, We believe this Conference brings together the current state of knowledge in marketing policy and practice. The Executive Committee of ESAP would like to express its sincere appreciation for the support received from official sponsors of this Conference: Alemaya University, the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission, Save the Children – USA and the Global Livestock – Collaborative Research Support Program in California (GL-CRSP). We also greatly appreciate the participation in this Conference of all invited speakers for having accepted our invitation. May, I now call up on His Excellency Ato Fantaye Biftu, State Minister of Trade and Industry, to officially open this 10th Annual Conference of ESAP. Thank you. x 10th ESAP-Proceedings Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Opening Address By H.E. Ato Fantaye Biftu, State Minister of Trade and Industry Dear distinguished guests, Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure and feel honoured to address the opening session of the 10th annual conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP). Professionals, researchers, business men and various stockholders are here today to discuss on an important issue, the issue of livestock and livestock product marketing which is, indeed, the concern of government as well as literally the whole economy of the country. It is frequently told that Ethiopia is home to an enormous population of livestock. More importantly this resource harbours huge genetic variation and hence the capacity for improvements in productivity across different agro-ecological zones. This phenomenon has persisted for many years because livestock in Ethiopia is an essential component of the overall farming system mainly serving as a source of draught power for the large majority of the rural farming community. The importance of livestock doesn't stop here; it plays significant role in provision of food, cloth, fuel and serves as a source of cash income. This sub-sector also contributes an estimated 16% to the total GDP and over 30% to the agricultural GDP. Among the valuable products, skin and hides account for 12 to 16% of the total export earnings. Although the livestock sub-sector ranks second in foreign exchange earnings of the country, its highest contribution to the total GDP was only 16%. In fact, the sector has not as yet produced the required high quality livestock products, and therefore a considerable amount of the country's export earnings is spent on the import of these essential products. The major impeding factors in the production of high quality livestock products are: • Prevalence of contagious and killer animal diseases, • Recurrent drought and low nutritional standard, • Inadequate infrastructure, • Lack of adequate marketing information system • Poor product quality • Inadequate skilled human power. As a result of all these interrelated problems, the livestock sub-sector remained largely underdeveloped under traditional management practices. The theme of this conference, " Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia", emerges from the existing inherent problems and I believe that this theme has come to surface at the right time. To this juncture, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has already embarked upon establishing relevant supportive institutions to speed up the livestock development processes in the country. The Livestock Marketing Authority, the Export Promotion Agency and the Leather Technology Institute are among the newly established institutions to meet these needs. The government is also committed to creating conducive conditions for the development of this sub sector by developing liberal free market economic policies, investment policies, rural development strategies, up grading of higher learning institutions and expansion of various vocational training centres. But to realize the intended development programs, strong collaboration among government constitutions, the private sector and professionals is very crucial so as to mobilize the limited resources we have for the benefit of the entire country. 10th ESAP-Proceedings xi Ethiopian Society of Animal Production And this conference is expected to raise the momentum in the debate on the attributes of viable productive livestock marketing, particularly on the current as well as emerging challenges and opportunities in its development. The conference participants need to thoroughly examine various improvement options, mode of collaboration and partnership to come up with recommendations that foster the country's aspiration for rapid development of its livestock sub-sector. Finally, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the sponsors and organizers of this Conference for making this conference a reality and for choosing the theme. I would like to wish you every success in your deliberations. Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to declare the 10th annual conference of ESAP officially opened. I thank you all. xii 10th ESAP-Proceedings CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF LIVESTOCK MARKETTING IN ETHIOPIA Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Belachew Hurrissa and Jemberu Eshetu Livestock Marketing Authority Abstract The paper focuses on the assessment of the opportunities and challenges of livestock marketing in Ethiopia with emphasis on exports. Ethiopia’s varied agroecological zones have put the country at an advantageous position in possessing relatively huge number of different livestock species as compared to other African countries. Ethiopia’s lowland cattle breed, sheep, goats and camels are highly demanded in neighboring countries as well as the strategic livestock markets of the Middle East. Overall, relatively huge number of livestock resources, proximity to the export markets, conducive investment policies, the liberalization of the economy and the supports and attentions given by the government to export trade gives the country comparative advantages in livestock trade. However, inadequate market infrastructure, virtual absence of market information system, absence of market oriented livestock production system, inadequate number of exporting firms with low level of capacities, inadequate knowledge of international trade, low level of quarantine facilities and procedures, prevalence of various diseases, repeated bans, excessive cross-border illegal trade and stiff competitions etc are the major challenges that hinder the smooth livestock trade of Ethiopia. Background The country's agro-ecological zone is roughly divided into two major parts. The highlands with and altitude of over 1,500 meters above sea level and the lowlands with an altitude of less than 1,500 meters above sea level. The lowland pastoral areas are situated in the Eastern, South Eastern and Southern parts of the country. These are the Afar and the Somali regions and Borena and Omo zones in Oromiya and SNNP regions respectively. In the lowlands, where pastoral management system is practiced, livestock is the principal source of subsistence providing milk and cash income to cover family expenses for food grains and other essential consumer goods. Further, these lowland pastoral areas have been the traditional source of export animals due to surplus output and preferablity of the breeds in the Middle East Countries. To earn substantial benefit from this resource, the Government of Ethiopia have been undertaking various livestock development projects to increase productivity and enhance the well being of the community. The most important of these livestock and market development interventions are: Second Livestock Development Project:- As a result of this intervention Livestock and Meat Board was established to develop the sector through improved management and infrastructure development. The Board had six main divisions, out of which the livestock marketing division was the most important one. The major duties of the livestock marketing division were promotion of exports, improvement of market infrastructure and implementation of market development projects. In its life span, the Board succeeded in constructing market infrastructure (market places, livestock routes, quarantine stations abattoirs) establishment of ranches, marketing operations and implementation or rules and regulations that guide the development of improved marketing in the sub-sector. • Third Livestock Development Project - one of its major Objectives was to enable peasants fatten young bulls through balanced feed supply. Young bulls were purchased from surplus lowland areas and distributed to farmers in the highland areas on credit terms to be fattened on pasture and grain by-products. • Fourth Livestock Development Project - had a component of improving feed supply through introduction of improved forage seeds and implementation of pasture development techniques. • Livestock and livestock Products Market Development Department of the Ministry of Agriculture 10th ESAP-Proceedings 1 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production had a main objective of developing market information system in selected livestock markets, collect market information and create equitable access to all market participants. Further, the department used to provide technical advice concerning marketing of livestock and livestock products. As a result of these operations, the country had shown a modest success in exporting some 10,292 cattle and 138,621 shoats annually in the eighties. Over the last 3 years period of 1999 to 2001, on an average the country had exported some 55784 heads of live animals mainly shoats. Nevertheless, given the resource potential and market access, there is ample possibility to increase supply with a view to enhance the country's foreign exchange earning, and benefit the stakeholders including the community at grass root levels. To substantially raise the export quantity, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has taken an action and established the livestock Marketing Authority with the objective of promoting the domestic and export marketing of animal, animal products and by products through increasing supply and improving quality. The Authority's responsibilities include to: • initiate policies, laws and regulations, • issue quality control directives, • establish quarantine stations, • promote and expand domestic and foreign markets, • collect, analyze and distribute market information, • encourage and carryout market research, • encourage and provide support to promote the development and marketing of animals, animal products and by products. Despite its young age, the Authority has taken some encouraging actions to date. These include: 2 • After assessing the internal supply situations and identifying the major constraints, a five years work plan has been developed. • The Strategic export market situations, particularly, demand level, preferences, quality and quarantine regulations have been assessed. • Through a participatory approach, quality products handling and export slaughterhouse operation manuals have been produced and distributed. • Through participating in international trade faires, efforts have been made in promoting and introducing the country's livestock resources and exportable commodities to the potential buyers. • To overcome, the market infrastructure constraints, market places and slaughterhouses development project has been formulated and it is at a pre-implementation stage. • To organize livestock market information system/networks: o primarily, it has become necessary to establish an information network at LMA level and with the assistance of FAO/TCP, it is being implemented, o With the assistance of USAID on a pilot bases, livestock market information project covering five market areas from Borena, Gedeo, E.Shewa and Addis Ababa is in its implementation phase. o For broadcasting raw hides & skin price information, preparatory work is underway. o To build the capacity of the exporters full assistance has been extended to the stakeholders and as a result live animal & meat exporters association has been established. Some awareness creation programs have also been undertaken. o To create awareness among the stakeholders, a radio program has been going on for a year now. 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Objectives of the Study This paper assesses the potentials and constraints of livestock export and recommends measures to be taken in order to earn relative benefits from this huge resource. To this end, the major objectives will include to:• Critically assess the subsector's potential for enhanced supply for export, • Assess the market demand existing in the traditional markets and Neighboring countries, • Assess the challenges and limitations that need to be overcome in order to realize the potential, • Propose solutions that need to be undertaken at different levels to overcome constraints and straighten the market. Methodology and Data Sources. Information included in this paper is based on published and unpublished data collected from different offices and Web pages. The information has been tabulated, analyzed and interpreted as given in different sections of of the study. Assessment of Resource Potentials and Opportunities The Resource Potentials Based on the available information, the total livestock population of the country is estimated at 35 million heads of cattle, 24 million heads of sheep, 18 million heads of goats and 1 million camels. Of this resource, 20% of the cattle, 25% of the sheep and 73% of the goats and 100% of the camels are found in the lowland pastoral areas. Annual off take which is estimated at 10% for cattle, 35% for sheep. 38% for goats and 6.5% for camels. Based on these estimates, annual livestock off-take in the pastoral areas is given in table 1: Table 1. Livestock Population and Off Take In The Pastoral Areas (‘000 heads) National Livestock Population Description Pastoral Areas Population Annual Off take Cattle 35,433 7,091 709 Sheep 25,476 6,390 2,229 Goats 18,994 13,866 5,269 1,174 1,174 76 Camels The annual growth of livestock is estimated at 1.2% for cattle, 1% for sheep, 0.5% for goats and 1.14% for camels (MOA). Based on these growth rates, the livestock number of pastoral areas over the coming five years (2003 –07) will be as indicated in table 2 below. Table 2. Livestock Projections in the Pastoral Areas (in thousands) Description Cattle Livestock Number Over five Years 2003 7,176 2004 2005 2006 2007 7,262 7,349 7,437 7,526 Sheep 6,433 6,499 6,562 6,627 6,694 Goats 13,990 14,116 14,243 14,371 14,501 1,183 1,193 1,202 1,212 1,222 Camels Source: Projected from table 1 Livestock Marketing System In The Lowland Areas In pastoral areas, livestock are usually sold to meet family needs for cash income, which is used to buy food grains and industrial products such as clothing. Occasionally, seasonal shortage of rainfall through its impact on feed availability forces higher supply to market. The pastoralists’ forced supply is constrained by their inability to plan sales in accordance with market need (time and quality). The market outlets in these areas can be grouped into five depending on their destinations and the recipients. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 3 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Household Consumption: This includes consumption at household levels for feasts and holidays. Sheep and goats are slaughtered individually by each family while cattle are slaughtered commonly by close neighbors and related families for distribution among themselves. Local Areas Consumption: The recipients in this Category are non-pastoral populations residing in towns and urban centers in the pastoral areas. Supply is provided through market places. Clients are non-pastoral households, butcheries and caterers. Highland Consumption: The highland areas of the country are livestock deficit areas due to their high population density. Livestock, especially cattle are supplied from pastoral areas for meat and draught purposes. Contraband Trade: The pastoralists are situated in peripheral areas bordering neighboring countries. Thus, they are in the vicinity of neighboring countries’ markets for livestock. Livestock are traditionally flown out of the country from Afar & Somali regions, Borena zone of Oromia and Omo lowlands bordering Kenya. The neighboring countries bordering these areas either consume locally or re-export to the Middle East countries. Legal Exports: There are few legal exporters engaged in the export of live animals and meat in the country. These exporters secure livestock from pastoral areas by themselves or through agents for export in live or meat form (chilled mutton, goats meat and beef). Annual livestock supply: Based on the projections made (Table 2) and the estimated annual off take rates, the total annual livestock supply is projected and given in table 3. Table 3. Annual Livestock Off take In the pastoral Areas Over The Next Five Years (000’ heads) Description Annual Supply Off take (%) 2006 2007 Cattle 10 718 721 735 744 753 734 Sheep 35 2,252 2,275 2,297 2,319 2,343 2,297 Goats 38 5,316 5,364 5,412 5,461 5,510 5,413 77 77 78 79 79 78 Camels 2003 2004 6.5 2005 Annual average As indicated in the table above, over the next five years, the pastoral areas discussed earlier will have the potential to supply on an average: • 734 thousand heads of cattle, • 2.3 million heads of sheep, • 5.4 million heads of goats and • 78 thousand heads of camels annually both to the domestic and international markets. Domestic Demand and Exportable Resource Potentials Domestic Consumption Pastoraliats occasionally slaughter animals for home consumption especially during feasts. Further, there are towns in the rangelands for home slaughter and butcheries that supply non-farm population through retail shops. Further, some percent of livestock is supplied to the highland areas for meat consumption and draught power (young oxen). Local per capita meat consumption is estimated at 4.6 kg for beef and 2.8 Kg for mutton and goats meat. Further, some livestock is supplied to the highland areas for meat and draught power (young bulls). However, there is no sufficient information source that indicates annual livestock flow to the highland for draught power and meat. Thus, the following assumption is adopted to indicate the number of livestock demanded in the highland areas: • 4 For estimating demand for pastoral cattle in the highlands, cattle outflow through contraband and 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia pastoral areas own consumptions have been deducted from the year 2002 off- take. The balance which is estimated at 13% of the total off-take, is believed to be the highland demand for pastoral cattle for that year and the same rate /13%/ is used to project the future yearly demand as well. • The Ethiopian highlanders show little preference for lowland shoats for consumption. Thus, the annual flow of sheep and goats to the highlands is considered insignificant. Data on the consumption levels of camels meat are not available. Thus, an attempt has been made to, however, estimate local consumption indirectly. A study of an illegal cross border trade made by LMA indicates an annual out flow of 16,000 heads of camels per year. Taking unnoticed annual outflow across the border into account, the illegal trade quantity is estimated at 20,000 heads of camels. Thus, the difference between the annual off take and illegal export is assumed to be domestic consumption levels. Therefore, based on the above assumptions, the total domestic demand for pastoral livestock is indicated in table 4. Comparing the annual offtake of different livestock species to that of domestic demand, there is substantial surplus. The domestic market will approximately consume on an average some: • 56 percent of the cattle offtake, • 46 percent of the sheep offtake • 22 percent of the goats offtake and • 70 percent of the camels that are annually available from pastoral areas. Table 4. Domestic Demand Forecast Category 2002 Human Population in Million 1. Local lowland Consumption Beef (000 MT) Mutton " Goat meat " Livestock Equiva. (000 heads) Cattle Sheep Goats Camels 7 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 7.2 7.3 7.5 7.7 7.9 32,200 9,800 9,800 33,120 10,080 10,080 33,580 10,220 10,220 34,500 10,500 10,500 35,420 10,780 10,780 36,340 11,060 11,060 293 980 1,089 53 301 1,008 1,120 54 305 1,022 1,135 54 314 1,050 1,167 55 322 1,078 1,198 55 330 1,106 1,229 55 92 93 94 95 97 98 385 980 1,089 53 394 1,008 1,120 54 399 1,022 1,135 54 409 1,050 1,167 55 419 1,078 1,198 55 428 1,106 1,229 55 2. Highland Demand for Cattle (000' heads) Total Domestic Demand (000' heads) Cattle Sheep Goats Camels Source: Own computation Therefore, the annual surpluses that are available for exports to the international markets are given in table 5 below: Table 5. Livestock Available for Exports (000' heads) Category 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 1. Annual off-take Cattle Sheep Goats Camels 709 2,229 5,269 76 718 2,252 5,316 77 726 2,275 5,364 77 735 2,297 5,412 78 744 2,319 79 753 2,343 5,510 79 2. Domestic Consumption Cattle Sheep Goats Camels 385 980 1,089 53 394 1,008 1,120 54 399 1,022 1,135 54 409 1,050 1,167 55 419 1,078 1,198 55 428 1,106 1,229 55 3. (1-2) Available for Exports (Surplus) Cattle Sheep Goats Camels 324 1,249 4,180 23 324 1,244 4,196 23 327 1,253 4,229 23 326 1,247 4,245 23 325 1,241 4,263 24 325 1,237 4,287 24 Source: Computed from tables 3 and 4. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 5 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production International Market Demand Assessment Meat World demand Based on information received from FAO, the world meat import stood at 2,759,192 tones for the year 2000. Out of this, beef and veal constituted 67% while mutton and goats meat accounted for 31% and 2% respectively. Africa The annual meat import by African countries is estimated at 86,043 tonnes with a value of 92 million Dollars. The percentage share is 39 and 61 percent for beef and mutton respectively. Middle East The Middle East countries which are covered in this study include Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, S.Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. These countries have a total population of 207 million with annual growth rate of 2.2 percent per annum. Their annual meat demand is estimated at 206,846 tones and valued at 399 million Dollars. Of this, beef and veal account for 48% while the share of mutton and goats' meat is 46 and 6 percent respectively. The overall import levels of different economic regions that have been discussed above are summarized in the following table. Table 6: Summary of Meat Imports by Different Economic Regions. Commodity World Africa Beef & Veal Quantity (MT) Value ('000 USD) 1,858,276 3,845,812 32,844 51,607 100,351 182,792 Mutton & Lambs. Quantity (MT) Value ('000 USD) 864,621 2,167,134 53,059 40,512 95,289 191,017 Goats meat Quantity Value ('000 U.S.D) 36,295 78,242 140 250 11,206 18,486 2,759,192 6,091,188 86,043 92,399 206,846 392,295 Total Quantity (M.T) Value '000 U.S.D. Middle East Source: FAO Database Live animals World The world demand for live animals stood at 26,477,214 heads in the year 2000. Out of this number, cattle and shoats accounted for 31.5 and 68 percent respectively. The total value of this import was 5 billion US Dollars. Africa African countries imported 3.2 million heads of live animals at a value of 480 million dollars in the year 2000. Sheep and goats accounted for 74 percent of the total. The share of cattle and camels stood at 25 and one percent respectively. Middle East The Middle East countries have on an average annual estimated import of 12 million heads of live animals (cattle, sheep, goats and camels). The total import value is estimated at 656 million Dollars. The major import animals are sheep accounting for 83 percent of the total, followed by goats, which is 14 percent of the total. Cattle and camels constitute 3 percent. Therefore, one can summaries that the strategic Middle East countries demands annually:- 6 • Some 207 thousands tons of meat, • 12 million heads of cattle camels & shoats. 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Similarly, African countries demand: • 86 thousands tons of meat and • 3.2 million heads of cattle & shoats. Therefore, from the above discussions, it can be concluded that: • relatively huge number of exportable surplus livestock resources, • proximity to the export markets, • presence of substantial demand for livestock and meat in the strategic markets, • liberalization of the trade, • governments supports to the export trade will give the country a comparative advantage in livestock trade. Table 7. Live Animals Imported by Different Economic Regions Category World Africa Middle East 8,343,580 4,150,838 787,453 363,608 226,478 108,843 15,966,008 792,271 1,968,565 87,128 10,086,539 481,647 Quantity (no) Value ('000 SD) 2,080,778 77,965 360,872 21,840 1,704,197 49,540 Quantity (no) Value ('000 SD) 86,848 18,730 40,302 7,343 63,396 16,159 Quantity (no) Value ('000 SD) 26,477,214 5,039,804 3,157,192 479,919 12,080,610 656,189 Cattle Quantity (no) Value ('000 SD) Sheep Quantity (no) Value ('000 USD) Goats Camels Total Source: FAO Database Challenges Although Ethiopia has ample potential to export its livestock and livestock products to the Middle East and make further improvement to enter other markets, there are challenges that should be dealt with inorder to realize these benefits. These challenges can be roughly grouped into internal and external challenges. Internal Challenges The internal challenges are many and inter connected. Their major cause is under development and lack of market oriented production approach and entrepreneurial capacity by the stakeholders. These internal problems can be grouped into four depending upon the specific area to which they fall. Supply Problems Inadequate Information on Available Resource The country’s livestock number, annual off-take, productivity, and consumption levels are not adequately known. This creates problems in planning and designing of policies to enhance the sector’s development. Prevalence of Diseases. In Ethiopia, there are many livestock diseases that create frequent livestock mortalities. The presence of livestock diseases apart from affecting the efficiency of production hampers export market development as a result of frequent bans by importing countries. Over the past few years, the country has lost a substantial market share and foreign exchange earnings due to frequent bans by the Middle East countries due to the Rift Valley and FMD outbreaks respectively in the Republic of Yemen and U.K. Archaic Traditional Production System Pastoralists consider their livestock as means of saving or capital accumulation. Livestock are sold when need arises for cash income or when shortage of feed and water occurs. There is no effort to strategically produce for the market by adjusting and planning production to market needs. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 7 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Production planning in terms of time, type and quality of supply to maximize income is non existent due to lack of entrepreneurial awareness (traditional handling system). Further, the private sector has not yet proved its adequacy in promoting production through additional investment and creation of marketable surplus. Further, the scattered individualistic production system is exposed to the vagaries of natural conditions (drought, disease outbreak – etc.), which frequently affects the herd size and outputs. Illegal Export Trade Recent studies estimate annual outflow of livestock through borders (illegally) at 325,800 cattle, 1.15 million shoats and 16,000 camels. The sources of this illegal export are Afar and Somali Regions, Borena and East Hararghe Zones in Oromia and South Omo of the SNNP. The immediate destinations for such exports are Djibouti, Somalia and Kenya. The livestock are mostly for re-export to the Middle East Countries from Somalia. The Djibouti's and Kenyans` re-export after meeting their domestic consumption. This loss of exportable surplus has affected the country through loss of foreign exchange; income taxes and its impact on legal livestock trade. Problems Related to Development Initiatives The traditional herd management system is not adequately supported through introduction of improved breeding and feeding system. The local breeds are not differentiated and improved for particular purpose. As a result, off take rates and yield has not kept pace with the virtually growing demand. Unlike other countries, there is no breeding policy. Inadequacy of Infrastructure The sources of livestock for export are pastoral areas that are far from the center. The Afar and Somali Regions, parts of Borena in Oromiya are lowland areas forming internal boundary to neighboring countries. Further, the pastoral livestock producers are scattered through large expanse of lowland and semi-arid areas. For efficient marketing, adequate livestock markets, stock routes, resting places, quarantine stations need to be developed to allow easy access to traders for assembling and transporting livestock. However, these infrastructures are poorly developed in the pastoral areas. Further, export standard slaughterhouses are located in central areas far from surplus producing areas. In addition, transport facilities that allow adequate flow of livestock and meat are not adequately employed. Problems Related to Marketing Absence of Effective grading System:- Livestock marketing is based on quality standards. Animals selection is purely based on eye- appraisals and exchange takes place on bargaining. Absence of Market Information System – There is no reliable source of information neither on export demand nor on domestic supply situations. Thus, producers, traders, exporters and support giving institutions are constrained by shortage of market information to rely on for enhancing production, marketing and exports. Absence of Promotional Activities – Effective export requires knowledge of the client’s requirement, producing according to needs and creation of awareness on availability of products to the clients. So far, little effort has been undertaken to strengthen demand in the clients’ countries and creating segments in other counties, by publicizing the special features of our products. 8 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Absence of Capable Private Sector Active participation of private sector is required to enhance production and promote export. However, currently there are few livestock exporters and a few meat processors and exporters. These firms have relatively low capital as well as inadequate knowledge of international trade. Absence of Quarantine Facilities To inter the international markets, well-equipped livestock quarantine stations are required. However, under our conditions these facilities are not in a place. The Ministry of agriculture should establish necessary quarantine facilities at appropriate locations and introduce necessary procedures. The government should also allocate necessary budgets and assign relevant staff. Livestock maintaining costs could be covered by the stakeholders. External Challenges Competition Many countries compete for livestock and products markets in the Middle East. The main competition for Ethiopia comes from Somalia, Sudan, South America, Australia, Newzealand, Eastern Europe and the European Union. Available information indicates that Somalia exports up to 2 million heads of sheep and goats and 10,000 heads of cattle a year. Its major source of supply is believed to be the Ethiopian Somali Region, Eastern Hararghe and parts of Bale zones of Oromia. In South America, the major exporters are Uruguay and Argentina. These countries have a disease free status that has given them comparative advantages within their regions, Europe and the Middle East. According to FAO database, Australia and Newzealand are the largest exporters of live sheep and mutton to the Middle East. They have gained a secure market position through the benefits of extensive livestock production and the strategy they have adopted for sustainable supply at competitive prices to these countries. Further, they have a livestock disease free status as well. The European Union is a surplus producer of livestock and livestock products, which has been possible through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Their Exports are competitive due to the export subsidies adapted to maintain a reliable domestic production. However, because of FMD and mad cow disease their market share in the Middle East has relatively declined. As compared to others, Ethiopia has certain advantages on its competitors which it can capitalize upon. These are the preferred animal types, location and stable supply. The Ethiopian livestock (cattle, sheep and goat) are the preferred breeds in the Middle East, as they are organically produced and the meat is of good tastes. The proximity of the country to the Middle East has also cost advantage due to lower transport costs. Repeated Bans Importing countries frequently ban imports of meat and livestock from the horn as a result of outbreaks of livestock diseases. Thus, concerned institutions should work closely to detect an outbreak of Major diseases and make necessary precautions. Inadequate Port Facilities Currently, the Djibouti port is the only port for exporting livestock to the Middle East countries. However, the port is ill-equipped for handling large number of livestock. The livestock-resting place is too small. It has no sufficient fencing and there is no compartment for handling different categories of livestock and isolation of sick animals. Summary and Conclusions In summary, it can be concluded that the country has substantial livestock export potentials. The major conducive factors for such opportunity are: • Availability of surplus and exportable resources estimated on an average at 324,000 cattle, 1.02 million sheep, 4.02 million goats and 23,000 camels annually. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 9 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production • Presence of conducive investment and export policies which include: • Tax holidays on production and processing investments, • Duty free import of machinery and equipment required for new investments, • Tax free privilege for exports, • Credit guarantee schemes for products destined for exports, • Establishment of support giving institutions such as Livestock Marketing Authority and Ethiopian Export Promotion Agency with a responsibility to promote exports. • Availability of demand in the strategic Middle East countries which is estimated at 206,846 tnnes of meat, 226,478 eads of cattle, 11.8 million shoats and 63,396 camels. If Ethiopia exports all its exportable livestock surpluses, it will have 46 and 36 percent market shares respectively for shoats and camels. Thus, there is substantial potential for exporting these animals. On the other hand, the surplus exportable cattle are higher than the demand in the Middle East countries by 44 percent even if the countries import Ethiopian beef cattle and hence market outlets in other countries need to be studied. However, there are also challenges and constraints that should be overcome in order to realize the benefits. These challenges can be grouped into two major parts: the internal and the external challenges. The internal challenges are many and interconnected. Their major cause could be attributed to under development and lack of market orientation and entrepreneurial capacity by the stakeholders. These internal problems can be grouped into four parts depending upon the specific area to which they fall:supply, infrastructure, marketing and others. Problems related to supply include inadequacy of information on supply, prevalence of diseases, traditional management system, illegal exports and failures to introduce exogenous inputs. The overall result of these problems are reflected in low annual off take and low productivity per livestock. The presence of sufficient infrastructure is of paramount importance for efficient marketing of livestock, as they link producers with consumers, processors and exporters. However, market infrastructures such as stock routes, resting places and quarantine stations are poorly developed. Further, there is inadequate number of export slaughterhouses and transport facilities, which are mostly situated at the center. The marketing system is not well developed to enhance efficient marketing. Grading and standardization, market information system, promotional activities and planned marketing which are all the attributes of efficient marketing are not adequately developed to enhance efficiency in the continuous flow of livestock from production areas to chain of markets through livestock routes. Other problems in the sector include inadequacy of skilled manpower; lack of market orientation by stakeholders, scarcity of capital which all influence the sector’s performance. Recommendations In order to realize the available export potentials, the various supply problems and marketing should be understood so as to devise measures. Further, the external challenges need to be overcome through need assessment and promotional activities. The following are measures required to achieve the anticipated results. Supply Resource assessment:- For effective planning, the country’s livestock resources should be studied in detail so that the type, breeds and their geographical distribution could be known. Disease control:- In order to avoid the frequently imposed bans and increase supply, major diseases should be controlled by strengthening the present veterinary service through vaccination and availing veterinary medicine at 10 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia reasonable prices. Especially the pastoral areas should be disease free zones as they are source of export animals. Creating Market Awareness Among Pastorlists The traditional marketing system where cattle are sold only when need arises should be developed into market oriented production system that takes into account market demand and profits. Revitalizing the Private Sector Irrespective of Government initiatives to strengthen investment and trade, the number of participants and their entrepreneurial capacity is inadequate to promote production, and exports. Therefore, especial attention is required to study the weakness and formulate polices to create a capable private sector that can handle the productive, transportation, processing and export activities effectively. Control of contraband trade Based on recent study of LMA, illegal cross-border out flow is estimated at 325,800 cattle, 1.2 million shoats and 16,000 camels annually. A conducive legal channel need to be developed so that the foreign exchange loss could be stopped. This requires development of market infrastructure and service facilities along borders, development of banking and transit services and implement strategies with neighboring countries for legalizing trade along their borders. Livestock Breeding Policy The present livestock breeds need to be studied so as to identify their merits and the breeding system need to be directed in improving productivity in a systematic way. The ruminant livestock development policy and strategy of the Ministry of Agriculture can be a good starting point for this activity. Infrastructure Development Efficient marketing requires improved infrastructure that allows efficient flow of livestock, processing and marketing. The major infrastructures for livestock marketing include livestock routes and transportation facilities, improved slaughters houses, livestock resting sites, and storage and quarantine facilities at required sites. This further requires development of regulation on standards and procedures and encouragement for the private sector. Improved Marketing Market Research and Information System The existing livestock markets are loosely integrated due to lack of sufficient market information. Thus, a market information system is required that allows stakeholders to get information on quantity and price, both on the domestic and foreign markets. Further, market research need to be undertaken to identify problems and constraints in the marketing system and to know the requirements of the external market. This allows us to design policies and regulations that allows to have effective production and marketing system internally and to match supply with the external demand. Market Promotion Modern marketing requires effective promotional activities designed to acquaint products with potential buyers. This can be done through different ways. The most important are workshops, seminars, brochures, and mass media, trade fair both locally and abroad by involving all concerned (stakeholders, public institutions and foreign embassies, etc) Grading and Standardization Grading and standardization reduces marketing costs and enhances communication between buyers and sellers. Thus, the development of grades and regulation for livestock and meat marketing is an important facilitating factor, especially for exports. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 11 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Professional Development (Capacity Building) At the moment, there is shortage of skilled manpower in livestock marketing. The different activities of assembling, transporting, processing, storage and distribution require special skills tailored towards the special characteristics of livestock and meat trade. Financial Support The available credit facilities are inadequate and require long bureaucratic procedures. financial policy needs to be redesigned to allow easy access to promote investment and trade. Thus, the Annex Annex I. Average Annual Import of Meat (1996-2000) by The Middle East Countries Meat (MT) Country Value (000’ USD) Beef & Veal Mutton & Lamb Bahrain 1,474 831 27 3,332 5,494 2,064 50 Egypt 1,456 883 - 2,339 2309 1797 - 4106 13,706 12,874 - 26,580 29170 20618 - 49788 Jordan 7,005 9,704 - 16,709 13199 17728 - 30927 Kuwait 10,836 164 3,627 11,000 23639 573 7326 31538 Oman 570 6,081 558 7,209 1005 9798 941 11744 Qatar 1,680 1,480 - 3,160 3800 3720 - 7520 14,778 43,150 6,994 64,922 32104 87670 10169 129943 - 506 - 506 - 705 - 705 44,442 19,431 - 63,873 67560 45934 - 113494 Iran S.Arabia Syria U.A.E Yemen Total Goats Meat Total Mutton & Lamb Beef & Veal Gots Meat Total 7,608 3,404 185 - 3,589 4431 410 - 4841 100,351 95,289 11,206 206,846 182711 191017 18486 392214 Source: FAO Database, Various Years. Anex II. Average Annual Live Animals Import by the Middle East Countries (1996-2000) Country Bahrain Djibouti Egypt Iran Live Animal (heads) Value (000’ USD) Cattle Sheep Goat Camel 816 31994 11502 41 Cattle 664 Sheep 14874 Goat Camel 514 - Total 16052 - - - - - - - - - 88040 78601 2015 22866 56651 3774 131 6521 67077 - 344 - - - 39 - - 39 Jordan 22067 413516 204 - 13063 18411 17 - 31491 Kuwait 4613 1940982 98 307 5170 88224 17 179 93590 Oman 35 587096 870540 - 31 24243 24319 - 48593 Qatar 1000 398000 - 911 488 20400 - 1331 22219 S.Arabia 3806 4165902 819806 39271 5508 34817 24525 8128 35069 Syria 1676 622200 32 - 235 34817 17 - 35069 U.A.E. 23000 1377000 - - 9106 34400 - - 43506 Yemen 81425 289904 - - 17887 9442 - - 27329 226478 10086539 1704197 63396 108803 481647 49540 16159 656149 Total Source: FAO Database, Various Years. References FAO, 2002. FAOSTAT 2002-http://apps. fao.org/cgi-bin/ nph.db.pl subset agriculture. ILRI, 2000. Handbook of Livestock Statistics for developing countries. Socio Economies and Polices, Research Working Paper 26. ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya. LMA, 2001. Livestock Contraband Trade in Southern, South East and Eastern Ethiopia (Amharic Version), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June, 2001. LMA, 1999. Market Problems and Measures to Be Taken. Addis Ababa, Nov. 1999. LMA and ILRI. Live Animal and Meat Marketing in Ethiopia: An Assessment of Structure, Performance and Development Options. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oct. 2000. 12 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Livestock and Meat Board (LMB), 1973. The Marketing of Livestock and Livestock Products During the T.F.Y.P and the Projections in the F.F.Y.P. Livestock and meat Board, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Dec. 1973. Morgan, Nancy, 2002. Meat Moderator, http: / www.fao.org/waicent/ faoinfo/ economic/esc. MOA, 1989. Live Animal and Meat Export Marketing Study. GRM International Private ltd, Sept. 1989. MOA, 2000. Second Five Years Agricultural Development Strategy. Addis Ababa, August, 2000. MOA, 1984. Livestock Subsector Review. Volume 3, AACM Pvt.Ltd.Com.,Feb,1984. National Bank of Ethiopia, 2002. Summary of Exports Volume and Value of Live Animals, Meat and Meat Products, Sept. 1998 - May 2002. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 2002. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 13 Historical Development of Systematic Marketing of Livestock and Livestock Products in Ethiopia Sintayehu GebreMariam FAO, Ethiopia Abstract Interventions by Governments and donors in the area of marketing of livestock and livestock products focused on live animals and milk and milk products. Other products were relatively untouched. Technical interventions included construction of infrastructure and installation of equipment mostly through World Bank loan (Dairy Development Agency and Second Livestock Development Project) and donor assistances. Donors have contributed substantially toward the present state of the DDE. Policy interventions included devaluation of the Birr and reduction/lifting of export taxes for live animal and livestock products. The policy of financial incentives increased export earnings in terms of Birr as a result of the devaluation but export quantities did not change much. Prices did not change much also. The export scenario draws attention to the need for an unavoidable and decisive measure to increase export earnings i.e. to satisfy importers’ requirements. A new approach to combat the enormous flow of smuggled livestock and products across the border to neighbouring countries need be designed as previous efforts including use of military power failed to contain it. Government should focus on the provision of services and construction of infrastructure while leaving the trade to the private sector. Introduction In preparing this paper I considered the traditional export products and the products that are economically and nutritionally important. The products are live animals, meat, hides and skins (to include processed products) and milk. I divided the interventions intended to promote marketing of livestock and livestock products into physical/technical and policy/financial measures. The very limited intervention measures proposed are what I consider to be decisive if the country is to benefit from its huge livestock populations. I summarize marketing to include all business activities associated with the flow of goods and services from production to consumption. Physical/Technical Interventions Dairy Marketing Initial intervention to promote dairy marketing started with the establishment of a 300 dairy farm and a small milk processing plant under the UN Relief and Rehabilitation Programme in 1947 in the premises of the now Dairy Development Enterprise (DDE). In 1959 UNICEF helped establish a processing plant with a processing capacity of 10,000 litres a day with milk collection and purchasing centres around Addis Abeba. The radius of milk collection was later expanded to 70 Kms. around the capital. Capacity of the processing plant was increased to 30,000 litres in 1969. To cope with the increasing demand for milk in Addis Abeba the Government of the day established the Addis Abeba Dairy Development Agency (DDA) under Proclamation No. 283/71 with a loan of 4.4 Million USD from the World Bank. The main objectives of the Agency were the 1) establishment of 40 medium ( 40 milking cows) and 200 small (10 milking cows) size dairy farms ,2) setting up a ranch to produce crossbred heifers, 3) collection, processing and sale of milk and 4) provision of guidance and assistance to milk producers. The Revolution of 1974 resulted in the abandonment of many of the private farms and the nationalization of the big ones which were incorporated into the DDA. In 1979 the DDA was transformed to the DDE when processing capacity was increased to 60,000 litres/day and the radius of collection expanded to 150 Kms. with donor assistance. The UNCDF/FINNIDA Dairy Development Project ( 1983-1986) came 10th ESAP-Proceedings 15 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production to the assistance of the Enterprise by providing milk processing machinery and equipment to increase its processing capacity and to enable it to also extend into the production of new products such as yoghurt and ice cream. The assistance also extended to equipping milk collection centres with cooling facilities, milk handling and transport equipment, refrigerated town milk sales depots and laboratory facilities and equipment alongside training of the staff. The Enterprise now has in operation about 27 raw milk collection and about 4 chilling centres along the main highways that lead into Addis Abeba. Though the Enterprise has survived turbulent times when it was near collapse it managed to stay in operation as a result of:: 1. 2. 3. 4. it being involved in the whole process of collection, processing and sale of milk and milk products having its own source of raw milk to fall back to an increasing number of raw milk suppliers substantial and effective chipping-in by bilateral and multilateral agencies. In parallel the Chilalo Agricultural Development Unit (CADU) imported dairy cattle and established smallholder dairy farms to supply raw milk to a processing plant in Asela. WADU-the Wolayita Agricultural Development Unit also performed similar activities. Subsequent comprehensive national dairy development projects included components to enhance milk production and sales for the expanding demand in urban and rural areas. Among the prominent, more recent projects are the Selalle Peasant Dairy Development Pilot Project (SPDDPP) and the Small Holder Dairy Development Project (SDDP) both financed by the Government of Finland. SPDDPP (1987-91) had among its objectives the setting up of primary and secondary level markets for dairy products. SDDP (1995-98) which was a follow-up to the pilot project had as its main thrust the establishment of farmer-owned and farmer operated milk marketing and processing units. By the end of its life in 1998 the project was able to set 9 milk marketing and processing units on a strong and reliable footing. Live Animal Marketing Second Livestock Development Project (1973-81) This is the second World Bank supported project under a 5 million US$ loan. It was established with the main objective of siphoning surplus livestock from the major pastoral areas to consumption centres of the country and for the export market. It was also designed to improve the quantity and quality of hides produced in the country. An equally important but underlying objective of the project was to curb and halt the illegal crossing of livestock and livestock products to neighbouring countries. The siphoning of surplus livestock from the pastoral areas involved the construction of livestock markets, and stock routes consisting of staging points (rest areas), about 25 Kms apart, and grazing areas with or without water and the purchase of livestock transport trucks. Improvement in the quantity and quality of hides involved the construction of slaughterhouses and hide sheds. By its closure in 1981 SLDP managed to construct 470 Kms of stock route consisting of 10 staging points and 10 grazing areas. This is about 19% of plan. 11 primary (23% of plan) and 3 terminal (50%) markets were built. A commendable number of about 159 slaughterhouses and hide sheds were also constructed. About 12 boreholes were sunk and about 5 livestock trucks were purchased. There is no evidence of staff training. With regard to its intended marketing intervention SLDP can be considered an ill- fated, ill- prepared, doomed- to- fail project. A combination of causes contributed to its failure the prominent among which are: 1. 2. 3. 16 The Somali war of 1978/9 demolished most if not the entire marketing infrastructure. This might have come as a blessing in disguise as most of the infrastructure was constructed in remote and hostile environment and may have been difficult if not impossible to operate. The stock routes also ran parallel to the main highways which were not necessarily the shortest distances to markets and may not have been used by traders and producers. Did not consider related but decisive necessities such as the provision of feed en route, security, health services, bank services etc. Provided no measures to combat the illegal trade in livestock and livestock products 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia 4. 5. It did not consult or involve the local administrations, traders and communities both in the preparation and implementation of the project. There was no clear vision for ownership and operations of the infrastructure It was foreign supported and local resources were not adequately mobilized The quantity and quality of hides is believed to have benefited substantially from the construction of the slaughterhouses and hide sheds. SLDP was an unlucky project as it was being implemented during the early days of the Derg when dismemberment and amalgamation of Government offices was the order of the day. The dissolution of the parent institution, the Livestock and Meat Board, precluded any follow-up of the project. Livestock Market Information System (LMIS) After the termination of SLDP the Animal Resources Marketing Department of the Ministry of Agriculture inherited the marketing of livestock and the improvement of hides and skins. With technical assistance from FAO under a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) the Department launched a Livestock Market Information System (LMIS) in selected towns in the country. LMIS was aimed at improving transparency of operations of livestock markets by providing information on the types of animals entering the markets, approximate/exact weights, conditions and prices of the animals transacted. The selected markets were fenced and were equipped with chutes, weighing scales/tapes and notice boards. The information gathered from the markets is sent to the Department weekly for processing and dispatch to the Regions. The Department produced about 7 bi-annual reports of market information. Communication proved to be the most difficult. Because of its limited period of existence it is difficult to determine whether the exercise was academic or stakeholders might have benefited from the information. As with SLDP LMIS was foreign financed and it came to an abrupt end with the termination of the assistance. Meat Marketing Meat is one of the heavily traded primary livestock products. There has not been any mentionable intervention to promote meat marketing. The trade has been and is functioning smoothly and efficiently as indicated by several studies that demonstrated that producers’ share of consumer prices is relatively high considering the high transport costs, risks and losses sustained by butchers. In a 1995 report on Livestock Marketing Study for the Pan African Rinderpest Campaign – Ethiopia-Phase 111 Orangewould International B.V. states, “According to the calculations made, farmers’ share of the price paid by the consumers represents 72 percent at primary, 56 percent at secondary and 55 percent at tertiary markets.” Hides and Skins Marketing Animal by products that have been least intervened with respect to marketing are hides and skins. The only intervention to improve both the quality and marketing of hides and skins is the issuance of a regulation by government which proved very difficult to observe. The trade, here as well, is functioning smoothly except for the continued deterioration in the quality of especially skins. With the reported huge animal resources of the country have the successive governments by themselves provided adequate support to promote the marketing of livestock and livestock products both within and outside the country? I argue that they have not as it is only about 9 Million US$ that the Governments borrowed from the World Bank to invest in this important activity. Most of the infrastructure and equipment that now exist in the dairy sector were contributed by donors. By the way the interventions were initiated during the days of the Emperor. Policy Intrventions Devaluation of the Birr and reduction/cancellation of export taxes The devaluation of the Birr and the lowering and canceling of export taxes were intended to primarily stimulate the export market, as exporters will send more with increases in their earnings. Earnings from the export of live animals, meat products and hides and skins increased in terms of Birr. The dollar earnings did not, however, show much change. The volumes by and large did not show any change. The quantity of live animal exports actually declined from the high amounts of the late eighties. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 17 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Exporters may have benefited from the devaluation but the country has not as there was no mentionable increase either in the volume exported or in the unit price received. There is no value added as a result of the devaluation of the local currency, reduction or even cancellation of taxes. One reason is that we have not been able to meet the health and sanitary requirements of importing countries. We have not dealt with the real constraints of the export market. The ball is still in our court. Table 1: Exports of Meat Products 35000 30000 25000 20000 Qty.(tons) 15000 Value( Th.Br) 10000 5000 0 1986/7 1988/9 1990/1 1992/3 1994/5 1996/7 1998/9 2000/1 Source: Adapted from National Bank of Ethiopia- Quarterly Bulletin- Fiscal Year Series Volume 16, No. 4- Fourth Quarter 2000/2001 Table 2: Exports of Hides and Skins 700000 600000 500000 400000 Qty(tons) 300000 Value ( Th.Br) 200000 100000 0 1986/7 1988/9 1990/1 1992/3 1994/5 1996/7 1998/9 2000/1 Source: : Adapted from National Bank of Ethiopia- Quarterly Bulletin- Fiscal Year Series Volume 16, No. 4- Fourth Quarter 2000/2001 Table 3: Exports of Meat Products 35000 30000 25000 20000 Qty.(tons) 15000 Value( Th.Br) 10000 5000 0 1986/7 1999/0 1992/3 1995/6 1998/9 Source: Adapted from National Bank of Ethiopia- Quarterly Bulletin- Fiscal Year Series Volume 16, No. 4- Fourth Quarter 2000/2001 Taking an average increase in the exchange rate of fifty cents to the US$ per year from the year of the devaluation it can be observed that the trend in the fluctuation of the price per unit product exhibits a general up and down market swing. As the changes in the volumes exported and unit prices received are not significant the country does not seem to have benefited from the policy measures intended to encourage exports of live animals and products. 18 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia The following comparison graphics adopted from the above cited National Bank of Ethiopia report, illustrate the situation: Graph 1 Exports of Meat Products (Prices per ton) 20 15 Th. Br 10 Th. UD$ 5 0 1986/7 1988/9 1990/1 1992/3 1994/5 1996/7 1998/9 2000/1 Source: Adapted from National Bank of Ethiopia- Quarterly Bulletin- Fiscal Year Series Volume 16, No. 4- Fourth Quarter 2000/2001 The prices per ton in US$ have not shown any significant change over the last ten years Graph 2: Exports of Hides and Skins 10 8 6 Th. Br 4 Th.USD 2 0 1986/7 1989/0 1992/3 1995/6 1998/9 Source: Adapted from National Bank of Ethiopia- Quarterly Bulletin- Fiscal Year Series Volume 16, No. 4- Fourth Quarter 2000/2001 Prices per ton of Hides and skins showed slight decline from the relatively high level of 1994/5. Graph 3- Exports of Live Animals (Prices per ton) 10 8 6 Th. Br 4 Th.USD 2 0 1986/7 1988/9 1990/1 1992/3 1994/5 1996/7 1998/9 2000/1 Source: Adapted from National Bank of Ethiopia- Quarterly Bulletin- Fiscal Year Series Volume 16, No. 4- Fourth Quarter 2000/2001 Here again prices/ton of live animals have not compensated for the very much reduced amounts of exports of the last decade. The reduced quantities exported coupled with the very negligible change in unit prices point out the fact that it takes more than policy/monetary incentives in this case to enhance export of live animals and products. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 19 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Establishmnet of the Livestock Marketing Authority This is an Authority recently established under a proclamation. The establishment of the Authority provides ownership and responsibility to the long neglected sub-sector. It is too early to assess the achievements of the Authority at this stage. Other non-policy flush interventions were made in the eighties to increase the number of export sheep and goats. Traders were allowed to purchase a quintal of sugar at government prices for every three heads of sheep and goats they supplied the Livestock and Meat Development Enterprise. The incentive substantially raised the number of shoats exported but would not have been sustainable as suppliers were disappointed with the bureaucratic delay in securing the sugar and also because of the fact that Government was capitalizing on the scarcity of the commodity. Ports of export Asseb served as the traditional port of export and import for Ethiopia. In connection with live animals the port had the capacity to handle 5000 heads of cattle or 25000 heads of sheep and goats at any one time. After the Ethio-Eritrean war Djibouti replaced Asseb with only about a tenth of the latter’s capacity. In addition to the fact that they are required to pay in foreign currency exporters complain about the slow and inefficient transit services in Djibouti which sometimes make shipments impossible to meet the requirements of some orders that do not allow transshipment in a third country beyond 72 hours. On the other hand Djibouti port authorities complain about consignments being usually small and that animals reach the port long before the arrival of vessels. Constraints of Exports Among the several constraints the following are considered pivotal or decisive: 1. 2. 3. The disease situation in the country- The major contagious live stock and zoo-notic diseases are prevalent in the country – Hence the various bans especially on live animal exports. The unabated illegal outflow of livestock and livestock by products to neighbouring countries reducing the volume for the domestic and export markets. Under developed infrastructure and services such as roads, stock routes, markets, transport facilities, credit and the like. The Future If Ethiopia is to benefit from its enormous livestock resources resolute effort should be employed to realize the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 20 Meet importers’ requirements- There is no excuse for not satisfying the requirements of importing countries. There is no use blaming them for laying down ever stringent requirements. Requirements are expected to be more stringent in future years with the ever formidable world competition. There is, for example, no justification for not establishing functional quarantine areas to facilitate live animal exports. Importing countries can not be blamed for refusing to import diseases that could put their peoples and livestock at risk. Exporters may negotiate but can not dictate. New approaches to combat illegal outflow of livestock and livestock by products need to be crafted. Past efforts to fight illicit outflow including use of military force have not produced the required results. It is time that new ways of dealing with the illegal trade be explored. This may be through negotiations with the countries concerned; exploring the possibility of benefiting from the trade such as devising a way of legalizing it; facilitating foreign exchange services in banks at border towns and other appropriate measures. Government should increase access to rural especially pastoral areas by establishing and or improving communication infrastructure such as roads, telecommunications and other essential services. Regions especially municipalities should be encouraged or a directive issued advising them to allocate a certain portion of their earnings to develop livestock marketing in their respective areas. Encourage and support the private sector to be more involved in the marketing process. 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia References Ministry of Agriculture-Pan African Rinderpest Campaign; Ethiopia- Phase 111- Livestock Marketing StudyOrangewould International B.V. in association with RDP Livestock Services B.V.; July,1995, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia National Bank of Ethiopia-Quarterly Bulletin- Fiscal Year Series, Volume 16, No.4- Fourth Quarter 2000/2001. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 21 Influence of animal diseases and sanitary regulations on livestock export trade and cases of export restrictions Wondwosen Asfaw Abstract The economic benefit derived from the livestock sector in Ethiopia is not commensurate with the potential and the sub-sector remained untapped. The widely prevalent livestock diseases are major constraints to Ethiopian livestock export. Livestock exports from Ethiopia are jeopardized by repeated bans, in particular from the countries in the Arabian Peninsula, as they are perceived as carrying the risk of introducing a number of trans-boundary livestock diseases. An epidemic of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in the horn of Africa in 1997/8 stimulated many countries, but most importantly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the major trading partner, to instigate a ban on livestock imports from the region. This was briefly withdrawn but appearance of epidemic RVF in the Arabian Peninsula in 2000 resulted in re-imposition of the ban that is still substantially unaltered. This created a crisis in the countries of the Greater Horn of Africa, not least in Ethiopia. The vulnerability of livestock trade to disease epidemics is undermining investment in a potentially valuable economic activity that would increase employment in rural areas, raise rural incomes and assist in alleviating poverty. The diseases responsible for the risks effectively prevent the entry of the countries into world trade in livestock. Furthermore, world trade is now becoming more competitive and the requirements more stringent, which definitely make the export trade more challenging. The world livestock and livestock products trade is influenced significantly by sanitary and health restrictions imposed by importing countries. The establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the coming into force of the Agreement on the application of Sanitary and Pytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) has a significant impact on international trade in livestock and livestock products. The ultimate sanction is to impose a partial or total ban on imports from countries that fail to meet the required SPS standards. SPS policies are guided by international standards, such as those recommended by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). Generally the health and hygiene standards adopted by organisations like the OIE are substantially higher than those of the developing countries. Although such controls in the importing countries may reflect legitimate concerns regarding food quality and safety, and protection of animal and human health, the high costs of compliance may prove prohibitive for countries like Ethiopia. The level of animal health protection is generally poor in Ethiopia. SPS facilities are deficient and their standards lower than most other developing countries. The existing veterinary service structures in Ethiopia are not conducive to the mounting of effective disease control and eradication programmes. To facilitate the lifting of existing bans and to pursue new market opportunities the country should review the situation with a view to devising the most appropriate structures and lines of responsibilities. Functional structure supported by up to date legal power, fully operational disease surveillance and information system, accredited laboratory service, emergency preparedness capacity are an integral and key components of credible veterinary services. Eradication of the major Transboundary Diseases (TADs) endemic in the country and provision of scientific proof of freedom from these diseases to a level of international acceptability is the best way to promote safe trade and win the confidence of trading partners. Zoning is now recognized as an important principle in the definition of the animal health status of countries by the OIE. In Southern African countries such as Botswana, South Africa and Namibia disease free zones have long been used successfully in support of trade and could be the most feasible strategy for Ethiopia. In the short term the case of raising SPS standards, in Ethiopia, must depend largely upon the domestic benefits of improving public and animal health, securing the traditional livestock export market in the Arabian Peninsula and promoting intra regional trade through regional trading blocks. Gains from increased trade in meat or live animals with developed countries will be small or non-existent in the short term. Developing countries, trading among themselves, might benefit from harmonising SPS measures albeit at a lower level than the recommended by international standards. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 23 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Livestock disease situation Livestock development in Ethiopia is constrained, amongst other important factors, by a widely distributed diseases. Rinderpest, the most important viral threat to the cattle herd, has been effectively controlled by the National Pan-African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC) project. However, out of the 15 OIE List-A diseases known for their rapid spread and serious socio-economic or public heath consequences, and which affect international livestock trade, 8 of them are endemic in the country (FMD, CBPP, PPR, RVF, LSD, sheep pox, African Horse Sickness and Newcastle Disease). Other diseases such as Caprine Contagious Pleuropneumonia, Anthrax, blackleg, haemorrhagic spepticaemia, trypanosomiasis, bovine tuberculosis, steptotricosis and brucellosis are also common in the country. Theses diseases invariably exert considerable effects on the livelihood of farmers, their families and the country’s export trade. Foot and mouth disease (due to sero-types A, O, C and SAT2) is spread throughout the country, sero-type ‘O’ being the most common strain. There is also evidence of sub strains with different serological and immunological characteristics. FMD is a growing concern in Ethiopia and the incidence is increasing every year. In 1999 alone 305 outbreaks were reported from 114 districts in the country. Pastoralists in the lowlands identify contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) as a priority disease. CBPP was reasonably controlled during the rinderpest campaign using the bivalent vaccine. Since the cessation of vaccination against rinderpest, CBPP incidence is on the increase with epidemic spill over to the highlands from endemic disease foci in the lowlands. Historically, pest des petits ruminants (PPR) was first recognised in Ethiopia in the very late 1980’s in Borena. It is believed to have entered the country through the South or Southwest. Extensive outbreaks of PPR in small ruminants have been noted in Amhara, Afar and Somali Regional States. Major epidemic of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) affecting a large population of cattle in Tigray and Amhara regions was also observed in 1999/2000. External parasites such as lice, keds and ticks are also abundant and are major causes of rejection and downgrading of hides and skins in international trade. The economic loss associated with downgrading of hides and skins, which is important export commodities, is substantial. Widespread epidemics of major trans-boundary and sporadic diseases are being controlled through routine vaccination campaigns conducted during disease outbreaks and as prophylactic measures. Despite this, however, economic losses resulting from such outbreaks are still considered significant. The presence and endemicity of these diseases has dramatically reduced herd and flock size, which is a major blow to food security. The effects are also expressed in terms of decrease livestock productivity, reduced working power and increased cost of livestock production. The direct mortality of ruminant livestock is generally estimated to be in the order of 8-10 percent of the national cattle herd per annum and 14-16 % and 11-13 % of the national sheep and goat population, respectively. The debilitating effects of livestock disease may tantamount the direct economic losses. Altogether, the direct annual economic losses from animal disease alone may be estimated to range between Birr 1.5 and 2.5 billion. When compared with the estimated value of livestock production in Ethiopia, the losses represent 30-50 % of total production value (FAO, 1993). Furthermore, the continuing presence of TADs in the country, has not only affected the quantity and quality of livestock products available for export, but also precluded the country from international markets and thereby greatly reduced the country’s foreign exchange earnings. Current Trends in International Livestock Trade In the wake of globalisation and technological advances for rapid transportation of livestock and livestock products across the globe there is an increasing risk for transmission of diseases that are of significant economic, public health, trade and/or food security importance from one country to the other. Upsurges in animal disease emergencies worldwide are linked to the increased mobility of people, goods and livestock, changes in farming systems and climate, and the weakening of many livestock health services. Globalisation (of markets in particular) also means global scope for diseases that were previously limited to specific regions. Other than the commonly known livestock diseases emerging or evolving diseases of public 24 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia health importance are now becoming a growing global concern. Recent events such as the BSE epidemic in Europe and the outbreaks of Nipah and Hindra viruses in Asia, RVF outbreak in the Horn of Africa, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, virulent avian influenza in United States and Hong Kong have shown that diseases can have severe economic or trading implications, especially when there is a link to public health. A number of incidents related to food borne infection and intoxication caused public alarm and loss of confidence in the role of producers and governments in food supply. As a result, there is now increased public awareness and concern for food safety and quality, forcing governments to put comprehensive and integrated food safety policies and stringent requirements on import of livestock and livestock products. Assurance of the safety of foods principally through control at the source, product design and process control, and the application of Good Hygiene Practices during production, processing (including labelling), handling, distribution, storage, sale, preparation and use, in conjunction with the application of “Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System and Microbiological Criteria” is becoming a standard. Potentially any antimicrobial use, whether in humans, animals, plants or food processing technology, could leads to the development ofbacterial resistance. Use of antimicrobials in livestock production is suspected to significantly contribute to this phenomenon. Residue tests in foods of animal origin and antimicrobial resistance surveillance are becoming requirements to avoid the dissemination of resistant bacteria or resistance determinants and to avoid the exposure of humans to resistance through food. More recently, traceablility of animal and animal products from farm to table is becoming an essential marketing requirement necessary to meet heightened consumer expectations, particularly with respect to food safety. Facilitating trade in livestock and livestock products, whilst simultaneously safeguarding the health status of receiving country is a major challenge. Some countries are adopting a conservative zero risk approach to limit risk of importing animal diseases and most countries adopted international rules and agreements to ensure the health security of international trade in animal and animal products. Examples of the potential consequences of trans-boundary animal diseases TADs and emerging/evolving zoonoses have developed an increasingly high profile in recent years, in the popular as well as scientific press. These diseases constitute serious economic and health consequences, and a real challenge to globalisation of trade of livestock and livestock products. Costs and losses stemming from the occurrence of these diseases have, in some cases, been enormous, whether for the health sector, the national economy of the affected country, or the international community. There are several witnesses to this. The following are few examples: The United Kingdom (UK) has spent over ₤3 billion to control the bovine spongeform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic, yet cases continue to occur. In all BSE affected countries, the damage to their cattle industries are immense, and the cost to cattle producers has been devastating. Zoonotic diseases can rapidly cause extensive human suffering and death. For example, Rift Valley Fever (RVF) caused 89,000 cases (150-250 deaths) during the outbreak in Kenya of 1997-1998. The social and economic repercussions of the Nipah virus outbreak in Malaysia have been very great, involving as it did the culling of over one million pigs as part of the response to the outbreak. In addition the outbreak will have far reaching consequences on the pig industry and the workforce involved in the livestock industry in the region (Meslin et al 2000). Cases of febrile illness associated with Nipah virus have been also documented in Singapore after pig importation from Malaysia (FAO 2001a). An outbreak of human influenza in Hong Kong in 1997 by direct transmission from domestic poultry has resulted the culling of all birds from Hong Kong’s live poultry markets. After a period of over 50 years of freedom from CBPP, in 1995 the disease was reintroduced to Botswana from Namibia through illegal movement of cattle. The efforts made to eradicate the disease by “test and slaughter” and construction of 3 fences has all failed. The whole cattle population of Ngamiland, totalling some 320,000 head, was destroyed in order to eradicate the disease and resume the export trade. Livestock owners were compensated partly in cash and partly in form of replacement stock (FAO, 1997). Since August 2001, the outbreak of FMD in Zimbabwe, have adversely affected the meat industry. The estimated economic loss is estimated to be Z$ 100 billion (US $ 1.8 billion) per year. Infection is believed to 10th ESAP-Proceedings 25 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production have spread through illegal movement of cattle by motor transport (FAO, 2001b). All exports of beef, pork and pork products and fresh milk have been suspended. The outbreak seems still ongoing and last reported outbreak was on 03 June 2002 (Personal communication: The Zimbabwean Veterinary Department, 2002). UK’s first large-scale outbreak of FMD since 1967, had spread across the whole country, the first cases were recognized on 19 February 2001. France and the Netherlands have also been affected, to a lesser extent, by the disease, which was caused by animals originating from the UK. Keeping with EU policy, the UK then launched a massive campaign of ‘’stamping out’’ that cost the lives of 3.75 million farm animals, the livelihood of thousands of farmers, and massive damage to the rural economy and the tourist industry. Following the confirmation of the case in France, some 90 countries around the world imposed bans on imports of livestock and on meat and milk products from all 15 countries in the EU. Others went further and banned imports of European agricultural products such as cereal. The EU condemned the action as excessive and unnecessary and consider appealing to the World Trade Organization to get the bans lifted (FAO, 2001c). This disastrous outbreak of FMD in the UK has followed by an increase in its incidence worldwide. According to FAO (2001c) several countries that had been free of the disease for considerable periods of time have also suffered outbreaks. The latter include countries such as Japan (free since 1908), the Republic of Korea (free since 1934), Mongolia (free since 1973) and South Africa (the last outbreak in the free zone was in 1957). The cases of export restrictions Rift Valley Fever There is a large export trade of several million sheep and goats to Saudi Arabia from the ports of Berbera in NE Somalia and Bossasso in the NW. This is concentrated in a four-month period from December to March. Most of the animals originate from Ethiopia, with the rest coming from Somalia. Rapid transit from place of origin to ports in Saudi Arabia is critical to ensure that no notable loss of condition takes place. Any quarantine or holding ground regulations would have a serious negative impact upon the trade (Nunn, 1998). There is no professional inspection for signs of disease, other than a mandatory Brucella test required by the Saudi Arabian authorities. The trade is “unregulated”, but has proceeded satisfactorily for both importers and exporters, until an epizootic of RVF in the region prompted a total ban by Saudi Arabian authorities on 10 February 1998. Some animals could have been transported from RVF active areas and arrive for slaughter in Saudi Arabia in 3-5 days, within the incubation period for the virus. Ritual slaughter of such animals could have resulted in extensive transmission of RVF virus amongst those attending the Haj in Mecca during the period January -February-March – April. (Davies, 1998). The ban on livestock imports from the region was apparently imposed for public health reasons and was a reasonable response to a suddenly increased but uncertain risk from a zoonosis that could have significant consequences if it were introduced into Saudi Arabia (Nunn, 1998). The epidemic of RVF in the region of the Horn of Africa followed unusually heavy rainfall from late October 1997 to January 1998 that resulted in the worst flooding in the Horn of Africa since 1961. RVF cases were confirmed in people in the North Eastern, Central, Eastern, and Rift Valley Provinces of Kenya, and in the Gedo, Hiran, and Lower Shabeelle Provinces of Somalia. Livestock losses of up to 70 percent in sheep and goats, and 20–30 percent of cattle and camels, were also reported (Nunn, 1998). In Ethiopia, during the same period, the heavy rain and the attendant flooding affected Southern and South Eastern parts of the country bordering Somalia and Kenya. Veterinary field investigation carried in Somali region and Borena zone in February 1998 observed high level of unusual abortion among livestock. Out of the samples collected, two sera from small ruminants from Mustahil, just near the border with Somalia were found IgM positive to RVF. Field investigations conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in August 1998 (Davies, 1998) found no clinical evidence of RVF disease in livestock in the Horn of Africa and indicate that the epidemic ceased in February–March 1998 and the public health risk of RVF to the 26 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has markedly abated and returned to pre-epidemic levels. To reduce the residual risks the mission recommended: • Carry retrospective serological study to define precisely the limits of the areas infected during the 1997-1998 epizootic in the region. • Proof absence of RVF virus activity in the areas from which animals are exported for a period of six months. • Establish Remote Sensing Satellite Data (RSSD) to predict times and locations where RVF may emerge into epidemic proportions. • Institute pre-export animal inspection and regulated, orderly movements for export of livestock. • Enhance post-export control measures in the importing countries. In response to these recommendations, Ethiopia carried a nation wide serological surveillance in 1999 to confirm the presence of the disease during inter epizootic period and establish its spatial and temporal distribution. It was noted that inadequate test protocol was adopted which might have resulted false positives even in areas beyond the altitude limit of the vector. Using appropriate protocol all positive cattle, sheep and goat sera are now under retesting. Once the retesting is completed the situation with the distribution of RVF need to be reassessed. Furthermore, a project TCP/ETH/0168 “Trade-related Vector-borne animal diseases in Ethiopia with Special Reference to RVF” is now underway to contribute to the lifting of existing bans and pursue new market opportunities by establishing the capacity for intensified animal disease surveillance throughout the country. Several project proposals to implement pre-export inspection and regulated, orderly movement for export of livestock, prepared in mid-1998, are available from FAO for appraisal. Among them is the EXCELEX regional project that is currently under appraisal. The project aims to sanitise the livestock export trade from the Horn of Africa through establishment of veterinary certification and rolling quarantine system. RFV in Saudi Arabia and Yemen An outbreak of RFV in Southern Saudi Arabia and Yemen in September and October 2000 has left dozens of people dead and hundreds infected. RVF was confined to the continent of Africa and was reported for the first time outside Africa (WHO, 2000). Sequencing shows that the virus strain is closely related to that isolated in the Horn of Africa in 1997-98. Whether this current outbreak of disease is the result of a recent introduction or is an extremely rare epizootic occurrence in an existing enzootic area is not known at present (FAO, 2000). In Yemen the outbreak has occurred at the same time as the outbreak of RVF in Saudi Arabia. Over 20,988 abortions and 6187 deaths in animals was reported (Geiger. R., 2001). With regard to incidence in humans between 7 August and 7 November 2000, 1087 suspected cases were identified, including 121 (11%) people who subsequently died (WHO, 2000). In Saudi Arabia in a two-week period, 2699 abortions and 943 deaths were recorded, mostly in sheep and goats, and the total number of abortions has been estimated to be in the order of 8-10000. The appearance of RVF in some flocks has been dramatic, with 60-90 % of the pregnant females aborting within a period of 10-14 days. There have been 70 human deaths in Jizan province and approximately 400 cases have been confirmed by ELISA (IgM +ve) many with severe clinical signs including visual disturbances (FAO, 2000). As a consequence, 6 Gulf States - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates had banned livestock imports from 9 African countries, principally in the Horn (FAO, 2001d). The ban was imposed on the expectation that the disease was introduced from the Horn of Africa. Through repeated bans livestock producers and traders in the Greater Horn of Africa are facing the devastating consequences of RVF. The first ban lasted for 18 months and briefly withdrawn for 8 months up to the time the second ban was imposed in September 2000. Yemen lifted the ban on livestock and meat from Ethiopia on the beginning of February 2002 after 1.5 years. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the major 10th ESAP-Proceedings 27 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production importer of live animal and meat from Ethiopia, lifted the ban on meat in the middle of June 2002 and still maintain the trade embargo on live animals from Ethiopia. The livestock trade embargos undermined a precarious regional food security situation and their economic impacts are likely to be massive. The volume and value of livestock exports from the horn countries tumbled. Many of the areas affected by the ban also coincide with extremely vulnerable and food-insecure areas repeatedly receiving emergency assistance. The bans will further contribute to pastoral food insecurity, increase to local and regional conflict and increased needs for food and other humanitarian assistance. Rinderpest Cattle exports from/through Somalia to Saudi Arabia are banned since 1983, due to the risk of Rinderpest and it had indirectly affected Ethiopian cattle export. The ban was imposed in response to epidemics of rinderpest in the early 1980’s throughout the region. The current epidemiological situation of rinderpest in Africa is quite different from those days in the 80’s. The PARC project which was operational since late 1980s has indeed verifiably eliminated rinderpest from the major part of the continent except few endemic foci in Southern Somalia and Southern Sudan. As there were no outbreaks of rinderpest detected in Ethiopia since November 1995, Ethiopia declared itself "provisional free from rinderpest on a zonal basis" as of the 1st May 1999 and joined the OIE Pathway (FAO, 1999). The OIE Pathway is an international recognised set of guidelines for assessing and certifying countries free of rinderpest infection and involves 3 major steps: provisional freedom from disease, freedom from disease and freedom from infection. The first stage, provisional freedom from disease, is a simple country declaration and it doesn’t involve verification by the OIE. This has already been achieved by Ethiopia, but the subsequent stages require member states to submit a dossier of data and provide for site visits to confirm the declaration. Efficient veterinary service, effective reporting and sero-surveillance system and reliable system of preventing the introduction of infection which is carried out by proper border control, quarantines, etc, are requirements for the last 2 stages. The disease is virtually eradicated from major parts of Africa, but it still exists in civil strife areas of Southern Somalia and Southern Sudan. Hence, threat of reintroduction of rinderpest from these bordering areas exists and is a major obstacle for Ethiopia to declare "provisional freedom" on a country- wide basis and benefit from its disease free status. International sanitary rules and agreements The WTO Agreement on the application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures agreement, which came into force in January 1995 with the WTO, is aimed at minimizing the negative effects f unjustified health barriers on international trade. The agreement requires member countries; with a view to achieving the widest possible harmonization of the animal health measures they take to ensure the protection of human and animal life and health, to establish those measures on the basis of international standards, guidelines and recommendations. For animal health and zoonosis, the SPS Agreement refers to the ‘standards, guidelines and recommendations developed under the auspices of the Office International des Epizootics (OIE). Where as for risks arising from additives, contaminants, toxins or disease-carrying organisms in foods, beverages or feedstuffs the standards of Codex Alimentarius are applicable (WTO 1995 & 1996). The OIE International Animal Health Code (for mammals, birds and bees) and the International Aquatic Animal Health Code contain standards, guidelines and recommendations designed to prevent the introduction of infectious agents and diseases pathogenic to animal and humans into the importing country during trade in animals, animal genetic material and animal products. They do this through detailed recommendations on sanitary measures to be used by OIE member countries in establishing the health regulations applying to the import of animals, animal genetic material and animal products. The major standards, guidelines and recommendation embodied in the code are listed below (OIE, 2001a). 1. Countries shall make available to other countries, through the OIE, whatever information is 28 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia 2. 3. 4. 5. necessary to minimise the spread of important animal diseases and to assist in achieving better worldwide control of these diseases. Hence, countries should comply with the detail notification requirements in the code. Veterinary services should substantiate elements of the reports of the animal health situation of their country by surveillance data, results of monitoring programmes and details of disease history. Furthermore, the code defines detailed recommended standards of epidemiological surveillance systems for rinderpest, CBPP and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Application of import risk analysis to provide importing countries with an objective and defensible method of assessing the disease risk associated with the importation of animals, animal products, animal genetic material, feedstuffs, biological products and pathological material. The code defines a set of factors, which include fundamental principles of an ethical, organisational and technical nature to evaluate the quality of veterinary services. The Veterinary services shall conform to these fundamental principles, regardless of the political, economic or social situation of their country. The code defines specific sanitary requirements for international trade for 15 list A and 80 list B diseases, depending on the disease status of the exporting country. The Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines (OIE, 2001b) and the Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases (OIE, 2001c), provide a uniform approach to the diagnosis of OIE-listed diseases of importance to international trade, so that the requirements for health certification in connection with trade in animals and animal products can be met. The impact of these standards on developing countries A study of “impact of SPS measures on developing countries” (Upton, 2001), showed that SPS facilities are deficient in developing countries and their standards lower than in developed countries, owing to lack of resources and inadequate information. The same survey showed that insufficient access to scientific/technical expertise and incompatibility of SPS requirements with domestic production/marketing methods were identified as significant factors. The Low Income and even more the Least Developed Countries are hampered by: • Small scale of export operations, • The necessity to apply separate treatment to products destined for foreign markets, since domestic SPS standards and methods of production are not compliant with those required by the foreign importer, • The shortage, low performance and high costs of support services, and • High risks of diseases and infections. A few cases may serve to illustrate the problem faced. For instance, meat for local consumption in many Low Income Countries, is from animals slaughtered the same day without the use of refrigeration. Therefore meat for export would have to be slaughtered and handled in special facilities, constructed specifically for this trade. The same would be true for storage and transport of meat intended for export. Construction and operation of these facilities is costly and may be difficult to justify when the volume of throughput is highly variable and rarely reaches design capacity (Upton, 2001). Admittedly the OIE Animal Health Code, on which the zoo sanitary measures are based, is full of recommendations, e.g. the chapter on Rift Valley Fever, for which compliance by the developing countries is extremely difficult (Upton, 2001). Currently no country in Africa, the only continent where RVF is enzootic, can remotely fulfil the requirements of these OIE guidelines. They do not have insect proofed quarantine areas nor do they have institutional and laboratory facilities to perform the tests. There is a feeling that the current OIE guidelines are not appropriate to the trading situations which prevails in the region (Davies 1998). 10th ESAP-Proceedings 29 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Resource limitations generally mean that the developing countries have a fewer veterinary personnel per million livestock units (excluding poultry) than the developed countries. This deficiency together with poor infrastructure and facilities for disease control create serious problems for developing countries in meeting the SPS requirements for exports. The international acceptability of veterinary certificates issued by a developing country, an essential accompaniment to exports, might be threatened (Upton, 2001). The survey of the impact of SPS measures on developing countries (Upton, 2001) showed low levels of participation in the international organisations responsible for defining standards for animal and plant health and food safety (OIE, IPPC and Codex Alimentarius). Only about a third of Low Income and Lower Middle Income Countries belong to all three of these organisations as well as the WTO, while for High Income Countries the proportion is more than two thirds. Of the Low Income Country members of the WTO less than a third have established both an Enquiry Point and a National Notification Authority as required by the SPS agreement. Practically all High Income Country members have complied. These issues, affecting access by the developing countries to export markets in the developed world, need to be addressed at global level. The WTO and international standard setting organisations need to facilitate developing country participation by modifying their procedures and providing technical, scientific and legal assistance. Trade integration through the formation and expansion of regional trading blocks also helps the removal of trade barriers between member states. Animal health services in Ethiopia Federal and Regional State Veterinary Services render animal health services in Ethiopia. Federal activities are limited to export certification, epidemiology, rinderpest eradication and limited surveillance for some diseases such as CBPP and PPR. Whereas regional veterinary services provide preventive, diagnostic and curative services to the farming community through a network of veterinary clinics and veterinary staff. During recent years, the number of veterinary personnel and clinics has risen considerably. Whereas constraints of operational funding is becoming increasingly minimal, resulting in the decline of the delivery efficiency of public veterinary services. Although the veterinary service situation in Ethiopia did not reach the point of total collapse that was evident in some other countries, symptoms of the problem are clearly evident. The Federal Veterinary Services is integrated within the Ministry of Agriculture at the team level and lacks the required structure and sufficient standing to ensure appropriate and prompt attention is given to animal health issues. It should also be noted that the Federal Veterinary Service is constrained in regard to manpower allocation. Existing level of staffing is totally inadequate in light of the heavy responsibilities associated with the service. The Federal Veterinary Services lacks laboratory arm, which give routine surveillance and diagnostic support. Currently such support is obtained from National Animal Health Research Centre (NAHRC) without clear institutional mandate for surveillance and diagnosis. The volume of work under ongoing and future surveillance programs and outbreak investigations demand fully mandated national laboratory directly accountable to Federal veterinary Services. This is particularly crucial for international trade in livestock and livestock products and establishment of disease free zones. Epizootic diseases are now frequently refereed to as ‘trans-boundary disease’. This term implies that the diseases cross borders and require co-ordinated international efforts for effective control. Definitive declarations to the OIE regarding freedom from disease are made at the national level and require coherent and efficient national disease control programmes to be accepted. At the intra-national level, effective coordination is also essential. Federalism implies that responsibilities are devolved to the states to the degree that they are local matters. In that epizootic disease control requires national and regional approaches to be effective, they are not matters of limited local interest. If one state fails to undertake effective control measure, all states fail. This would have a profound economic effect on all states and the nation as a whole. In the more successful federal systems the financial control and management of epizootics is a federal responsibility. 30 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Under the current set up there is no line management in regard to veterinary services between federal and regional structures in Ethiopia. Fighting a disease epidemic is, in many respects, like fighting a war and requires the same level of discipline. It requires the same ability to make rapid decisions, to convert those decisions into clear orders, which can be conveyed down the chain. It is clear that for these things to happen quickly and efficiently, the Veterinary Services must be place in a command structure or linemanagement system at least for the control/eradication of TADs. It is now generally recognised that the role of the public sector veterinary services should be focused on those core activities that benefit the population as a whole (public goods). The activities well suited to public sector execution include: regulation of veterinary service delivery, epidemiology, control/eradication of TADs, emergency preparedness and livestock inspection and certification for export. While private good activities such as provision of clinical services can best be delivered by the private sector. Devolving clinical services to the private sector will allow the government to make use of meagre resource and manpower for core issues of over-riding national importance such as control of TADs. Cost recovery study carried out in 11 representative woredas from both extensive and intensive systems in the country by the PARC project (Moorhouse & Ayalew 1997) revealed that 30 percent of the surface area of Ethiopia is served by the current system of fixed-point veterinary clinics. At the present time, Regional States are in the process of building more veterinary clinics. However, even with massive investment in fixed-point public clinics, the extent of coverage would not reach 40 percent. It is also unclear how the expanding fixed-point clinic system would be supported in terms of operating budget. The coverage of veterinary service in the pastoral areas of the country is even worse. It is apparent that animal health services are a major felt need of pastoral communities and the lack of it tends to cripple the very hand that feeds the community. It should also be noted that more than 90 % of the livestock export originate from the pastoral areas. The provision of animal health services in pastoral areas requires a radical change from the conventional approach prescribed for the highland mixed farming systems of the country. The challenge is even greater, considering unique conditions in pastoral areas such as low cash economy, insecurity, high cost of service delivery, poor infrastructure, vastness of the areas and lack of veterinary personnel among others. Generally, Remarkable and sustainable improvements in the livestock trade can only be achieved if these constraints are alleviated. Appropriate policies should be pursued for rational delivery of animal health services in the country. The role and responsibilities of the various actors (public vs. private, federal vs. regional) should be clearly defined and delineated. Government should give due emphasis on core public good activities such as veterinary public health and food hygiene and in the control of TADs. The greater the attention given to diseases that are trans-boundary in nature, the greater the opening for participation in international trade and economic advancement. Conclusion and Recommendation Historically, there has often been a considerable trade advantage to be gained by ignorance or deliberate avoidance of the reality of the presence of an important trans-boundary disease problem in a country. Countries, which do not have adequate monitoring and surveillance capability frequently benefit at the expense of others who have more effective systems, which have detected ongoing trans-boundary or other disease problems. Their transparency and honesty may have resulted in huge trading penalties. Now situations are changing fast globally and when the information needed to make an informed decision is limited, importing countries adopt conservative approaches in order to limit the risk of importing animal diseases. Thus, the greater the uncertainty is considered to be, the more conservative usually is the decision. This is well shown by the frequent and intermittent trade bans due to RVF. The trade with countries in the Arabian Peninsula, which proceeded satisfactorily in the past, is now becoming more stringent and more so in the future as they adopt international sanitary standards. Ethiopia can only recapture the benefit of this traditional and extensive trade through establishment of strong and credible veterinary services that can effectively control and monitor major TADs limiting trade. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 31 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production This effective institutional capacity will confer additional value for Ethiopia’s livestock in the export markets and rebuild the confidence of trading partners. It should also be noted that Ethiopia would still be competing with countries like Uruguay, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia, which produce a more standardised products, are more reliable suppliers and have fewer animal health problems to impede trade. However, the current levels of animal health protection in Ethiopia are generally too poor and make such competition more difficult. There are clear benefits to be gained, by both importers and exporters, from adopting SPS measures and greater transparency regarding their application. However, as already argued, the costs of compliance with international standards are beyond the means of countries like Ethiopia. Developed countries and standard setting organisations need to facilitate developing country participation by modifying their procedures and providing financial, technical, scientific and legal assistance. Sufficient attention should be given to the needs of developing countries in setting SPS requirements and sufficient time should be allowed for compliance. Trading between developing countries, possibly within a regional grouping or a free trade area, has to be promoted and has clear advantages in harmonising the SPS rules lower that that recommended by international standard setting organisations. Ethiopia need to design and implement appropriate SPS policies to promote the export trade in livestock and livestock products. Aspects of compliance include essential changes in the organisation and infrastructure of veterinary services, laboratories, abattoirs, processing plants, border inspection posts, quarantine camps and so on. Effective systems of processing, marketing, inspection and monitoring of quality standards, testing, disease surveillance and control measures will be needed. The high cost of implementing some of these measures is obvious and participation of the private sector is extremely essential. Part of the appraisal of the merits of compliance must be an assessment of the size of the potential market, the competition from other exporters and the scope for expansion of domestic production. A case for improving SPS standards for Ethiopia is not simply to overcome a non-tariff barrier on exports but also lies in the benefits accruing to the domestic economy. These benefits will accrue in the form of improved health and productivity of domestic livestock, reduced losses from disease epidemics, improved quality of livestock products and public health improvement. In a big country like Ethiopia, with a large livestock population in extensive management system, poor road and veterinary service network, difficult topography and relative inaccessibility of some areas, commencing a national disease eradication campaign that covers the whole country at once may neither practical nor wise. The spreading of resources too thinly over too large an area may result in overall setbacks. The eradication of rinderpest, a relatively simple disease to control, took almost 14 years and millions of dollars and still to take some time to conclude and get international acceptance. It may be more effective in the long term to tackle the eradication in a step-by-step progression moving from one region to the next and target specific diseases based on their economic and trade importance. Zoning is now recognized as an important principle in the definition of the animal health status of countries by OIE. In Southern African countries such as Botswana, South Africa and Namibia disease free zones have long been used successfully in support of trade. Disease free zones are essentially geographically defined areas used for the breeding and/or fattening/finishing of livestock from which specific diseases are excluded and that exclusion is quality-assured. Diseases such as, rinderpest, FMD, CBPP, PPR, LSD and pox merit consideration in the exclusion. However, the list of diseases constraining trade is not exhaustive and a thorough review is required. The interest of trading partners must also receive due consideration in the selection and prioritisation of target diseases. The actual size and shape of the zones may be determined by administrative boundaries or geographic barriers or be driven by epidemiological or resource imperatives. In the early stage of establishing disease free zones, while the extent of the disease is still being assessed, it could be expected that the zones are comparatively small. Establishment of big disease free zones as in the case with Southern African countries is not feasible for Ethiopia in light of the enormous cost involved. As the disease control/eradication progresses, it is to be hoped that the zone gradually expands. 32 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia In establishing disease free zones it is not necessary not only to exclude from them the major diseases but also to try to reduce the weight of infections in the surrounding livestock populations. Unless this is done the risk of re-invasion of the disease free zone might prove too great to manage and the whole development be brought unnecessarily into disrepute. Thus establishing disease free zones must be viewed within the context of the overall progressive control of the major trans-boundary animal diseases, which constrain production and trade. It is therefore linked to national policies needed to ensure adequately functioning public good veterinary services capable of exerting control over trans-boundary animal diseases. References Davis, F. G. (1998). Rift Valley Fever and Livestock Trade from the Horn of Africa [Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya] July 1st to August 15th 1998. Consultancy Report to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome. FAO (2001a). Empres Transboundary Animal Disease Bulletin No. 16/1-2001 Nipah virus in Malaysia. FAO (2001b). Empres Transboundary Animal Disease Bulletin No. 18/3-2001. Foot-and Mouth Disease Outbreak in Zimbabwe. FAO (2001c). Empres Transboundary Animal Disease Bulletin No. 16/1-2001. Foot-and-Mouth disease in the United Kingdom. FAO (2001d). Empres Transboundary Animal Disease Bulletin No. 16/1 -2001.. Rift Valley Fever Threatens Livelihoods in the Horn of Africa. FAO (2000). Empres Transboundary Animal Disease Bulletin No. 15/3-4 -2000. Update on RVF outbreaks in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. FAO (1999). Empres Transboundary Animal Disease Bulletin OIE PATH WAY: Rinderpest in Ethiopia. FAO (1997). Empres Transboundary Animal Disease Bulletin May 1997. CBPP in Botswana Eradicated. FAO (1993) Ethiopia Livestock Sector Development Project. FAO/WHO (1997). Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme Codex Alimentarius Commission. Food Hygiene Basic Texts. Rome: FAO. Geiger, R. (2001). Recommended procedures and guidelines for the surveillance of RVF in Yemen, Yemen Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. Meslin, F.-X, Stohr. K & Heymann, D (2000). Public health implications of emerging zoonosis. Rev. Sci. tech. Off. Int. Epiz., 2000, 19 (1), 310-317. Moorhouse, P. & Ayalew Tolossa (1997). Consultancy report on cost recovery in delivery of animal health services, RDP Livestock Services. Nunn, M.J. (1998) Risks of Rift Valley Fever and Other Diseases from Livestock Imported into Saudi Arabia from the Horn of Africa. Consultancy Report to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome. OIE (2001a). International Animal Health Code. OIE (2001b). International Aquatic Animal Health Code. OIE (2001c). Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines. WHO (2000). Weekly Epidemiological Record, No. 48. 1/12/2000. WTO (1995). Agreement on Sanitary and Pytosanitary Measures, Geneva: World Trade Organisation. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 33 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production WTO (1996). Understanding the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Sanitary and Pytosanitary Measures, Geneva: World Trade Organisation. Upton. M. (2001). Trade in livestock Products: International Regulation and Role for Economic Development. Livestock policy discussion paper No.6. Rome: FAO. Zimbabwe Veterinary Service (2001). : www.africaonline.co.zw/vet/FMD.htm 34 10th ESAP-Proceedings Critical Issues Impacting Livestock Trade in Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan Yacob Aklilu Tufts University/OAU-IBAR Abstract This paper constitutes the second and final part of the livestock marketing status audit carried out in Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan under the auspices of the CAPE unit of OAU-IBAR. The paper focuses on selected critical issues identified in the first volume. These issues are discussed at some length in this document as they pertain to each of the three countries. This version of the paper has been adapted for the 10th ESAP annual conference held between 22 and 24 August 2002 in Addis Ababa. The recommendations that appear with each issue discussed in the main document have not been included here. As discussed in the first volume, Sudan is ahead of both Ethiopia and Kenya in terms of its organizational set up and its volume of live animal exports. To some extent this could be attributed to Sudan’s long tradition of exporting live animals to the Gulf. It also reflects the relentless effort made by the Ministry of Animal Resources in setting up a relatively efficient quarantine system and in conducting successful negotiations with existing and potential livestock importing countries. Sudan’s success in getting the Saudi Arabia ban lifted even before Syria and Jordan is a testimony to this effort. Ethiopia’s export potential has been limited to chilled/frozen meat as the ban on live animals is still effective (though Yemen has lifted the ban recently on certain conditions). In any case, Ethiopia’s land locked status will always hinder it from attaining its maximum export potential as it had to rely on ports belonging to other countries. The Rift Valley Fever ban is still effective on Kenya. Nevertheless, Kenya has not been active in live animals or chilled meat exports even before the ban. Its exports have been limited mainly to about 1,500 tons of pork products per year and small quantities of beef now and then. The issues discussed here focus on critical internal information gap; inadequate provision of animal health services and facilities; the current status of ranches and feedlots; institutional issues (Government agencies and Trade Associations); issues related to the domestic livestock trade and the export market and on the existing information gap on external markets. The paper culminates by suggesting for regional collaboration in livestock marketing. Though all the issues are relevant to Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia, some issues that are important to one country may not have the same weight in the other country/ies. The discussion, in such cases, focuses on the particular country/ies most affected by the issues. The issues raised in this paper require a variety of interventions – capacity building; policy development and enforcement; advocacy and awareness campaigns; exchange visits and fact finding missions; constructive dialogue among relevant institutions and the need for regional collaborations. They also require the involvement and the concerted efforts of relevant Government institutions, city or county councils, livestock traders and tanners, ranchers, trade associations, producers, NGOs, regional inter-governmental organizations, donors and other international organizations. For long, the potentials of the livestock sector have been ignored particularly in Kenya and Ethiopia while Sudan, with some effort generates about $170 million annually from livestock exports. This should serve as a wake up call for the respective governments of Ethiopia and Kenya. Abbreviations ALRMP Arid Lands Resources Management Programme ARB Animal Resource Bank (Sudan) CAHW Community-Based Animal Health Worker CIF Cost, Insurance, Freight COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa DAC Department of Agricultural Cooperatives 10th ESAP-Proceedings 35 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production DFZ Disease Free Zone DVS Department of Veterinary Services EAC East African Community EADB East African Development Bank FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation FMD Foot and Mouth Disease GDP Gross Domestic Product GTZ Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit GHA Greater Horn of Africa1 KMC Kenya Meat Commission KLMC Kenya Livestock Marketing Council LC Letter of Credit LG Letter of Guarantee LMA Livestock Marketing Authority (Ethiopia) LMD Livestock Marketing Department (Kenya) LMMC Livestock and Meat Marketing Council (Sudan) MoA Ministry of Agriculture (Ethiopia) MoAR Ministry of Animal Resources (Sudan) MoARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Kenya) MoFT Ministry of Foreign Trade (Sudan) NGO Non Governmental Organisation OAU-IBAR Organisation of African Unity – Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources OIE Office International des Epizootics PTA Preferential Trade Area (PTA Bank) RVF Rift Valley Fever WHO World Health Organisation Introduction: Critical Domestic Information Gap Livestock Population figures are based on estimates in all the three countries. Ethiopia has been using a constant figure for nearly thirty years before allowing annual marginal adjustments in the last 10 years following which the cattle population officially increased by 5 million head. Sudan raised its livestock population figure by 45% for cattle, 55% for sheep, 62% for goats and 14% for camels in the last 10 years alone (1991-2001) without rational explanations. With the recurrence of droughts, various parties also doubt if the official livestock population estimates in Kenya, particularly in the rangelands, reflects the reality. Given the low level livestock-related economic activity particularly in Kenya and Ethiopia, this information gap may not impact the sector in a dramatic way for the time being. However, in the absence of such baseline information, it may be difficult to achieve certain improvements in the sector be it in terms of livestock trade, the provision of animal health services etc. For example, Sudan’s ambitious export program is aimed at reaching an export volume of some 10 million shoats a year2. Given the chance, Ethiopia and Kenya would also like to increase their export volume to the maximum. The question is how can each country determine what it can export without significantly affecting its resource base? 1 2 The term GHA countries in this paper refers to Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and occasionally Somalia. Personal communication with Dr Osman (Sudan) 36 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Available data on the off-take volume of livestock is far from accurate in all the three countries. For example, annual off-take figures for the major terminal markets in Sudan show too wide variations from year to year to be reliable. Livestock prices are difficult to obtain because of the ‘silent auction system3’. Most of the cattle slaughtered in Addis are sourced outside of the terminal markets and nearly all the small ruminants consumed in Addis are sold outside of the designated sale yards and therefore not recorded. In Kenya, available data gives the wrong impression as if more animals are slaughtered in Mombassa than in Nairobi. This is because the bulk of the meat consumed in Nairobi comes from slaughterhouses outside of the city (which is not accounted). At the same time, regular data collection is not carried out in many of the primaries and a good majority of the secondary markets in all the three countries. Where some data collection takes place, the data is usually transferred too late to central processing units. Even then, the data may not be processed at all and the records are kept in piles in userunfriendly manner. If at all, the usefulness of such records is limited to refer to past trends rather than for making informed timely decisions (by producers and traders). Often, the collection of livestock market information is initiated as part of or as a project on its own (such as Rural Services Design Project or ALRMP in Kenya, GTZ and the Southern Tier Initiative in Ethiopia or LMMC in Sudan) and is not continued after the end of the particular project. Trained manpower (data collectors, processors and analysts) go elsewhere once the project is phased out eliminating possibilities for improving on the quality of data collection, interpretation and dissemination with time. Sustainability is the key problem in livestock market data collection due to lack of funds. Intermittent data collection is carried out by Livestock Marketing Departments of (in many cases) the Ministries of Agriculture or other specific projects (ALRMP, GTZ etc). Local councils, which are effective in collecting market taxes, are not interested in collecting such vital information. Despite limited attempts in the past, the use of livestock scales is not common in livestock markets in the three countries. Transactions are carried out through eye estimates of the live weights of animals. Cold dressed weight is usually estimated between 40 and 50% of live weight. Official figures on annual national red meat production are therefore pure estimates. In addition, livestock grading (by weight, breed and/or any other desirable characteristics) is not common except in general terms depriving pastoralists and small farmers alike the incentive to produce for the market. As a result, information collected on prices does not as such reflect the particular characteristics or grade of the livestock. Provisions of animal health services Inadequate financing Agriculture contributes about 33% to the national economy of Kenya. Livestock contribute about 10% to agricultural GDP or about 3.3% of the total GDP. In Ethiopia, agriculture contributes more than 55% to the national economy. Livestock contribute about 40% to agricultural GDP or more than 20% of the total GDP (or even more if other intermediate values of livestock are properly assessed). In Sudan, agriculture contributes 42% to the total GDP and livestock contribute about 20% to agricultural GDP4 and generate some $170 million in a given year representing 25% of the total foreign exchange earned in a year (before the oil production). Despite the significant contribution of livestock resources to their national economies, inadequate financing has hindered the provision of animal health services in each of these countries (though there are variations in the level of resource allocations amongst them). A study undertaken by OAU-IBAR (Tambi and Maina, 2000)5 indicate that between 1993/94 and 1998/99 the Government of Ethiopia allocated only 5% of its recurrent expenditures on agriculture and less than 0.3% on livestock (or 3% of the recurrent agricultural expenditures). Interestingly, however, more funds were progressively made available each year for operational activities than for salaries and other overheads. The study also indicated that Kenya 3 4 5 See volume 1 of this document for more information EC/IGAD, 2000. Establishment of a Regional Livestock Development Programme for Eastern Africa. OAU-IBAR, 2000. Financing Livestock and Animal Health Services in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Tanzania and Uganda. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 37 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production allocated only between 1.3 to 2.0% of the total recurrent budget to agriculture with livestock and animal health services receiving 0.75 and 0.47% of the total recurrent budget respectively (despite an increase in the ‘absolute’ amount of the livestock budget by 70% between 1993/94 and 1997/98). Circumstantial evidences suggest that Sudan comparatively allocates a higher proportion of its recurrent budget to the animal health sector as compared to Ethiopia or Kenya though the country was not included in the study mentioned above. Three inter-related factors are attributable to the current state of things. Firstly, the delivery of animal health services (including the employment of professionals) has been the domain of the public sector for far too long. Secondly, with the decline / stagnation of the economies in the past few years national governments focused on new priorities which led to a substantial reduction in the proportion of the recurrent budget allocated for animal health. According to Tambi and Maina (2000), ‘some national governments quickly cut their veterinary services budget when external funding became available redirecting the proceeds to other priorities’. Thirdly, despite the growing assertion that the private sector should play a lead role in the delivery of veterinary services, this has not been achieved to date due to technical, financial, legislative and in some cases institutional hitches over modalities. So far, the distribution of veterinary drugs is nearly privatized only in Sudan whereas in Kenya and Ethiopia the public and the private sector provide this service. In addition, the incorporation of Community – based Animal Health Workers (CAHW) into mainstream primary veterinary service providers at village level has not yet been fully endorsed, though they have received varying levels of recognition in each country. Disease Free Zones, Quarantine Facilities and Holding Grounds The lack of Disease Free Zones (DFZ) particularly in Ethiopia and Kenya is one apparent outcome of the under financing (including mismanagement in the past) of the livestock sector. Sudan has established a Rinderpest DFZ stretching from the Red Sea and Kassala in the Southeast to West Kordofan and the Northern State embracing 15 of Sudan’s 23 states. The Law in Sudan requires that animals coming to the DFZ be accompanied with vaccination certificates in order to ensure that the status of the DFZ is maintained. The recognition of this zone by the OIE, if and when it happens, will obviously boost Sudan’s export potentials tremendously. Sudan also maintains four quarantine facilities with a capacity to handle 12,000 head of cattle and 223,000 shoats at any given time plus the manpower and the facility to test 20,000 sheep for brucellosis in 24 hours. By contrast the DFZ that were maintained in Central parts of Kenya and from which livestock were exported in the past no longer retain that status. The eight quarantine facilities run jointly by the DVS and the LMD are not providing the same level of service as in the past. Many of the infrastructures built by the LMD and KMC incorporating holding grounds, stock routes, water pans and boreholes are in various stages of disrepair (this is also true for Sudan). Ethiopia has never managed to create a DFZ in the past despite exporting more live animals than Kenya. It is also not clear if there are plans to create new DFZs. Existing quarantine centers are not properly equipped and some are inconveniently located (for example, Logia), though there are plans to build four new holding grounds/quarantine stations. Stock routes and holding grounds destroyed during the war between Ethiopia and Somalia in the late 1970s have not been repaired since then. Legislations National acts governing animal health, livestock products and derivatives need to be updated from time to time to meet the changing international standards as required by the OIE/FAO/WHO (for exports, imports and domestic production and distribution). In some cases, new Acts may need to be formulated to cater for unforeseen circumstances. Ranches and Feedlots Ranches are not common in Sudan due to the scarcity of natural vegetation close to the main terminal markets in the Northern parts of the country. Instead, the seasonality of the flow of livestock has led to the purchasing of cattle in bulk and keeping them in feedlots around major market centers. The feedlots operate in 60 to 120 days cycles with average weight gains of about 1.5 kg per head. Cattle are usually fed on 38 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia sorghum, oil cakes, groundnuts, molasses etc. Increasing numbers of commercial farmers are becoming involved in feedlot operations apart from the traditional livestock traders and wholesale butchery owners. This indicates the profitability of the business despite complaints of price increases in cattle feed. The feedlots play a critical role in supplying livestock to the terminal markets during the lean season (March to June) when prices go up. Feedlots that proliferated around Nazareth and Mojo towns of Ethiopia have been forced out of business in the last five years due to increasing costs and unavailability of concentrate feeds and butchers’ preferences for pasture-fed cattle. Many of the feedlots had to close since they were unable to service their bank loans. At the same time, the development of private ranches in Ethiopia has been constrained due to the land tenure policy that prohibited private ownership of land. Still, land can only be leased and not purchased. In the past, parastatal ranches were used for producing crossbred heifers and bulls (in which they didn’t succeed much) and not for commercial production of beef. The few co-operative ranches established some 20 years ago are not operating successfully both as a result of management problems and changes in government policies. Of the 454 ranches in Kenya (as at 2000), 215 are destined for subdivision (some are already subdivided), 77 are dormant, and 76 are without status whether they are operational or not. Only 84 (comprising 39 group, 33 private, 3 DAC and 9 cooperatives) of the ranches were operational at December 2000. Of particular interest is the collapse of the Galana Ranch with a land area of some 877,000 hectares and with a capacity to accommodate 30,000 head of cattle. Putting up tourist lodges has become a growing trend of the ranches either to complement their income or because they have failed as ranches for various reasons. Institutional Issues Government Focal points An array of institutions claim to be in charge of livestock marketing in Sudan. The Ministry of Animal Resources undertakes delivery of animal health and quarantine services along with the certification of animals for exports. The Ministry also engages in trade protocol negotiations with existing or potential importing countries (recently with Saudi Arabia, Libya and Malaysia for example). Yet, there is no specific department that deals with livestock marketing in the ministry. On the other hand, the Ministry of Foreign Trade believe they are in charge of all external trades including livestock marketing for which it issues export licences and puts minimum price ceilings (called minimum indicative prices) on the export price of livestock below which livestock exporters are not allowed to sell. The Ministry also plans to establish a separate livestock market in Khartoum for the export market. The Animal Resources Bank, on the other hand, also claims to be the heir apparent of the ex-LMMC (despite being a profit making organisation) and plans to take over the stock routes and livestock markets built by the latter and currently run by State governments. The ARB has also set up a livestock market in the Daresalam area of Omdurman. Meanwhile, the State governments collect hefty taxes from the livestock markets as indicated in volume 1 of this document. In Ethiopia, the Livestock Marketing Authority (LMA) of the Ministry of Trade is geared to take over certain roles of the Department of Veterinary services, especially in the areas of quality control and licensing. The problem arises from the overlapping roles and responsibilities incorporated in the Acts governing the two institutions. As a result, relationships between the two institutions are not complementary, to say the least. As a federal institute, the LMA is not represented in regional governments either, and in the absence of this linkage, it is difficult to envisage how its visions and strategic plans can be implemented and sustained at the grass-root level. Similarly, regional departments of veterinary services are not required to report directly to the federal veterinary office. In the meantime, councils of regional governments collect taxes from livestock markets under several guises. The LMD and the DVS in Kenya operate under the same Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and work in close collaboration with each other. However, LMD’s role in livestock marketing has been severely limited following its exit from operating in the domestic markets and the decline in live animal exports from Kenya. As a result, joint operations of the LMD and the DVS (such as joint administrations 10th ESAP-Proceedings 39 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production of the quarantine stations) are no more active. Nevertheless, the potential for collaboration still exists if the export market is revived. Certain livestock marketing activities, such as the rehabilitation of local infrastructure and the collection of market data, are intermittently undertaken by NGOs and other projects outside of the LMD. Livestock Traders / Tanners Associations Sudan has three associations consisting of livestock exporters association, meat exporters association and raw hides and skins exporters association6. Ethiopia has Livestock and Meat Exporters Association7 and a National Tanners Association. Kenya has formed the Kenya Livestock Marketing Council8. In Sudan and Ethiopia, the exporters associations, as the name implies, don’t incorporate domestic livestock traders. The Livestock Marketing Council of Kenya, on the other hand, draws its members from the grass-root level. However, none of the members has any previous experience of exporting live animals or meat. So far, the exporters association in Sudan has been influential in the development of export-friendly policies. The association in Ethiopia has arranged for its members to participate in a trade exhibition in Dubai. The Kenyan Livestock Marketing Council has set itself a number of ambitious objectives. The associations face a number of problems. First, the imposition of the RVF ban has effectively limited the roles and services to be provided by these associations.9 As a result, the number of members has dwindled in Ethiopia and Sudan (numbers may have revived again in Sudan since the lifting of the ban). Second, the associations in Kenya and Ethiopia in particular are handicapped by financial constraints, as member’s contribution is minimal. Subsequently, the associations had to rely on ALRMP (in Kenya) and LMA (in Ethiopia) for the provision of office space and secretarial services. Third, the associations are beset by technical limitations to achieve the objectives they have set. In Sudan, the rumour is that some exporters may not even know their actual costs when exporting livestock to the Gulf. In Ethiopia, the Tanners Association does not have the relevant facts concerning its industry. The Kenyan marketing council is not familiar with the export market in general terms. Domestic Livestock Trade Market yard facilities Facilities, where they existed, are run down in all the three countries. These include feed and water troughs, livestock scales, loading rumps, crushes etc. In many cases, such facilities were built by livestock marketing projects whereas the market yards were and still are owned by the local councils. When the livestock marketing projects were phased out, the council’s couldn’t see why they should spend money on maintaining the infrastructure as long as they collected their taxes with or without the facilities. The underlying reason for this state of affairs is that the infrastructure and the equipment were provided freely to the councils by livestock projects in the first place. Since then, many of the secondary, primary and in some cases terminal markets have been operating without such facilities all along. Some of these markets may not even be fenced at all. Law enforcement Two contrasting cases are presented here for comparison. (i) The Law in Kenya stipulates that animals coming to the terminal market in Nairobi from high-risk areas should be immediately slaughtered. As a result, the Dagoretti market has no facilities for keeping livestock overnight. This law is strictly enforced that traders are obliged to sell their animals on the day of arrival. The implication of this, particularly regarding price, is obvious. (ii) The city council of Addis Ababa has designated livestock markets. Yet, nearly all the shoats (and particularly sheep) are sold in any corner of the city in a haphazard manner. 6 7 8 9 Unfortunately, members of the live animals and meat exporters associations were not met during the field trip. Formed with the support of the Livestock Marketing Authority Formed with the support of Arid Lands Resource Management Project The result of relying on one market. 40 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Taxation It suffices to say that livestock are the most repeatedly (and perhaps the most highly) taxed agricultural commodity group in the region en route to their final destinations. For example, traders pay as many as 20 types of taxes between points of purchase and destinations / final exit points in Sudan. Traders in Ethiopia are also subjected to paying transit and sales taxes of widely varying nature within the country.10 Kenyan livestock traders may not pay fees and taxes as in many places as in Sudan or Ethiopia. However, the total amount they pay still remains significant. Transport Costs Transport constitutes a major cost factor in livestock trade whether in Ethiopia, Kenya or Sudan. In Kenya, transport costs constitute between 25 and 40% of the total price of a head of cattle. In addition, truck owners regard livestock transportation as a captive market. For example, a 10-ton truck costing 35,000 shillings between Nairobi and Moyale would cost between 50 and 70,000 shillings in the reverse direction when bringing livestock. As a result, in both Kenya and Ethiopia, traders prefer trekking livestock if the prevailing security situation permits them to do so. Trekking, however, can be expensive in Sudan. It may cost up to $154 per head of cattle from West Kordofan to Khartoum (takes about 75 days).11 Intermediate Costs and Cartels Too many middlemen affect the efficiency of the livestock markets in the region. This problem is highly pronounced particularly in Sudan where livestock may change hands 2 to 6 times until they reach the terminal markets. Even then, the final transaction in the terminal markets is also carried out through middlemen on commission basis. Many times, livestock also change hands without actual change of ownership in Sudan for which payments will be effected much later. Terminal livestock prices, as a result, end up3 or 4 times higher than the producer’s price. In Kenya, middlemen play a critical role in the Dagoretti terminal market since they operate as the interface between the livestock traders and the butcheries in town. This entails buying cattle from the traders and selling the meat to the butcheries instead of the butchery owners buying the livestock directly from the livestock traders. In short, they act as a cartel group. In the terminal market of Kéra in Addis Ababa, an increasing number of ex-soldiers are operating as middlemen (with the added advantage of knowing how to intimidate civilians). They charge a commission of about US$30 per cow in addition to the margins they make between the price asked for by the trader and the offer made by the buyer (by keeping the two parties at bay). Butchery owners are perhaps the most powerful group in the livestock marketing chain since they happen to be at the sharp end of the business interfacing the customers. Their power is amply demonstrated by the fact that the price of meat has been the same for the last five years whether Khartoum, Addis Ababa and Nairobi12 despite a sharp fall in the prices of livestock from time to time (during 2000 in Kenya, mid to end 2001 in Ethiopia and in 1999 in Sudan). Diversification As stated above, the current off-take volume of livestock is determined by price control at the sharp end of the market. At the same time, potential increases in meat consumptions have been affected by the lack of diversified value added meat products at affordable prices. The proportion of value added meat products sold in these countries when compared to the volume of raw meat available in the market is minimal. Value added meat products could be expensive due to low economies of scale, psychological attributes of marketing strategies (packaging etc) and technological / management constraints. As a result, only a small proportion of the population affords to buy such products (Farmers’ Choice’s pork products reach only 2% of the Kenyan population, though some quantity is exported to neighbouring countries).13 10 11 12 13 Total fees and taxes for export may vary from as low as Birr 3 to Birr 126.75 per head of cattle, from Br 1 to Br 28.51 per sheep and from Br 1 to Br 40 per goat depending on the region where the livestock were purchased. See volume 1 of this document for details. An interesting case is that the price of a Kg of medium quality beef is the same in Nairobi city and rural Marsabit. Personal communication with the manager of Farmer’s Choice. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 41 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Producing for the Market One common perception about pastoralists is that they are not keen to sell their animals (even in times of hardship) for reasons of security against future losses, wealth status in the community, non-integration into cash economy etc. Some also say that access to ‘free’ pasture and water is what keeps pastoralists from selling their livestock readily in the markets. Both observations state facts. Over time, however, the attitude of pastoralists is changing, as a result of their gradual integration into the cash economy for a variety of reasons. Though at slow rate, this change of attitude is taking place as demonstrated by the overwhelming interest of pastoralists to sell their animals in the 1999-2001 drought intervention programmes in Kenya. In fact, pastoralists would have sold more animals (even at normal times), had it not been for some inherent problems in the domestic livestock market structure. Firstly, the volume of the national meat demand is determined by the price of meat14 at butchery outlets (controlled by the cartel group) rather than by the supply level of livestock. In short, the butchery outlets control the supply level. As a result, in as far as there is no increase in the national demand for red meat (or for the export market), pastoralists have nowhere to sell their livestock even if they want to since the domestic markets are conveniently ‘saturated’. Secondly, due to their transhumant nature they are mostly far away from places where they can buy their ‘wants’ – such as sugar, tea, veterinary drugs etc15. In other words, their physical location determines on how much they would spend on their ‘wants’. If not, they have to forego without satisfying their wants for which they don’t need to raise cash, as there is no motive. Thirdly, pastoralists in general have limited ‘wants’ in comparison to other sectors of the population. They, therefore, require limited amount of cash even if they have the capacity to raise more by selling more animals. In fact, the difference between those pastoralists who comparatively sale more livestock (like the Somalis) and those selling few (the Afars, Turkanas and a number of tribes in West Sudan) is basically one of a difference in the ‘size and varieties of wants’ between these groups.16 The export trade Taxation Exporters have to pay a myriad of taxes and fees at the national level for exporting live animals or chilled/frozen meat particularly from Ethiopia and Sudan. This is in addition to what they pay in fees and taxes for local councils. Many of the Government institutions traders have to deal with (see Institutional matters, Government Focal Points 4.1 above) in Sudan or Ethiopia charge some kind of fees and taxes from exporters. The full list of taxes imposed on exporters by regional and federal governments of Ethiopia and Sudan is provided in the volume I of this document. Of late, however, the Ministry of Finance in Sudan has taken some commendable steps in rescinding all federal taxes for a period of 3 months to encourage exports. Inadequate Financial and Technical Services Trade Finance / Capital Investments Financial services are not easily available. Even when they are, the cost of servicing loans particularly in Sudan and Kenya is very high. Sudan has established a separate bank solely for livestock related businesses under the name of the Animal Resources Bank. This Bank has some 21 branches throughout the country. The Bank provides trade finance on short-term basis for transport, customs, LCs and LGs on conditions that repayments are made within 2-4 months. In fact, since Bank interest is not allowed in Sudan, the Bank operates in a form of short-term partnership with exporter/s, whereby profit is shared between the parties according to the contributions made under a system called Muharaba. The current level of Muharaba translates into an interest rate of around 24%. The Bank also doubles as a trading house whereby it buys livestock from secondary and terminal markets and sell them at cost plus profit to exporters. There are no specialized livestock banking services in Ethiopia or Kenya and exporters have to get such services from high street commercial banks in general. However, the current interest rate that runs at 14 15 16 For example, it defies all logic why the price of a kilogram of an average quality meat cut is the same in Marsabit and Nairobi. In what seems an irony, one of the complaints made by villagers near Tabaka, Mandera, was the distance of the nearest butchery to buy meat. Sugar, tea, rice and electronics are popular consumable items among the Somalis. 42 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia around 24% in Kenya and Sudan17 (the latter under the Muharaba system) is too high for livestock exporters, especially if one considers the fact that livestock export business is not always profitable.18 For example, a number of traders who took loans from the Bank in Sudan and lost money after exporting livestock were put in prison. Banks, obviously, need collaterals to advance loans. Unfortunately, exporting livestock is a highly capital intensive business (the reason why the trust system has flourished in Sudan, Somalia and to some extent in Ethiopia and Kenya in the first place) for which raising collaterals is beyond the means of most traders. For example, Australia and New Zealand use large vessels that can carry up to 140,000 sheep per voyage. With a CIF price of, say $30 per sheep at Jeddah, the capital outlay per voyage is over $4 million. None of the exporters in Sudan, Somalia, Kenya or Ethiopia operate with this level of capital. Rural credit services, where they exist, are usually limited to Grameen type banks lending small amount of money to women groups for petty trading. Many livestock traders therefore rely on the ‘trust system’ to overcome this problem. Even if loans are available, traders would opt to forego them because of the high interest rate. Financial problems have led to investment problems. For example interested parties in Kenya have not been able to raise money for feasibility studies to set up export standard abattoirs. A would-be exporter in Kenya, who has imported slaughterhouse machinery from Sweden, has not been able to raise money for the purchase of livestock and to put a structure to house the abattoir. Another gentleman who claims to have secured a business contract with Egypt for the supply of camels is not able to raise the necessary capital. In Sudan, the ARB, in one particular case, has built (through PTA financing) and sold an export standard abattoir for cash. Letter of Credit Ethiopia and Kenya require Letter (s) of Credit (LC) to authorise livestock exports. Sudan has relaxed this requirement and uses less conventional methods by which exporters are allowed to bring their foreign exchange earnings after selling their livestock in the Saudi markets. European, New Zealand and Australian exporters extend credit lines of up to 2 months when exporting livestock to the Gulf countries. Somali exporters also extend credit lines to importers when they take animals to the Gulf without receiving orders. Access to Foreign Exchange Earnings The success of Somali livestock exporters in running the country’s economy is because of their access to foreign exchange earnings allowing them to import essential commodities into the country. The new liberal policy in Sudan also allows exporters to access their foreign exchange earnings and dispose them as they want either for importing goods, sell it to the bank or to third parties. Exporters may not be able to access own foreign exchange earnings in Kenya since this is available in the open market. In Ethiopia, exporters (or for that matter importers) can only access foreign exchange through the bi-weekly auctions at the National Bank. Technical Constraints At times, investments are made without any or based on poor feasibility studies. In either case, the ‘barriers of entry’19 don’t warrant such kinds of investments. In this regard, Nyala slaughterhouse (in Western Sudan) is a case in point. The decision to build this export standard slaughterhouse was taken on the single merit of its proximity to supply sources. The critical facts that there are no scheduled international flights to Nyala and that the local market was too small to absorb the offal produced by the slaughterhouse were not taken into consideration. This necessitated the use of chartered planes for transporting chilled meat/mutton to export destinations and a significant proportion of the offal produced being dumped since there was no market for it locally. In any case, the savings from lower livestock prices could not offset the 17 18 19 The interest rate is xx% in Ethiopia. For example, livestock could be rejected from entering the importing country on grounds of health. These include legal, financial, technological, political, cultural etc barriers. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 43 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production high-chartered freight costs and the dumping of otherwise valuable offal. Eventually, the slaughterhouse had to close down. The purchase of five industrial abattoirs by Elfora Co. in Ethiopia provides another example. The abattoirs use nearly obsolete machinery. Elfora’s initial success in supplying canned beef and vegetable to the Ministry of Defence couldn’t continue when the Ministry stopped making orders. The company should have explored and secured alternative markets while supplying the Ministry of Defence. In addition, a proper feasibility study should have taken place before the purchase of the plants if canned meat could be exported profitably from Ethiopia. Because the more processed the meat is the less profitable it is in international markets (live animals followed by chilled / frozen meat are more profitable than canned meat). The fate of the industrial abattoirs is not certain at the moment. The impact of poor feasibility studies is perhaps strongly reflected on the tannery industry. It appears that the national supply volume of hides and skins is not taken into account by investors and the relevant authorities when deciding and approving to set up new tanneries. In Ethiopia, 49 skins and hides investment projects were submitted to the Ethiopian Investment Agency (EIA) between 1992 and1999 while existing tanneries at the time couldn’t get enough supplies. One hundred and six leather industries were also awarded investment certificates by the Authority during the same period. Meanwhile, shortages of raw hides and skins supplies and the high cost of chemicals are significantly affecting the tannery industry in all the three countries. As a result, some tanneries have been closed and some operate as low as at 10% of their capacity. The shortage of supplies is particularly exacerbated in Kenya and Sudan by the export of raw hides and skins. Presently, many tanneries and companies producing leather articles in Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya are in precarious situations due to cheap imports. Shortage of cold chain facilities and cargo space Shortages of cold chain facilities at Addis Ababa and Khartoum airports limit the amount of chilled/frozen meat to be exported at any given time. Moreover, chilled/frozen meat exports take place using the available cargo space on scheduled passenger flights. When cargo space is not available, exporters are forced to take back the consignments to their own cold chain facilities. Exporters complain that scheduled airlines freight costs are high. Chartered flights are even more expensive since exporters are charged for the round trip. Somali exporters, however, use chartered planes in both directions bringing in merchandise in the inbound trip. As a result, the cost of chartered flights is less expensive in Somalia than in Sudan or Ethiopia. Conditioning live animals for export Gulf Importers complain that livestock from the Greater Horn countries arrive in poor physical shape despite the proximity of the two regions. This happens due to a variety of reasons: Livestock are transported in dhows and boats that are not specifically designed for this purpose; overcrowding and suffocation; lack of feed and water during the voyage including lack of attention and the immediate transfer of livestock from land to sea without any acclimatization etc. On the other hand, despite a sea voyage involving some 17-21 days, livestock from Australia and New Zealand arrive in good physical shape. Exporters from these countries use large vessels specifically designed for this purpose (with capacities to carry up to 140,000 sheep at a time). Ample feed and water are provided during the voyage. Livestock are checked regularly for any kind of disease symptoms, bruising or physical injury and those that are not deemed fit for the markets are disposed into the sea. More importantly, livestock are conditioned for about five days close to or at the port of embarkation before they are transferred aboard the vessels. This involves mainly acclimatizing them with the feed (while still on land) they are to be served on board. Australian and New Zealand exporters emphasize that conditioning the livestock at or close to the port of embarkation is key to the arrival of livestock in good physical shape at destinations. Rolling Quarantine Quarantine procedures are a must particularly for live animal exports. This period of observation lasts for 21 days before the livestock are shipped. This is an expensive (but nonetheless mandatory) procedure in terms of feed, water and other overhead costs particularly if large numbers of animals are involved. Some 44 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia countries like Sudan are now adapting a rolling quarantine method where livestock are inspected while on the move to cut on costs. Ethiopia and Kenya need to emulate this system. Pre-shipment Holding grounds /Quarantine Stations Exporters complain that the quarantine facility at Port Sudan (with a capacity to hold 4,000 cattle/camel and 71,000 shoats) is not big enough to accommodate large number of animals during peak export season. This problem is more pronounced at the port of Djibouti. The present capacity of the holding ground in Djibouti may not hold more than 2,000 shoats or their equivalent in cattle. Various attempts by private Ethiopian exporters to access and improve the capacities and facilities of the pre-shipment quarantine station at Djibouti have not yielded fruit for inexplicable reasons. As things are, the volume of live animal exports from Ethiopia will be limited by the capacity of the quarantine station at Djibouti among other things. External markets information gap One apparent area of weakness is the lack of interest and capacity to collect regular market information from livestock importing countries. Ethiopia and Kenya are particularly disadvantaged in this regard as they are not involved in active live animal exports at the moment. However, even Sudan that has been actively engaged in live animals and meat exports (both in the past and after the lifting of the RVF ban by Saudi Arabia) does not collect vital market information on regular and systematic basis. The apparent indifference to collect this information comes from a misunderstanding about the dynamics of the export market and the wrong perception that the markets will always function in a similar manner. For reasons of simplicity, we suggest that regular and systematic market information be collected across four major areas (the Saudi Arabian market is used here as an example since it represents the largest livestock market in the Gulf Region). Regular information on local production, market trends20, attitudes, GDP, changing habits of the consumers, changes in distribution channels, substitute products, demographical changes etc. For example, Saudi Arabia’s population of 21 million (includes 7 million ex-pats and guest workers) is growing faster than the economy. Nominal GDP has gone from $18,800 in 1981 to $6,700 in 199521. Despite the decline in GDP, the market for consumer-ready food products is increasing. There are about 230 large modern western-style supermarkets, hundreds of corner grocery stores and most major fast food chains. The number of cold storage warehouses and food processing plants has increased significantly. The market for frozen meats and vegetables is growing with every supermarket having a frozen food section. Agriculturally, Saudi Arabia has become the world’s largest date producer surpassing Iraq. The Government encourages local farmers to diversify into livestock (sheep and camels) poultry and dairy production. Sheep production increased from 6.9 million in 1992 to 10.6 million in 1996. Red meat production reached 363,000 tons in 1998 though it declined to 207,450 tons in 1999. Local poultry production reached 374,000 tons in 1998 and 397,200 tons in 199922. Broiler chickens increased by 13.6 percent23 in 1997. Since 1998, Saudi Arabia has been producing 816,000 tons of dairy products. The Kingdom’s food and dairy exports reached 760,000 tons in 1998 with revenues of approximately $443.46 million24. Obtaining timely information on Tariffs, Rules, Regulations and Trade Restrictions imposed by importing countries and the need to comply with such requirements. Tariffs, rules and restrictions are imposed from time to time either to protect domestic producers or to thwart perceived fear of importing diseases. The importance of obtaining such information and trying to redress it, if possible, can’t be overemphasized in view of the impact of the RVF ban imposed on the region. The ban has coasted Sudan $170 million in one year and Somalia some $ 30.6 million in a period of five months.25 Other related measures taken by Saudi Arabia include: 20 21 22 23 24 25 Idrisi, a former live animals exporter from Kenya states that ‘the old Arabs that liked our animals are no more. The new generation of the Middle East is so westernized they are even rumored to eat forbidden products’. Tradeport, Trade Directory, 2002. Saudi Arabia, Food Market Reports Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development (AOAD), 2000. Arab Agricultural Statistics Yearbook. U.S. – Saudi Arabian Business Council, 2002. The Agricultural Sector in Saudi Arabia Ibid Steffen et al, 1998. The Livestock Embargo by Saudi Arabia: A Report on the Economic, Financial and Social Impact on Somaliland and Somalia 10th ESAP-Proceedings 45 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production • The banning of offal imports (liver, tongue, kidney, brain, stomach etc) including the extraction of spinal cords for chilled/frozen meat on fear of BSE; • The banning of live animal and meat imports on fear of BSE and FMD from European, Asian and Latin American suppliers; • Reduced shelf life Regulations for food and agricultural products; • The International Conformity Certification Programme (ICCP) which requires pre-inspection and testing in the country of origin of 76 product categories, 11 of which are food and agricultural. Eight revisions of procedural guidelines were issued for the enforcement of ICCP. The Saudi import tariff on most food product was 12% ad valorem, except for imports that compete with domestic production, such as poultry meat for which the tariff rate was 20%. In recent years, however, Saudi Arabia has dropped tariffs from 20 to 12% for protected products and from 12 to 5% for many other goods. The imposition of bans on the grounds of RFV, BSE and FMD on African, Asian and European livestock imports over the past 20 months provided an opportunity for Australia and New Zealand to stay as the only suppliers of live sheep and lamb meat to the kingdom. However, both Australia and New Zealand were not capable of supplying the required quantities of sheep and lamb meat at competitive prices. As a result, prices of live sheep, fresh and frozen lamb in Saudi Arabia went up by 100, 300 and 200 percent26 respectively compelling local sheep traders to pay premium prices for domestic male and female sheep stock (breaching the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture’s long standing ban on the slaughtering of local female sheep stock less than 8 years old). The fear of depleting the local female sheep stock (Naimi and Najdi breeds) particularly during the winter mating season and as a result of the approaching Haj season (2002) at the time was what persuaded the Saudi authorities to lift the ban on Sudan (though a livestock import protocol was signed between the two countries). The ban on Syria and Jordan was lifted later while it is still effective on Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Yemen. Knowing what the competitors are doing The Gulf region enjoys one of the world’s highest per capita incomes and population growth and provides a food market worth $35 billion.27 The region’s population also involves a smorgasbord of nationalities. Saudi Arabia has 71% nationals while in UAE it is only 20% (with nearly 2/3rd Asians and about 15% from Middle Eastern countries). Bahrain’s population comprises 61% nationals while in Kuwait it is about 1/3rd. In Oman more than two-thirds are nationals while in Qatar it is just under one-third.28 As competition is becoming more intense suppliers are employing a variety of marketing strategies to reach the different market segments (stratified by income, ethnic group, age, religious beliefs etc) in the Gulf. Many EU countries, Egypt, Thailand, China, India, Australia and New Zealand are active in offering different forms of promotional assistance to local importers to increase sales. These include: i) subsidies; ii) price and payment terms such as credit facilities and price discounts on bulk buys; and iii) promotional activities such as TV and magazine advertising; in store promotions; give aways; point of sale material and other merchandising support; incentive buy programs and off-location displays. For example, France and Brazil gained ground in the frozen poultry sector through attractive subsidies29; other EC countries have offered favourable credit facilities such as 60 days payment30. In the meat area, Australia and New Zealand are active in providing point of sale material to supermarkets in order to encourage shoppers to try Australian lamb or dairy products from New Zealand. Australian meat is regularly advertised on Saudi TV. In fact, the Saudi consumer has become a discriminating consumer, looking more closely at labels and price than before. As bar coding becomes more popular, many like products are expected to be eliminated. 26 27 28 29 30 Gain Report #SA2005, 2002. Saudi Arabia: Livestock and Products – The Kingdom Lifts Ban on Imports of Live Sheep from Syria and Jordan 2002 Global Supermarket, 2002. Middle Eastern Ingredient. Ibid Saudi Arabia is self sufficient in this sector now Tradeport 2002 46 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Distributors are routinely charged rent by supermarket managers for gondola space to introduce and test market new products. The gross margins charged by supermarkets range from 10 to 35%, depending on the degree of sophistication and modernity of the store. Surveying new markets and diversifying products Understandably, the Gulf is a major market for live animals and meat exports. However, total reliance on this market alone could lead to unpredictable and economically devastating situations as with the current RVF ban imposed on the region. Apart from health-related reasons, it should be borne in mind that such bans could be imposed at any time and on any country unilaterally or collectively for political, commercial and other reasons as felt necessary by the importing country/ies. Regional approaches The way to move forward for the Greater Horn countries is to develop a regional rather than unilateral approach while remaining competitive with each other. A regional strategy is necessary in view of the increasingly poor performance of the GH countries in the export market. For example, prior to 1973, Somalia had 90% of the Saudi market, but was unable to keep pace with its growth. Australia became the principal supplier in the mid 80’s shipping out some 3.5 million sheep annually from almost nothing 20 years earlier. Similarly, Turkey was able to increase its exports to Saudi from almost nothing 10 years earlier to around 1.4 million sheep in the mid 80’s31. In comparison, GHA countries have failed to supply consistently let alone dominating the Gulf markets as should have been the case considering their geographical proximity and cultural ties. The failure of GHA countries is attributed to their own inefficiencies - at times, leading to the imposition of bans by importing countries (which in some cases is unjustified). In the process, the Gulf and the Middle East market has been dominated by such giants as Australia, New Zealand and some European countries with which any GHA country can’t compete unilaterally. It is therefore time for GHA countries to think of regional collaboration since what can’t be achieved unilaterally may be accomplished regionally. Such collaborations could be achieved through the formation of Regional Live Animals and Meat Exporters Association, Regional Tanners Association etc. These associations could work closely with the proposed African – Arabian livestock Trade Commission (of OAU-IBAR) for mutual benefit. The Associations and the Commission could play complementary roles for boosting the export potential of the region. Some of the perceived benefits of regional collaboration are listed below. 31 Ronco Consulting Corporation. International Market for Livestock Somalia, 1987 10th ESAP-Proceedings 47 Opportunities and challenges of hides and skins trade in Ethiopia Girma Mekonnen Livestock Marketing Authority, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Abstract Ethiopia has been exporting hides & skins in the past 100 years. Hides & skins represent major source of foreign exchange earnings for the country accounting to 14-16% of the total export revenue. The country has big potential to develop the sub-sector. The paper reviews available published and unpublished literature in an attempt to show the development opportunities and constraints facing the hides & skins industry in the country. Different policies adopted by the Federal Government of Ethiopia, availability of cheep labor force and availability of the resource base create conducive environment especially for being competent in trading in hides & skins in the world market. However, the trade in the sub-sector is constrained by various structural, production, information exchange, and promotional problems. Recommendations are developed based on the discussion of these problems. They include:-Designing of shorter market channel, improvement of trade licensing procedure, establishment of purchase by grade system for raw hides & skins, skill development of market forces, planning for transformation from export of semi-processed to finished products, delivery of current market information, development of product promotion strategies etc. Implementation of these recommendations is believed to help develop the sector resulting in maximization of the economic and financial benefits obtainable from the industry. Introduction Hides, skins, leather & leather products are the most widely traded commodities in the world with their total export value of US$ 44 billion. These products combined rank first in important exportable agricultural commodities like, meat, rubber, cotton, coffee, tea, rice & tobacco (FAO, 2001). The value takes 41% of the combined export values of these commodities. Ethiopia being one of the countries with large livestock base in the world has been one of the suppliers of hides and skins to different consumers for nearly a century. Products exported from this origin are known to have unique characteristics in compactness in fiber and utilizability for different leather products. During the last 100 years of export experience, different development interventions have been made by the Government of Ethiopia to enhance the improvement of the raw material quality and increase the volume of products entering the formal market chain. As a result the volume of products collected by the tanning industries have increased and gradual improvements in products handling, and hence in quality, observed. At the same time, export volume has increased corresponding with the number and total soaking capacity of tanning industries. The marketing process, on the other hand, follows more of the traditional way without showing any significant change towards modern marketing practices. The hide & skin industry faces numerous intricate challenges in its development. The problems can be classified into organizational, supply side, demand side, promotional and informational. This paper reviews available published and gray literature to show the potential the country has and the challenges the hide and skins industry faces, and based on this, develops specific recommendations. Development opportunities of the resource base Ethiopia's economy is predominantly agricultural where the livestock sub-sector plays substantial role. Its share of livestock holdings is 2.4%, 11.15%, 35.5%, 23% and 3.1% when compared with the total livestock population of the world, East Africa, COMESA member countries and all developing countries respectively (FAO, 2001). Though different data sources put different figures for the number of live animals in Ethiopia, the estimate in 1998/99 indicates that there are 34.1 million heads of cattle, 30.5 million heads of sheep, 21.1 10th ESAP-Proceedings 49 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production million heads of goats (MEDAC, 1999). This resource base constitutes a great potential for hide & skin production, with estimated total annual output of 2.38 million cattle hides, 10.07 million sheep skins and 7.38 million goat skins based on 7%, 33% and 35% off-take rate for cattle, sheep and goats, respectively. Hides & skins from the highland areas of the country are preferred to those of the lowlands in the foreign market, because these are known to have unique characteristics of compactness and utilizability for different end products for sports wear, garments, gloves, shoes and hand bags for ladies. The average share of livestock, livestock products and by-products over the years 1997/98-2000/01 of total export earning was 11% with hides & skins alone accounting for 90%of these. During the year 2000/01 leather & leather product sub-sector was the second foreign currency generator with an export value of US$ 74.1 million (Export Promotion Agency, 2001). Generally, hides, skins and leather represent the major source of foreign currency for the country accounting for 14-16% of the total export revenue. Export of raw hides and skins started about 1900. Privately owned tanneries were established in the first quarter of the century which afterwards were nationalized by the socialist government of Ethiopia. They processed mainly hides for the domestic market. Until 1975, only some quantities of hides & skins were processed into leather and leather products, exclusively for domestic use. Following liberalization of the economy after the 1991 change of government, private companies have established substantial numbers of tanneries. These companies export mainly semi-processed products. Export of finished products is negligible. Traditional tanners also absorb substantial quantities of hides & skins for processing and manufacture of traditional household articles including farm implements, furniture, saddles and traditional musical instruments. In Ethiopia annual per capita consumption of food of animal origin, particularly of meat is very low (7.4 kg). However, this is assumed to grow with the improvement in income per head and population growth, leading to increased slaughter of animals and hides & skin production. In addition, the following favorable conditions provide opportunities for the development of the sector to exploit the export market. • Conducive policy environment to promote export of such commodities, • Availability of cheap labor force for the leather industry, • Availability of preferential access to the European market, • Close proximity to export markets in the Middle East and neighboring African countries, • Capacity of tanneries for expansion which can be used for further production of finished leather products by making some technological adjustments, • Establishment of different institutions that can have direct impact on the production and marketing of quality hides and skins. However, the development potential is still constrained by structural and operational challenges. Stakeholders of the marketing chain and challenges of the process The market chain is stretched in space and time starting from the point of slaughter to the markets where end products are supplied. The commodity passes through different hands with or without changing its form. The market is generally very wide with long channel in which different market forces with different trading capacities are involved. Primary producers Individual households that slaughter animals for home consumption, licensed butchers and those who slaughter animals collectively to share the meat are grouped as primary producers of hides and skins. Hides & skins from individual and collective slaughters of animals are supplied to the collectors in fresh form without even preservative treatment. Most of the butchers sell well-preserved hides to big suppliers through slaughterhouses on tender basis. However there are situations where fresh hides are supplied in cases where curing capacity is limited in existing slaughterhouses, or even when there are no slaughter facilities at all. These non-uniformity not only complicates any development intervention, but also inflates marketing costs. 50 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Collectors Both licensed and unlicensed traders are involved in collecting hides and skins from primary producers at the point of slaughter or in small markets. All these traders have limited financial capacity and mostly work on finances supplied by higher-level traders or tanners. They mostly operate on public holidays when there are relatively high slaughtering activities. They collect the fresh product and supply it either to higher-level traders or directly to tanners with whom they previously developed exchange relationships. The number and distribution of these traders has not been exhaustively studied yet, however, they are assumed to concentrate in towns and traditional markets, leaving the periphery and lowlands of the country partially unattended. Skins of the lowland areas are said to have lower demand in the domestic market since they are considered as fatty and not containing compact fibers. Small traders in this group are required to organize themselves with sufficient facilities like shades for keeping hides & skins until they are sold to the next recipient. Such preservation facilities are not found according to the requirement. These coupled with unfavorable climate in which collectors operate contribute partly to the supply of lower quality hides & skins. Big suppliers The traders classified in this group are those who make bulk purchases from either smaller traders or slaughterhouses and supply to tanneries. They are stationed in bigger towns where the size of transaction warrants their investment, and where marketing facilities are conducive. They are relatively well organized and have large financial capacity as to support small traders or collectors. They can also serve as creditors since they partly finance the market in the absence of formal financial institutions. They usually form two-way trade relationships with collectors as well as buyers to ensure the collected raw hides & skins are timely channeled to processing plants. Data collected from tanneries shows that there are more than 800 licensed suppliers in the country. However, there is an increasing number of non-licensed traders participating in the market as a result of misinterpretation and improper implementation of the Commercial Registration & Business Licensing Proclamation No.-67/1997 which hampered the operation of licensed traders. This proclamation, which allows any trader with capital less than birr 5000 to trade without license for professional competence, has contributed to the deterioration of hides & skins quality. Though they are relatively better organized and have sufficient knowledge on handling of hide & skin products, most of them do not have curing shades and other necessary facilities that can meet standard requirements of modern markets. Slaughterhouses and abattoirs These are premises that give slaughtering services to meat exporters, butchers and individual consumers. Most of them undertake preservation activities for hides & skins obtained from the slaughtering operations and sell them on tender basis either to suppliers or tanners. Technically these are considered the most appropriate suppliers of raw hides & skins in the modern market structure. With the exception of those situated in bigger towns, slaughter- houses/slabs in smaller towns may not have the necessary facilities for product preservation. There are situations when they give hides back to the sellers. Traditional tanners The number & capacity of stakeholders in this group has not been exhaustively studied. However, their distribution is assumed countrywide. Their involvement in the market is significant that the volume of raw product they absorb especially of hides is nearly equivalent to that of tanning industries. They collect their supplies mostly from primary producers and small traders in their vicinities. Nevertheless, they also buy from big suppliers especially when prices fall in the world market with subsequent fall in demand for raw products in the country. In such a situation, they manage to pay better prices as compared to prices paid by tanning industries. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 51 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Tanning industries Tanning industries buy raw hides & skins from slaughterhouses and suppliers or they make their own purchases by deploying authorized collectors during big holidays. They supply semi-processed and finished leather to external markets. They also supply part of their products to local leather industries. Each of these tanneries has its own suppliers in different regions of the country. There are 19 tanneries in operation now and 3 others are under construction. In addition to these, 18 new investors have taken licenses to construct their own tanning industries (Export Promotion Agency, 1999). Except four of these, which are parastatals, many of the industries have been established after 1991. All are organized under a Tanners' Association with the objective of addressing their common problems together. Data collected in 2000 shows that 17 industries including the state owned shows that they have the capacity to process up to 2.6 million hides and 29.1 million skins. An estimated total of 1.07 million hides and 14.3 million sheep and goat skins reach the tanning industries. This shows that industries operate at 41% and 49% of their soaking capacity for hides & skins, respectively. About 70% of the industries are located around Addis Ababa. Their location indicates that nearness to the raw material was not considered in their establishment other than the location advantage of nearness to foreign market outlet including other advantages as easy access to market services and developed infrastructures. Transport enterprises Private & government transport companies are included in this group. Their role is in transport of the raw as well as processed products between components of the market. The majority of the raw products flow to tanning industries and only some of it to traditional tanners through collectors and dealers. The flow of raw hides & skins does not always follow the hierarchy of traders but there are times when traders or tanners buy fresh products direct from primary producers. From this, the product is supplied to the next consumer in the domestic or foreign markets, after either partial or full processing. Consumers in the foreign markets could be end product producers or re-tanning industries for finishing purposes. Final products of traditional tanners reach consumers through local markets and are used by households for traditional utilities. On top of these support services, there are other government institutions, which are involved in the process of marketing by way of availing different regulatory trade facilitation services. These are: -Chamber of Commerce of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Customs Authority, Quality & Standards Authority of Ethiopia, Ministry of Agriculture, National Bank of Ethiopia, Ministry of Health, Maritime and Transit Service Enterprises, Regional Bureaus of Agriculture, and Livestock Marketing Authority. The problems that are observed on the market structure are stated below. 52 • Collectors are not well distributed throughout the regions proportional to the volume of the primary commodity produced. • Market forces do not have sufficient shades & accessories that can facilitate the supply and production of hide and skin at desired quantity & quality levels. • The knowledge of collectors & dealers regarding handling & quality preservation of products including market management is very low. • Absence of sufficient number of slaughterhouses and inefficiency of the existing ones in hides & skins preservation. • Low level of development of infrastructure in the rural and peripheral areas of the country and lack of efficient transport services. • Absence of organized hides and skins suppliers association. 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Volume and distribution of the resource base Quantity & quality Factors that influence the volume of production are not only the number of animals that a country has. Other factors such as demographic, social & economic phenomena, which have direct effects on the determination of the number of slaughtered animals, play significant roles. The size of animals, as an attribute to breed type, and herd management are also important factors to the volume of production by way of putting their effect on the weight of the product after slaughter. Table 1 presents a contrast of distribution of animal population against the contribution to global output of hides &skins. Developed countries contribute more hides & skin production than the proportion of livestock they hold from global population. Africa and Ethiopia follow the trend in developing countries that their production especially of hides is much lower than their livestock holding. The low off-take developing countries have brought about the disproportionately less contribution of livestock numbers to global production of hides & skins. Table 1. Share of Herd Ownership, Hide & Skin Production (FAO 2001) Bovine animals Economic Regions World Ownership (%) Sheep Production of hides (%) 100 Ownership (%) 100 100 Goat Production of skins (%) 100 Ownership (%) 100 Production of skins (%) 100 Developed countries 22.8 48.8 37.5 48.9 4.4 5.2 Developing countries 77.2 51.2 62.5 51.1 95.6 94.8 Africa 11.4 4.2 15.0 10.2 22.8 15.9 2.3 0.5 2.1 1.5 2.4 2.3 Ethiopia Note:- 1. Production percentages are calculated from weights of wet salted hides and dry sheep and goatskins 2 Figures include buffaloes, lamb skins & kid skins of bovine animals, sheep & goat respectively. 3. World livestock population, Average of 1997-1999 (mill. Heads) -Bovine animals:- 1498.7 -Sheep : - 1055.9 -Goats :- 696.2 4. World Hides &Skin Production (Thousand tones), Average of 1997-1999 -Bovine Hides & Skins:- 5676.8 -Sheep & Lamb Skins :- 394.7 -Goat & kid Skins 325.8 :- Over the last 100 years, hides & skins production grew in an increasing trend in general. Bovine hides production has shown a 16% growth while sheep & goat skins show a growth of 9% & 70% respectively in the past two decades. The growth is recorded mostly in developing countries reflecting improvements in cattle husbandry and expansion in meat production. Far Eastern countries, take the largest share of production especially in bovine hides & sheep skins due to considerable expansion in tanning capacity. This is shown in Table 2. Growth trend of Ethiopia's hides & skins production is not sufficiently studied. Nevertheless, it is positively assumed to show progress in line with the conducive policy environments envisaged for economic development in the country. Annual average growth rate for hides & skins and goat skins over the years 1993 to 1999 was 1.1, 2.2 and 1.4 respectively (MEDaC, 1999). However, its production is not uniformly distributed throughout a year, since it is highly affected by social holidays in which major slaughtering of meat animals takes place. Table 2. Rate of annual growth in output by type and economic zone over 1984-1999 Economic regions Bovine hides & skins Sheep & lamb skins 1.0 0.6 3.6 Developed countries -0.5 -1.1 0.9 Developing countries 2.9 2.8 3.8 Latin America 1.8 0.6 1.9 Africa 1.2 2.8 2.5 Near East 1.5 2.4 3.6 Far East 4.9 4.0 4.3 World Goat & kid skins Source: - FAO, 2001 10th ESAP-Proceedings 53 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Annual production of hides & skins in the country is estimated to be 2.38 million, 10.07 million and 7.38 million for cattle hide, sheep and goat respectively. However, according to the purchase record of tanning industries in 1994/95 only 45% of hides, 88% of sheep skins & 72% of goat skins are collected by the tanneries. This is shown in Table 3. Table 3. Quantity of hides & skins supplied to tanneries in 1994/95. Product Supplied to tanning industries (mill.psc) Supplied to Traditional Tanners, & other users (mill.psc) Percent Supplied to Tanning industries Cattle hides 1.07 1.31 45 Sheep skin 8.9 1.17 88 Goat skin 5.3 2.08 72 Source: Computed from MOA, 1997/98 and MEDaC, 1999 figures From this one can conclude that tanning industries can maximize utilization of their idle processing capacities, especially on hides if more raw products are properly supplied to them. In addition to this, idle capacity utilization can improve if hides & skins from other sources such as camel hides, equine hides, lamb and kid skins etc. are supplied and processed. One of the major issues is ensuring the sustainable supply of quality products in sufficient quantity to satisfy domestic as well as foreign demand. To this end, the implementation of recommended hides & skins improvement measures by all market forces is highly necessary. However, the intensity of putting these measures into practice heavily depends on the level of knowledge, operational capacity and working efficiency of the producers, market forces and those who give service to the trade. The situation in this line has improved, yet more has to be done so that the sector can sustain its position in an increasingly competitive world market. Regional distribution of livestock population, hides & skin production & supply More than 90% of the Ethiopian livestock resources, especially cattle & sheep, are found in Oromiya, Amhara, SNNPR and Tigray regions, in that order of importance (CSA, 1999), 80% of the cattle, 75% of the sheep and 27% of goats are found in the high-lands & mid-high lands where crop cultivation is widely practiced. The rest is estimated to be found in the lowland areas of the country. There is no up-to-date data to show regional distribution of the total supply. The share of regions for raw hides & skins that entered in the warehouses of tanning industries in the year 1995/96 are summarized in Table 3. Table 4. Regional livestock population and supply of raw hides & skins Region Cattle (mill. heads) Hides (%) Sheep (mill. heads) Sheep Skins (%) Goat (mill. heads) Goat Skins (%) Oromiya 15.37 38.9 9.15 32.9 5.14 26.4 Amhara 8.90 7.3 8.00 34.5 5.23 45.4 SNNPR 6.90 28.9 3.57 16.6 2.58 11.6 Tigray 2.31 - 1.85 7.0 2.74 11.7 Addis Ababa 0.02 19.2 0.02 7.9 - - Others 1.5 5.7 1.41 1.1 2.31 4.9 35 100 24 100 18 100 Total Source: CSA, 1999 and MOA, 1997/98). The relatively low contribution of the Amhara Region for hides could be attributed to strong competition from traditional tanners. Traditional leather products are widely used in Amhara and Tigray regions. Addis Abeba`s contribution is higher because of hides obtained from slaughtering of cattle supplied from other regions. Share of each region for sheep skins could be taken as relatively corresponding to the live sheep holding of each region. However, the share of each region for goat skin shows that Amhara contributes the highest share followed by Oromiya. This may be attributed to the goat meat preference of the regions. At the same time, it is presumed that most of the goat skins are not well collected as hides & skins collectors are scarce towards the peripheries of the country where much of the lowland areas are located. 54 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Other related problems Hides & skins, either in raw or semi-processed form pass through many collectors, dealers, suppliers and tanning industries until these reach the leather producing industries. Many handling problems affect quality of the product. The quantity consumed by traditional tanners and that, which is absorbed by contraband market take away a large proportion of the product from modern processing. Other factors, which usually have negative effect on quality and tradable quantity, are: • Benefit from hides and skins transactions is said not distributed equitably to various actors at every level of structural echelon, hence becomes a point of dissatisfaction for collectors and suppliers; • In many cases, payment is not made to suppliers on delivery of the raw product as the tanning industries insist to grade the quality of the raw hides & skins after processing. This is said to avoid payment of higher prices for inconspicuous defects while the product is in raw form. • Absence of unequivocal quality standards for raw products. This causes payment prices irrespective of quality. • Involvement of inexperienced traders due to the legal right given to them to work only by trade registration with out licenses. • Lack of market stabilization mechanisms to apply during global price slumps that lead to extended storage of products. • Insufficient road network and poor transport service to collect and deliver the commodities timely to tanning industries. Demand for products Leather products such as shoes, garments, ladies bags & different leather upholstered chairs have become symbols of high quality and status. The demand for semi-processed and raw hides & skins emanates from the demand for leather end-products. Though there are many reasons for cyclical changes, factors determining this demand are increase in per capita income, the supply of synthetic leather and the value attached to status in society as they relate to use of quality leather products. When the demand for leather products grow, the demand for raw hides & skins grows as well, encouraging prices to raise. Generally, high demand for leather products exists in developed countries. It is also fast growing in developing countries with the development of their economies. Domestic market It is estimated that there are about 400 leather industries in the country, which use finished hides & skins to produce final products. Statistical information of the year 1998 indicates 1.1 million pairs of shoes were produced in that year (CSA, 1999). Though there is no data showing the volume of finished raw material used for this purpose, the figure indicates that there is a strong demand for processed leather in the country. This growing demand needs to be supported technically to help industries improve on the quality of their products. Foreign market Though the production of end products of leather is highly influenced by changes in fashion, technology and income of the consumer, the demand for leather products is positively changing in the world. FAO's statistical compendium of the year 2001 indicates that transactions in leather expanded by an annual growth of 10.2, 2.8% for light bovine leather and, sheep and goat skins, respectively. The highest share goes to the Far Eastern Countries, which together accounts for about 57% of the global leather trade. Export volume from Latin America and Africa is shrinking, though production is still increasing. Hides & skins production of Africa, in which Ethiopia plays very important role in the market is showing 1.2, 2.8 and 2.5% growth of production in Bovine hides, sheep & lamb skins and goat & kidskins respectively. However, export volume has decreased for both bovine hides (-1.4%) and goat skins (-0.2%). Sheep skin is showing a growth of 1.8% (FAO 2001) 10th ESAP-Proceedings 55 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production On the other hand, there is a shift in the international market structure. Developed countries, which were net importers of raw hides and skins, are now becoming net exporters while developing countries; especially Far Eastern & Near Eastern countries are becoming net importers. This structural shift came about by the growth in tanning capacity of those countries and avoidance of early stages of hides & skins processing operations by developed countries due to environmental pollution. With the exception of this shift in the trade, the demand for leather products remains high in the developed world. Between early eighties and late nineties, the shipments of leather products from developed countries shrunk from 75% to 54% of the global shipment and that of developing countries grew from 24% to 44%. This situation is expected to continue at least until the year 2005 with an aggregate annual growth of 1.1% demand for leather & leather products (FAO, 2001). Therefore, reduction in demand is not expected in the short run. However, there are certain phenomena like sporadic trade barriers and global economic depressions that may contribute to reduction of demand. Ethiopia exports semi-processed hides & skins at pickle, wet blue and crust levels and different finished leather products of different standards. Although there are about 19 tanning industries engaged in processing hides & skins only 6 of them have the facilities to process hides to finished leather. About 5% of the finished leather is supplied to the domestic leather industries for the production of shoes; leather garments & handbags. The rest is exported to international markets in the form of similar products. The export value of leather belts, wristwatch band upholstery works is small since most of these products are supplied in the domestic market. The export value of 12,113 metric tons of leather products in the year 2000/01 was US$ 74.1 million (Melaku Legese, 2001). According to the Ethiopian Export Promotion Agency (1999), there are 14 industries licensed to export leather products. However, only three exporters are currently active. The total production capacity of eight of these leather industries was recorded to be 912,000 pairs of shoes, 146,000 leather garments and 155,000 different leather articles. Semi-processed products take the major share in the country's hides & skins export trade. The export destinations are 22 countries of which the major ones being Italy, Great Britain, Romania, Japan, India and Malaysia in order of the volume of their import from Ethiopia (Girma, 1999). The direction of export is anticipated to make a gradual shift to north and south Asian states. European leather production activities are fast shrinking leaving them to fast growing leather production capacity of these countries. Therefore, Ethiopia's export trade should direct itself toward these markets. However, the capacity to produce internationally competitive leather products continue to be constrained by lack of trained man power, modern technology and sufficient knowledge in international leather trade. Apart from these, the industry faces the following export trade problems• Lower volume of supply of quality products in semi-processed & finished leather forms due to poor production and handling of raw hides & skins, • Excessive production & marketing costs, which deters exporters from developing their competitiveness in price. High transaction costs and price rise of raw hides & skins beyond average selling price of the final product are examples. Access to and utilization of trade information in hides & skins trade Success in marketing depends on the availability and effective use of pertinent & accurate market information. Trading in hides & skins and leather products requires the knowledge of the meaning, relevance and utilization of market information. Developing this capacity & establishing trade information networks is becoming more important with growth in the global hides & skins trade. Some of the uses of such a system are: 56 • Assist traders to make decisions on daily marketing activities and planning short and long-term market strategies. • Help reduce market uncertainties and protects from bankruptcy that may arise from making wrong trade decisions. 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia • Help coordinate and harmonize activities of different actors in the marketing chain. • Facilitates more equitable distribution of benefits to stakeholders; • Helps to improvise practices in the marketing of hides & skins. • Helps to avoid unfair competitions among traders & tanning industries. Prices constitute major market information, the collection analysis and dissemination of which is essential for success in the marketing of hides and skins. Commodity prices depend on consumer need satisfaction as much as they do on costs of production and degree of competition. The marketing of hides and skins involves trading of raw, semi-processed and end products. It is difficult for raw material supplier or tanners to set prices of hides & skins or finished leather at domestic market level. At the same time, domestic leather industries do not decide prices of their raw materials since their share of the market is too small to influence prices. Therefore, prices of hides & skins in Ethiopia are decided at the final stage of transaction where end product consumers and retailers of leather products meet. Here, the demand for leather products can be judged and based on this the prices are set. The price established at this stage goes down the supply channel, after the buyer at each echelon decides his own margin of profit, until the price for the primary product is set. This indicates that the product flows from primary producers to final producers while decision on prices flow the opposite direction. Price information flows from buyer to seller while making sales agreements or through established exchange relationships between the two at every stage of supply. In this situation, domestic suppliers as well as tanning industries cannot have alternative information sources to help make their own decisions based on free competition. Such one-way information flow make collectors and suppliers acceptors of prices set elsewhere. Lack of bargaining power means low motivation in the marketing process. This creates unfair distribution of benefits of hides & skins marketing. This became more apparent during 1998-99 when price slump was an unfortunate phenomenon for hides & skins trade in the world. Ethiopian suppliers were unable to sell their stock even at the price they paid to collect the raw hides & skins. As a result, many of them went bankrupt, some of them were driven out of market, voluminous quantity of hides & skins was stockpiled and its quality deteriorated. This caused considerable loss of financial resources, which had negative impact on collection activities of the following years until again domestic prices were supported by positive changes in the world market. The Livestock Marketing Authority (LMA), at this juncture, took a step to fill the price information gap by establishing a hides and skins market information system whereby current prices are collected from seventeen selected towns in five regions of the country, analyzed and disseminated to users. Price information was collected on weekly basis through development agents of the respective towns. However, constraints as lack of reliable and timely data were encountered in implementing the system. Now a new system that enables collection directly from representative tanning industries and suppliers is designed for implementation starting from next year. Promotion of products To date the marketing of hides & skins in Ethiopia has to deal with greater number of stakeholders in the transaction of growing volume of output, greater diversity of products involved and the opportunity of using information technology. Owning a sellable product is no more a guarantee to a profitable market. There is an obvious need to design and implement market promotion strategies that aim to cultivate a positive image of the products in the minds of consumers. This is apparently lacking in Ethiopia, not only marketing of hides and skins, but also for processed leather derived end products. Tradable qualities as compactness of the fiber structure, fineness of grains and utilizablity to different end uses, could serve to promote the marketing of hides & skins in general. Established quality standards should help promote leather products. Credibility on meeting of commitment to supply and distribute products to clients is also an important attribute. However, such promotional activities are limited to attendance to trade fairs and signing of sales agreements. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 57 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Obviously, these marketing practices need to be upgraded and modernized not just to facilitate the process of marketing, but also to generate greater benefits to all involved in the process. Recommendations Attempt has been made to show hides & skins marketing problems in Ethiopia. Alleviation of these problems will enable the country to rationally utilize the potential resource it has. Therefore, the following ideas are pin pointed so that all concerned bodies give attention for their implementation. • The marketing channel is long to move the product from the point of primary production to the gets of tanning industries. Designing & implementation of a shorter channel is important. • Collection and supply process should enable to maintain the quality of product until it reaches tanning industries. To meet this, the licensing process should examine and certify technical competence of large-scale collectors and suppliers. Higher-level dealers & tanning industries should be discouraged from dealing with who do not meet minimum set standards. • Hides & skins collectors and suppliers should therefore have in place appropriate stores and product handling facilities as per technical specifications set forth by standards guidelines. • Raw hides and skins are marketed as judged by visual appraisal without quality grades to pay for better quality. Grading practices as well as the system of payment by grade should be introduced. Payments of prices should be made directly at time of the product delivery. • Each tanning industry should plan its own product development strategy, the compliance of which can ensure gradual transformation from export of semi-processed products to finished products. • Market participants and professionals need training to upgrade their product handling and marketing skills. • Information is vital for sustainable developments, in fact it is even considered as the power of quick progress. Current and comprehensive market information should be delivered to all stakeholders. • Development and promotion strategies should be designed not just for end products, but also for raw materials that go into the marketing system. • Institutions like The Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ethiopian Leather Institute should take primary responsibility to undertake comprehensive market study for the leather products industry to identify marketing gaps. • These development strategies should not be limited in focus on national level transactions; they should be extended to regional states with adequate technical and financial backstopping. References Ahmed Mahmoud, 2001. Raw Hides & Skins Improvement In Ethiopia (Status & Challenges),a paper presented on a technical workshop on Good Practices For the Ethiopian hides & skin industry. Addis Ababa.Dec.4-7,2001 CSA, 1999.Agricultural sample survey on livestock ,poultry and beehives population, statistical bulletin vol.II, no.206, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Export Promotion Agency, 1999 “Hides, Skins & leather products marketing study”. (Amharic version,unpublished) Girma Mekonnin, 1999 “Hides and Skins Market Review of the period1995-1999”, (Amharic version.unpublished). Girma Mekonnin, 2001 “Marketing of hides and skins and market information dissemination”, A paper prepared for radio transmit ion. (Amharic version) Girma Mekonnin, 2000 “Raw Hides and Skins Market Information System”. (Amharic version.unpublished). UNCTAD,Jan.2001. Investment and Innovation Policy Review of Ethiopia, A paper presented to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. 58 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia MEDaC, 1999.Survey of the Ethiopian economy, Review of Post Reform Developments (1992/93-1997/98). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Melaku Legese, 2001. Ethiopia's export in the fiscal year 2000/01. Bi-annual bulletin of Export Promotion Agency "Kinigit,vol.1 no.1 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia MOA,1997. Report on regional supply and tannery purchase of hides & skins.(Amharic version) FAO, 2001. World statistical compendium for raw hides and skins leather & leather footwear for the years 1982-2000. Rome Italy. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 59 Imperative and Challenges of Dairy Production, Processing and Marketing in Ethiopia Zegeye Yigezu Dairy Development Enterprise, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Introduction Traditionally, some form of dairy production exists in most parts of Ethiopia. Depending on the area under consideration cattle, goats, camels and sheep all provide milk for human consumption. However, cattle are the main source of milk even though they are primarily kept as draught power source with very little or no consideration given to improving their milk production capabilities. As a result, their genetic potential for milk production as seen at present is low. On the other hand, their adaptability and survival under the traditional management system is excellent when compared with the introduced exotic cattle species. Despite its huge numbers, the livestock sub-sector in Ethiopia is not productive in general, and compared to its potential, the direct contribution it makes to the national economy is limited. Regarding dairying, the national milk production remains among the lowest in the world, even by African standards. The poor genetic potential, in combination with the sub-standard feeding and health regime and the sub-optimal general management situation that the animals are exposed to are the main contributors to the observed low productivity. As stated above, though the main source of milk in the country is the cow, small quantities are also obtained from goats, camels and sheep. Concerning output and consumption patterns, the contribution of milk and its products to the gross value of livestock production is not known for certain. However, the contribution of the livestock sub-sector to the national economy is assumed to account for about 20-30% of the agricultural GDP, of which dairying is a part. Considering the global situation, it is worth noting that countries that are enjoying the highest standard of living at present are those that have a well-developed animal agriculture. This line of development has helped them build a healthy and strong nation with sound economy. In the Ethiopian context, despite the huge potential the country has to produce milk more and above its domestic needs there is a chronic shortage of the product in most part of the country arising mainly from in sufficient production coupled with inhibitive cultural taboos related to consumption and absence of processing facilities and marketing infrastructures country wide. In the interest of building strong and healthy nation in the future, from the standpoint of proper nutrition, from among the livestock sub-sector dairy development undertaking is the one that is easy to implement and which is known to give sustainable results with in a relatively short period of time. However, the cost involved could be high and the commitment it requires is demanding. To provide more and better quality milk as a source of highly nutritious food for humans especially for growing children, pregnant women, the sick and the old, enough effort has to be made to expand and improve upon the existing production systems. In addition, to assist the development effort being undertaken by the government, non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and private investors in partnership should seriously address establishing multiple dairy processing and marketing facilities and infrastructures nation wide. Most of these efforts will include the following. • Selecting and breeding for high milk production by employing high- producing cows and high quality bulls. • Using better feeding practices to help cows produce to their genetic potential. • Providing high quality forage all year round by employing improved harvesting, preservation and pasturing systems. • Developing and implementing workable animal health management programs. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 61 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production • Providing housing or shelter for the animals compatible with the climatic or weather condition they are in. • Planning and implementing better reproductive management systems, which may include raising female calves for replacement. • Employing sound milking practices which help in sanitation and control of mastitis. • Providing improved sanitation and cold storage or applying legally approved preservatives for the milk, especially if it is not to be consumed right after being produced. • Ensuring year round local markets for fresh milk and other dairy products with out which the dairy farmer cannot survive for long. These are because of the high investment required to initiate a successful dairy program. • Continuing to support and improve upon the already established dairying activities in the different regions of the country. • Providing of low interest bank or government loan or credit which can encourage beginning dairy farmers to make the initial investment on cattle and facilities. • Making the inputs for dairy production such as crossbreed pregnant heifers, artificial insemination and or bull services and animal health care to smallholder producers at affordable prices. • Developing rural roads and other infrastructures such as clean water that will assists in facilitating milk marketing countrywide. • Undertaking nation wide rural land and demographic survey and classifying the land into use type and determining those areas that are best suited for dairy development. • Establishing a department or an organization that is autonomous with the mandate to undertake dairy development in the country. • Developing and implementing guidelines for strict regulatory control over the production, processing and marketing of dairy products for the country. Dairy Production Systems in Ethiopia Related to climate, land-holding land size and farming systems, four main dairy production systems are recognized in Ethiopia. These are: • Pastoralism • Highland smallholder • Peri-urban • Urban Pastoralism This is a system mainly operating in the range lands where the peoples involved follow animal-based life styles which requires of them to move from place to place seasonally based on feed and water availability. For food, pastoralists mainly depend on milk, and their accumulated wealth and savings are in the form of live animals. Milk production under the systems is strictly seasonal and range condition-dependent being surplus in the wet season and restricted in the dry season. Highland Smallholder In most highlands of Ethiopia, with increasing population, there is an ever-decreasing share of pasture land for grazing; and with the corresponding increase in the cultivated area, there is the need to continuously produce more animal draught power. As a result the rural farmers in these areas wherever and whenever possible incorporate small scale dairy production with crop farming with the objective of producing animal power (oxen) for tilling the land. The 62 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia animals kept are mainly unimproved Zebu of the local type and the milk obtained though secondary in importance supplements the farmer's family income in one form or another. Peri-urban Peri-urban dairy production system is mainly operational in areas where the population density is high agricultural land is shrinking due to expanding urbanization or non-existence and labor cost is on the increase. Such producers are mainly found around big cities like Addis Ababa and smaller towns. They may or may not hove access to cultivable or pastureland and some of them are usually seen grazing the few animals they have by the roadside. In genotype, the animals they keep range from 50% crosses to high-grade black-and-white Friesian. Their main source of animal feed is home-produced hay for some, and purchased hay for others with or without additional supplemental feed. Urban By the virtue of their location such producers are not expected to have access to agricultural or pasture land, as the operation takes place within cities and as a result, they are forced to buy their feed. Based on the scale and level of operations the production system can be categorized into two Small scale Such producers usually keep one or two cows and their followers by making use of the available space in their residential back yard. Such animals are often seen grazing along the roadside. Large scale These are commercial operations that keep large herds. They use 100% zero grazing and all the feed they need is purchased. In genotype, the animals kept under this system are to a large extent similar to those of the peri-urban operation. Raw milk pricing Producers price is influenced by the level of milk out put, milk consumption on the farm, its conversion into its different products at the farm level and on the on going or current market raw milk price. At the present time the Dairy Development Enterprise (DDE) pays a flat rate producer's price of one birr per liter for the milk it collects irrespective of transport and collection costs involved. The current policy of paying dairy farmers a uniform producer price irrespective of location means that dairy farmers in areas where transportation cost is lower subsidize those dairy farmers in areas where transportation costs are relatively higher. From the stand point of the producers, even when collection and chilling facilities exist the costs involved in the production and handling of milk are considered to be high in relation to the producers price paid by DDE, Small holder dairy Developing Project (SDDP) organized farmers milk groups and other milk peddlers and this is a disincentive to increased milk production. Taking DDE's raw milk price as a base line, the private milk traders around Addis Ababa always attempt to pay the producer 5-10 cents more per liter of milk bought. In the capital city proper where raw milk trade takes place directly between the producer and the consumer, the price per liter is known to range from two to three birr. Regarding DDE's milk collection scheme private milk traders started to win producers to their sides by offering them seemingly attractive prices as back as 1990.As a result at present DDE's milk collection operations are all located beyond 40 km from the capital. In the future, to induce more farmers to go into dairy production a policy of differential payment based on distance has to be initiated and implemented. In other words, dairy farmers producing in areas where transport costs are lower relative to the consuming center should receive a higher producer price than those dairy farmers producing milk in areas where transport cost is relatively higher. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 63 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Milk collection, chilling and transportation In the case of DDE, the supply of raw milk to its processing plant starts from its collection centers in part, the others being own and large private farms. Milk collection centers are points that connect a given low milk priced rural area to the high milk priced urban market. Their number and geographical distribution has an influence on the distance a farmer has to travel to deliver his milk and this in turn will influence the amount of milk he is likely to produce. The net effect of linking the rural area with the urban market through the establishment of milk collection points is to redirect milk from under utilized high production area (rural) to where it is highly in demand (urban area). Rural milk collected through the collection centers as the case may be is directly sold to consumers or passed to a processing plant with or without going through chilling centers. Of the two milk processing plants that exist in the country, one is government-owned and operated by the Dairy Development Enterprise (DDE) and the other one (Sebeta Agro Industry) is a private company. Both are located in Addis Ababa. The DDE-operated plant, though currently operating below capacity, has a potential capacity to process 6 tons of fluid milk per 8 working hours. Information regarding the Sebeta Agro Industry is not accessible. It has to be noted that available milk from the rural areas could not reach the consuming public unspoiled in the urban areas because of the absence of collection and chilling network. In this regard DDE has developed a system of milk collection from an area of as far as 150 km from its plant. Mainly the morning and evening milk in few places is purchased from individual producers at prearranged collection sites. At the collection centers before receiving, samples are takes from the delivered milk and tested for freshness and possible adulteration. All the milk that meets the set standard at the collection centers and milk produced at state farms and other large private farms that deliver their milk to DDE once tested and received is transported to the nearest chilling centers. Chilling centers are places equipped with refrigeration facilities to ensure that milk received at the processing plant is unspoiled. DDE has established these facilities at all its farms (moist of which are now privatized) and along the main roads in the main milk collection routs located within short distance of the collection centers. Once received at the chilling centers the milk is cooled to temperatures between 4-50c. Every other day, the raw milk from the chilling centers is transported to the processing plant using bulk insulated tankers and/or open trucks, and 40-50 liter capacity aluminum milk cans. To indicate the volume of milk handled by the DDE plant monthly average of raw milk supply, milk pasteurized and milk sold in liters for the least 6 years (December 1995-December 2001) is given in table. Table 1. Monthly average of raw milk supply, milk pasteurized and milk sold. Month December 1995-December 2001 Amount in Liters Raw milk supply Milk pasteurized Milk sold September 368,151 329,155 326,388 October 378,488 350,726 347,159 November 364,904 338,055 335,941 December 325,884 334,114 328,753 January 378,995 360,509 355,703 February 366,755 323,418 320,515 March 354,835 277,284 265,140 April 364,784 323,077 329,840 May 386,555 381,165 378,492 June 377,294 349,042 344,282 July 375,746 351,510 350,587 August 419,953 358,516 Annual Total 4,462,344 4,085,571(91.6%) 365,467 4,048,267(99.1%) Processing In the capital city Addis Ababa, a limited quantity of factory processed dairy product is available from the existing two processing plants, in the from of pasteurized fluid milk, table butter, hard cheese yogurt and 64 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia ayib. All over the country including the capital a very small amount of the total cow's milk is assumed to be marketed in a liquid from and it is raw. The bulk of the produce is processed into different dairy products using locally available utensils by traditional means. In the country to date, there is enough experience to show that industrial milk processing though expensive is superior to the traditional processing methods in many aspects. In addition industrial processing if adopted is known to have the following two main advantages: 7. 8. It protects the consuming public from milk born diseased of public health importance. It help's to change excess fluid milk into products of longer shelf life such as milk powder during periods of surplus milk production and when fluid milk demand is low such as during the fasting season. The milk powder can then be stored and factory reconstituted and marketed as fluid milk during period of low raw milk supply such as during the dry season. On the average per month (December 1995-December 2002) the kind and amount of dairy products produced and sold at the DDE milk processing plant is given in tables 2 and 3 respectively. Table 2. Monthly average and kind of dairy products produced by DDE (December 1995-December 2001). Month Kind and amount of products Butter (kg) Local cheese (kg) Yoguret (lts) September 5635.7 4,340.8 3000.0 Hard cheese (kg) 986.5 October 6037.7 4455.5 1799.5 1275.5 November 5229.0 2680.7 3205.7 939.9 December 5685.0 2236.0 2053.3 847.2 1073.0 January 5508.0 3662.3 1596.5 February 5749.3 4457.5 2019.5 713.6 March 5998.6 8277.2 1619.8 1252.2 April 5799.1 5596.8 1922.0 1010.4 May 6400.4 3024.4 2798.0 1149.2 June 5949.9 1978.8 2250.0 477.1 July 6208.0 3501.0 1795.0 934.5 August Annual Total 6638.0 1752.8 2628.5 1200.1 70,838.7 45,950.5 26,867.8 11,859.2 Table 3. DDE's Monthly Average Product Sales (December 1995-December 2001. Month Kind and amount of products Butter (kg) Local cheese (kg) Hard cheese (kg) Yoghurt(lts)* 512.2 2921.8 1034.7 2934.5 October 6186.8 2659.5 1257.1 3077.8 November 5374.1 3363.0 1240.3 2829.7 December 6127.5 4288.1 905.6 2046.8 January 5611.5 2840.0 1144.9 2179.5 February 4145.9 4101.8 872.1 2311.3 September March 4787.2 3045.6 1204.5 1527.5 April 6714.2 10,977.1 11025.9 1738.8 May 5985.9 3355.2 929.9 2779.8 June 5821.7 1691.0 601.0 2243.3 July 6029.4 4255.3 628.2 2070.0 August Annual Total 7183.4 4039.4 114.8 2610.0 68,980.0 47,537.7 11,959.0 28,349.0 *November 1999-December 2001. Marketing of dairy products Dependable system is not developed to market milk and milk products in Ethiopia. In the country at large, both rural and urban milk is distributed from producers to consumers through the informal (traditional) means. This informal market involves direct delivery of fresh milk by producers to consumers in the immediate neighborhood or to any interested individuals in near by towns The only organized and formal milk marketing and distribution system cames from the two milkprocessing plants (industrial), which are both, located in the capital Addis Ababa. The absence of 10th ESAP-Proceedings 65 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production dependable and organized formal marketing system has made the marketable volume of milk and other dairy products at least for DDE to be dependent on: • weather (season) condition and • fastening and non fastening periods Table 4. Total urban population size and number of major towns with different population densities, 1998. Region Tigrai Afar Population No. of Towns Population distribution in '000' <1 1-5 5-10 10-15 15-20 20-25 >25 468,478 74 20 30 13 1 1 3 6 79,868 28 8 14 4 1 1 -- -- Amhara 1,265,315 208 22 124 39 4 10 4 6 Oromiya 1,962,804 371 58 226 39 15 9 14 10 437,035 67 8 34 15 1 2 4 3 36,027 13 3 9 -- 1 -- -- -- SENNP 704,818 149 24 97 10 5 5 3 5 Gambela 27,180 8 3 4 -- -- -- 1 -- Somal Benishangul Harari Addis Ababa Dire Dawa Total 76,378 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1,084,588 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 173,188 2 -- -- 1 -- -- -- 1 7,315,679 924 146 538 121 2 28 29 33 During the rainy season and fastening periods demand and sales decrease in significant amount and the decrease usually results in curtailment of the incoming raw milk volume from the smallhoder producers (see table 1) to match supply with sales. In considering liquid milk, its marketing must be examined in the light of rural and continued urbanization. In the rural areas both in the lowlands and the highlands where most of the families are known to keep cattle the most effective way to increase the milk supply is to increase the milk yields of cattle through improved nutrition and genetics. In these areas the marketing system is fully traditional and may not need any intervention in the short term. In the urban areas on the other hand strong and formalized marketing system in the sector is needed to satisfy the ever-growing population. As indicated in table 4 a total of 7,315,679 inhabitants live in 924 cities and towns of the country (Getachew and Gashaw 2001). The Population density indicated in the above table, which includes Addis Ababa, is known to be on the increase and this is expected to generate increased demand for dairy products and the observed growth pattern calls for additional and more milk supply. With increasing urbanization, increased supply in milk and other dairy products can only be met from the existing production level through organized and formal marketing system. To indicate the level of consumption, according to (Getachew and Gashaw 2001) the per capita milk consumption from domestic source for the country for the year 2000 is 15.3 kg from cows alone and 19.0kg when the other milk providing species are considered. Of the current projected total population of 63,493,000, 9,471,000 is known to reside in the urban areas including the capital Addis Ababa and the figures are expected to grow to 73,044,000 and 11,675,000 respectively by year 2005. (Getachew and Gashew 2001). For the country at large, population distribution and growth rate for years 200-2025 is indicated in table 5 (CSA 1998) Table 5. Population distribution and growth rate for years 2000-2025. Population Distribution Year 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Rural 86.02 85.08 84.00 82.80 81.51 80.11 2020 Urban 13.98 14.92 16.00 17.20 18.49 19.89 Rural 2.74 2.57 2.35 2.15 1.98 1.68 Urban 4.38 4.0 4.06 3.88 3.69 3.51 Grow rate Conclusion To undertake sound dairy development program with the ultimate objective of making the country self sufficient in milk and milk products, clear and easy to implement strategy has to be developed and 66 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia implemented. In this undertaking, the government has to play the leadership role. Accordingly, the below proposals are made. There is a need to set up a sole autonomous government department to lead and direct dairy development which would include regulatory work in production, processing and marketing in the country at large. The established department should be staffed with well trained and dedicated cadre of dairy experts who will in turn be responsible to develop regional and or agroecological based dairy development, plan and supervise its implementation following the project ratification and acceptance by the government. Once the department is set up and staffed with the development cadres, steps must be undertaken to: • Formulate and establish agroecology based dairy cattle breeding policies for the country at large. • Provide guidelines for proper feeding policy. • Provide the necessary animal health care. • Provide proper guidelines including regulatory provisions for the production, processing and marketing of milk. • Develop and provide services for dairy recording scheme. References Brannang, E. and Person, S. (1990). Ethiopian Animal Husbandry Handbook CSA, (1998). Ethiopian Statistical Abstract, Central Statistical Authority, A.A., Ethiopia. DDE, December 1995-December 2001 Report. FAO, (1999). Manual on the use of LP-System in Milk Handling and Preservation. Getachew Feleke and Gashaw Geda, (2001). The Ethiopian Dairy Development Policy. A draft Policy Document Hibbs, J.W. Understanding Dairy Production in Developing Countries, (1985). Technologies for Development. Regional Government of Oromiya, Oromiya Economic Studies Project Office, (199). Agricultural Sector Study. Livestock Sub-sector Animal Production. Regional Government of Oromiya, Oromiya Economic Studies Project Office, (1999). Agricultural sector Study. Livestock Sub-sector Dairy Production. Staal, S.J. and Shapiro, B.I (1996). The Economic Impact of Public Policy on Small holder Peri-urban Dairy Producers in Addis Ababa. ESAP Publication No.1. Taye Gulilat. (1961). Some Comments on the Addis Ababa Dairy Development Project. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 67 Poultry Marketing: Structure, Spatial Variations and Determinants of Prices in Eastern Shewa Zone, Ethiopia Kenea Yadeta, Legesse Dadi, and Alemu Yami Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization Debre Zeit Research Center Abstract It is widely recognized that an inefficient marketing system entailing substantial costs to consumers and have an effect on the food security. In Ethiopia, information concerning the chicken marketing system is lacking. The objectives of this paper are to assess chicken marketing structure, constraints and examine determinants of chicken prices. Data were collected from three buyers and three sellers at weekly interval for a year. Descriptive statistics and correlation methods were used to analyze the data. Results indicate that chicken marketing system is characterized by many suppliers (farmers) and buyers. A single or few buyers did not dominate the markets. The marketing channels are relatively short and transaction between producers and consumers are the dominant in most markets. Even in terminal markets the middlemen in the chain are few compared to other agricultural commodities. Marketing functions such as assembling, wholesaling and retailing do overlap and a trader undertakes these three functions by him/herself. Traders operate on a very small scale and the volume of trade ranges from 1050 chickens or even less. Chicken prices association between pair of markets increases as the time interval increase reflecting absence of timely market information and delayed transmission of information. It was found that access to large urban consumer centers; sex, weight, breed type, colour and seasonal demand have significant impact on the prices of chickens. Introduction The total chicken population in Ethiopia is estimated to be around 56.5 million (EARO, 2000) and most of them are found in the highlands (Tadele, 1996). Traditionally prepared doro wot is preferred by many people in Ethiopia. Despite this, per capita chicken meat consumption in the country is reported to be about 2.85 kg per annum (Alemu and Tadele, 1997). Chicken meet consumption is more common in urban areas than in rural areas. The poor rural farmers produce chickens and sell them to earn cash required for various household expenses. There is a growing demand for chicken meat in urban areas due to substantial increase in price of beef and mutton. Therefore, in the near future, chicken meat production is likely to play increasing role in supplying animal protein for human consumption in the country. Chicken meat is relatively cheap and affordable source of animal protein (Alemu and Tadele, 1997). However, at home and restaurants chicken dishes are more expensive than other dishes constituting beef and mutton probably due to the way chicken dishes are prepared. Research effort to increase chicken production and productivity has been underway in Ethiopia. A review of past research works indicates that the research largely concentrated on the biological aspects of poultry production such as supplementary feeding and breeding (Alemu and Tadele, 1997). Increased production, however, needs to be accompanied by efficient marketing systems. An efficient marketing system is rewarding to all agents involved in production, marketing and consumption of chicken. In Ethiopia, information concerning the chicken marketing system, constraints and factors that hinder chicken marketing efficiency is lacking. One means of investigating the efficiency of the chicken marketing system is through studying and identifying suppliers and individual consumer characteristics and chicken attributes that determine the market value of chicken. The relation between market value of a product and its characteristics can be useful to identify factors that hinder marketing efficiency. Such study can also help to understand the complexities of price discovery mechanisms between market agents. This is particularly important where there is no regular market information on prices, supplies, grades and standards is not available and consequently price is fixed by a long one to one bargaining between sellers and buyers (Andergachew and Brokken, 1993). Identification and market evaluation of live chicken attributes also have important implications for long term investment decisions of producers, purchasing 10th ESAP-Proceedings 69 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production decisions of traders and consumers and government policy formulation to promote production and marketing (Oczkowski, 1994). In Ethiopia the market dependent population, i. e., the population that depends on the market for all or part of its food supply, is estimated to be about 42% of the total population (Alemayehu, 1993). Almost all urban consumers are dependent on the functioning of agricultural markets to acquire their food. It is clear that an inefficient marketing system entailing substantial costs to consumers will have detrimental effect on the food security and well being of the poor. It is obvious that incentives and ability for producers to make investments in productivity-enhancing inputs and production methods depends on the function of inputs and output markets. In most cases issues related to marketing policy in developing countries are often been discussed in absence of information and with very little empirical knowledge of market structure, the behavior of various participants in the marketing system, and the constraints that they encounter to make investments contributing to growth of productivity in the food system. The objectives of this paper are to assess chicken marketing structure, conducts, constraints, and examine determinants of chicken prices in east Shewa zone. Conceptual framework Among others, studies by Scarborough and Kydd (1992) Scott (1995) suggest that relationships exist between structural characteristics of a market and competitive behavior of market participants and that their behavior in turn influences the performance of the market. Among the major structural characteristics of a market are the degree of concentration, i. e., the number of market participants and their size distribution; and the relative ease or difficulty of an entry into the market. The structure-conductperformance (SCP) analysis tends to assess market performance largely in terms of whether marketing margins charged by various market participants in the marketing system are consistent with costs; and whether the degree of market concentration is low enough (and the number of firms operating in a market is large enough) to ensure competition, which is in turn assumed to drive down costs to their lowest level. The prices of agricultural products are influenced by a number of factors including changes in the costs of production and marketing, marketing policies, demand and supply interactions, concentration of marketing channels etc. (Asfaw and Jayne, 1998). Variations in these factors may have different effects on vertical and spatial price transmissions there by on vertical and spatial integration of markets. Price transmission is referred as the passing of prices through either in the vertical or spatial marketing system and reflects the pricing behavior of different market participants. In spatial linked and well-integrated markets, the change in price in one market should be transmitted to the same extent in the other, that is, there is no rigidity of price adjustment in the marketing system (Goletti and Babu, 1994). Thus, the level of price changes in markets located in different locations are also expected to be similar. Deviations from this norm imply some sort of market inefficiency. Asymmetric price relationships, in which price change at market A produces unequal price change at market B and C exists when the market is non-competitive and inefficient. There are several factors, which could influence the pricing behavior of different market participants at given marketing levels or locations. Kinnucan et al. (1987) Ward (1982) noted that market participants access to and assimilation of market information, structural differences and diversity at each marketing level and location and the nature of the product influence the pricing behavior of market participants. This study assesses poultry prices and market integration based on price data collected from special linked markets and examines determinants of poultry prices. Methodology Overview of the study area In east Shewa, traditional scavenging based system of poultry production is widely practiced by rural smallholder farmers. Individual households keep few flocks of chickens at home with minimum management and inputs. This type of production is the dominant poultry production system and the dominant supplier to 70 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia the market. In urban and peri-urban areas, particularly at Debre Zeit and Adama, modern small and largescale poultry farms are currently flourishing. Some of the farms were established to produce eggs for commercial purposes and such farms dispose culled chickens (layers) through local markets. At Debre Zeit, there are farms which supply partially processed (slaughtered, inedible part removed, cleaned etc.) chicken meat to the vicinity and the Addis Ababa market, mostly to restaurants and super markets. East Shewa zone has relatively better infrastructure particularly transport and communication facilities. It also has a large urban population including the large adjacent Addis Ababa market. This may explain why modern poultry farms are concentrated in this zone. The study was conducted at four selected sites in east Shewa, namely: Debre Zeit, Modjo, Meki and Chefedonsa and Saris in Addis Ababa. Debre Zeit, Modjo and Meki are both consuming and secondary distributive markets. Chefedonsa represents a primary market and feeds mainly to secondary markets. Addis Ababa is an important chicken consumption center and thus represents a terminal market. In terms of distance, Debre zeit, Modjo and Meki are located 50, 75 and 110 kilometers away from Addis Ababa, respectively, along a high way to Awassa. Chefedonsa is located 35 kilometers away from Debre Zeit and connected to Debre Zeit with an all weather-road. On the other side it is also connected to Sendafa town thereby to Addis Ababa. Data collection and sampling This study is based on data obtained from primary and secondary sources. Primary data on price, breed type, age, live weight, sex of traded bird, seller type, buyer type, reasons for sale and purchase, months of transaction and possible constraints were collected from producers (sellers) and buyers (consumers, traders). The data were collected from January 2000 to February 2001. An accidental sampling method was used to identify poultry sellers and buyers to be interviewed. Prices were monitored on weekly interval and three sellers and three buyers were interviewed each week in all the study markets. A total of 780 buyer and 780 sellers were interviewed. The interviews were conducted by trained enumerators using a structured questionnaire. The interviews were conducted on the main market day. Information on breed type was recorded by interviewing buyers or sellers knowledge about breed types. The information on age was based on the buyers and sellers estimation of the age of a bird. Information on live weight was gathered by measuring bird weight using a Spring Balance of 10 kg capacity. In marketing research, different analytical techniques are used to characterize market structure, to identify determinants of commodity prices and to evaluate the performance and efficiency of a marketing system. Here simple descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and the General Linear Model (GLM) of a form p = f (x, m) were used. In this expression, p and x denote price and attributes of a chicken, respectively, and m represents social, economic characteristics of buyers and sellers. Different functional forms have been tried and both linear and log linear models were used for interpretations. Results and discussion Marketing channel and conduct The structure and the conduct of market participants have a direct impact on the nature of poultry price relationships between different marketing levels and locations. The term market structure refers to the number of buyers and sellers, their size distributions, the degree of product differentiation, and on the ease of entry of new firms into the industry (Branson and Norvell, 1983). Market conduct analysis deals with the behavior of firms/farms or the strategy they use with respect to, for example, pricing, buying, selling etc., which may take the form of informal cooperation or collusion (Gebremeskel et al., 1998). Taking into account chicken price transmission through the vertical and spatial marketing systems inference can be made about the efficiency of the chicken marketing system and the competitiveness of the chicken market at different locations and marketing stages. Poultry marketing structure is not well studied in east Shewa and in Ethiopia as whole. The market outlets or channels available to producers are diverse at all markets, although their importance differs across markets. The major channels through which producers/farmers sell their chicken in the markets are shown in Figure 1. The two largest chicken marketing channels are farmers directly sell to consumers and 10th ESAP-Proceedings 71 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production farmers sell to small retail traders who take the chicken to large urban centers. From this study and researchers observation in other areas, there are no big traders involved in the poultry trade. Modern poultry farms Farmers for (Production) Traders Large-scale 2.1% Small-scale 0.3% 2.3% 39.4% 42.2% 13.7% Smallholder farmers Commission Agents Partial Processing Restaura nts Traders Small-scale (Production) Consumers Figure 1. Poultry marketing channels in east Shewa Zone Tables 1 and 2 present the types of buyers and sellers for the markets studied. At all markets, except Meki, the largest number of buyers comprised of consumers. At Meki, it was traders that accounted for the largest proportion of buyers. Chicken buyers at all markets comprised of traders, consumers, restaurants, farmers and small-scale urban chicken farms. The last two market participants buy chickens mainly for the purpose of production. Commission agents were also observed at the Debre Zeit market. Table 1. Types of Buyers in the selected markets (% of respondents) Buyer type Markets Debre Zeit Saris Modjo Meki Chefedonsa All locations Farmers 8.4 4.0 8.4 3.3 29.5 Small-scale producers 3.6 3.4 0 2.0 2.5 2.1 18.6 2.0 34.3 82.9 27.3 39.4 Traders 13.7 Restaurants 2.4 8.7 2.1 1.3 0.6 2.3 Consumers 36.2 81.9 55.2 10.5 40.4 42.2 Commission agents 3.6 0.3 Source: Market survey Farmers, small-scale peri-urban and urban chicken farms, large-scale chicken farms and traders sell chickens. Large-scale chicken farms take part in the market at Saris and Debre zeit markets only. Traders accounted for the largest chicken sellers at Debre zeit, Saris and Meki. At Chefedonsa and Modjo, farmers accounted for the largest proportion of sellers. Thus, in primary markets, producers are predominant sellers. In the secondary markets both farmers and traders do sell chickens. In the terminal market traders are the predominant sellers. The proportion of farmers who sell in the terminal market is insignificant. Table 2. Types of sellers in the selected markets (% of respondents) Seller type Farmers Markets Debre Zeit Saris Modjo Meki Chefedonsa All locations 33.9 3.4 54.0 54.0 80.0 Large-scale producers 0.6 0.7 0 0 0 40.2 0.3 Small-scale producers 12.1 1.3 0.7 0.7 2.5 3.7 Traders 53.4 94.6 45.3 45.3 17.5 55.8 Source: Market survey In poultry trade functions such as assembling, wholesaling and retailing do overlap and a trader may undertake all these three functions by him/herself. Another peculiar characteristic of chicken marketing is 72 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia that traders operate on a very small scale and the volume of trade ranges from 10-50 chickens or even less. In most cases retailers themselves visit different local markets to purchase chickens and transport and sell them at terminal or consumption markets. Traders use public transportation (buses and mini-buses) or hire space in private trucks to transport chickens to consumer markets. During transportation the chickens may be kept along with other bags, sacks of grain, bundles of firewood etc. by tying their legs together or occasionally in a basket designed for transporting chickens. Transporting chicken along with bags, sacks of grain and bundles of firewood is risky as these items may cause damage to chickens. In the markets studied, a large number of small farmers bring few chickens to the market. These farmers have a negligible influence on the chicken price in the market. Consequently, they chicken sellers are price takers. At Debre Zeit large poultry farms and modern small-scale poultry farms (modern farms with flock less than 500 chicken) do supply chickens during religious holydays. However, such farms do not supply sufficient number of chickens to meet the high demand that prevails during the same period. During holidays, consumers prefer to buy local breeds having particular colours for sacrifices and cultural reasons (Table 3). The color, sex, comb type and age of the bird used for sacrifices are very important in determining prices. Chickens of exotic origin are not preferred for sacrifices. Modern farmers produce exotic breeds having either red or white colour and do not supply preferred coloured chickens. Except at Debre Zeit and Saris such farms do not participate in the market. Even in the market where they participate, their market share was very low. Therefore, the influence of modern poultry farm on chicken price is low in the specified markets. Table 3. Colour and sex of birds used for sacrifices and other cultural purposes in east Shewa zone Sex and color Purpose of making sacrifices White cock Good harvest and good rains Season October and May Red cock Good harvest and good rain October and May Red and Black spotted cock Ethiopian new year Mid-September White and black spotted cock Deter evil things such as disease Any time if needed Red pullet To remember ancestors June or may Source: Market survey Although farmers often sell chickens to cover small household expenses, chickens sale is targeted at religious and New Year festivals. Many farmers also sell chickens just before seasons of on-set of poultry disease outbreaks to avoid losses that could occur if he/she keeps them. All chickens brought to market are sold, at whatever the price offered to avoid the high risk of disease transmission that could occur if unsold chickens are reintroduced to the flock. Farmers normally take their chicken to local open markets that are close to their villages. Farmers’ bargaining power is generally weak because of their size, lack of direct access to other markets and absence of market information. Their bargaining power would be weakened even more during outbreaks of poultry diseases because of fear of risks. Weight and age of traded chicken Table 4 indicates the live weight of traded chicken by sex and markets for both buyers and sellers. It shows that male birds had higher live weight over the female chicken at all markets. The highest weight for the traded chicken both for male and female was observed at Modjo, while the lowest was at Meki. Concerning mean live weight of traded chickens and buyer choice, those chickens purchased by small-scale chicken farms at Saris, and Meki and Chefedonsa and traders at Modjo represent the lowest weight purchased (Table 5). Farmers at Debre zeit, traders at Meki, restaurants at Modjo and Chefedonsa purchased chickens with the heaviest weights. Purchase of heavy chickens was mainly for consumption. Small-scale producers purchase young chickens for production purposes. Young chickens are lighter than old chickens and this explain why small-scale producers purchase light-weight chickens. In terms of age, traded chicken at Modjo were older than those at other markets for both sexes, while chickens traded at the Chefedonsa market were the youngest, nearly six months of age for males and five months for females (Table 6). Youngest chickens were purchased by restaurants at Debre Zeit, small-scale urban chicken farms at Saris and Meki and Chefedonsa, traders at Modjo. Oldest chickens were purchased 10th ESAP-Proceedings 73 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production by traders at Debre Zeit, and Saris, restaurants at Modjo and Meki, and consumers at Chefedonsa and overall was by consumers (Table 7). Table 4. Mean live weight of traded chicken by sex and market (kg) Sex Markets Debre Zeit Saris Modjo Meki Chefedonsa All locations Male 1.47 1.56 2.13 1.15 1.98 1.64 Female 1.37 1.25 1.70 0.82 1.69 1.39 Grand mean 1.42 1.51 2.00 1.05 1.86 1.56 Source: Market survey Table 5. Mean live weight of traded chicken by buyer types and market (kg). Buyer type Markets All locations Debre Zeit Saris Modjo Meki Chefedonsa Farmers 1.90 1.24 2.12 0.88 1.70 Small-scale urban producers 1.27 1.22 0.67 1.50 1.22 Traders 1.45 1.60 1.09 1.80 1.43 1.90 1.76 Restaurants 1.40 1.47 2.43 1.05 2.50 1.59 Consumers 1.43 1.54 2.16 1.01 1.80 1.68 Commission agents 1.37 1.37 Source: Market survey Table 6. Mean age (months) of traded chicken by sex and market Sex Markets Debre Zeit Saris Modjo Meki Chefedonsa All locations Male 6.39 6.35 10.02 6.91 5.95 7.17 Female 5.55 5.71 8.89 5.64 5.38 6.22 Grand mean 6.04 6.23 9.65 6.54 5.74 6.86 Meki Chefedonsa Source: Market survey Table 7. Mean age of traded chicken by buyer types and market. Buyer type Markets Debre Zeit Saris Modjo 9.87 Farmers 6.29 6.25 Small scale urban producers 6.75 4.80 Traders 6.97 7.00 Restaurants 3.63 6.31 Consumers 6.04 6.27 10.32 6.94 Commission agents 5.33 All locations 6.0 5.61 6.57 5.33 5.00 5.58 8.13 6.49 5.73 6.79 12.00 8.00 6.06 7.13 6.75 5.33 Source: Market survey Seasonal chicken price variations Seasonal variation of prices per kg of live weight is indicated in Figure 2 for the markets studied for the year 2000. The lowest price was observed in July while the peak price level was observed in mid September. The lowest price level in July coincides with the outbreak of chicken diseases. During this period supply of chickens to the market is overwhelmingly high as escape strategy by smallholder farmers. Consequently, chickens are sold at the onset of local disease outbreaks as a strategy of avoiding expected loss and restocked later and such strategy affects poultry prices. Many farmers also sell chickens to purchase food during the same period. On the other hand, demand for chicken drops in the early August as this period coincides with fasting period of Orthodox Christians. Thus, poultry prices remain low from June to August although the price starts peaking up in late August. The price continues rising in early September and reaches its peak in mid September. The peak time corresponds to high demand for chickens for the Ethiopian New Year and Meskel festivals. During the other religious festival periods, e.g. Easter, which takes place in April/May, demand for chicken rises. The supply during this period is also high and has effect on price. Mid February through April months partly coincide with fasting period of Orthodox Christians and chicken prices are relatively low, although it is not as low as chicken price in June to August. Analysis of average prices for each market indicates that peak and lowest periods were considerably variable across markets. Across all seasons, except in November through January, chicken price at 74 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Chefedonsa was lower than all other markets. This is mainly because of type of road condition and limited transport facilities. In Saris, price was higher than all other locations from April through September. From October to March, the highest price was at Debre Zeit. The second highest price occurred at Meki from mid November through mid December, while during other periods it occurred at Saris. Lowest price was recorded in March for Saris, in February for Meki, in July for Debre Zeit and Chefedonsa. The variations in seasonal poultry price trends across different but trade-linked markets indicate weak market integration. The other possible explanations for price variations are delays and temporary break in information transmission system among the markets Mean price birr/kg of live weight Variations in poultry prices are partly influenced by variations in weight and age of chickens arising from availability and quality of feeds. During grain harvest, which starts in October and extends to March, grains are provided as a supplementary feed in addition to scavenging. After April-May, the amount of available grain declines and, thus, chicken depend on scavenging alone. It appears that poultry price is influenced mostly by rising and falling demands during religious festivals and occurrence of diseases. 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month Source: Market survey Figure 2. Seasonal poultry price variation for live chicken Spatial chicken price integration To assess the extent to which chicken markets are spatially integrated, correlation coefficients were computed for pairs of markets linked by trade. Table 8 presents weekly, biweekly and monthly price correlation coefficients between pairs of markets. All the markets are connected to each other with road networks. A high and significant degree of correlation indicates that there is a strong degree of association between prices in the two markets. It was found that the correlation coefficients of pairs of markets located close to each other were high and statistically significant. For instance, the correlation coefficient between Debre Zeit-Saris, Debre Zeit-Modjo, Debre Zeit-Meki and Debre Zeit-Chefedonsa were statistically significant. Thus, price associations between these markets were relatively strong as compared to pairs of markets away from each other. Between some pairs of markets (e.g. Saris-Meki) prices are weakly correlated both in terms of price per head and price per kg of live weight. Such relation prevails more as distance between pair of market increases. The number of statistically significant correlation is higher for price per head than that of price per live weight. This may be because inter market price information transmission take place on the basis of per head than per weight. This can be explained or evidenced by absence of chicken transaction mechanism based on weight and weighing scale to determine chicken prices. The weak price correlation between pairs of markets, both in terms of per head and per unit of live weight, indicates weak integration between the markets and this is an indicator of marketing inefficiency implying high costs and/or weak transmission of information within the marketing system. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 75 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production In terms of time interval, prices in pairs of markets are more integrated as length of interval increases. As measured by correlation coefficient poultry price association between pairs of markets increases as the time interval increase. For instance, on per head basis, the association between monthly prices is stronger than the association between weekly and biweekly prices. For example, between Debre Zeit and Meki, correlation coefficient (r) increases from 0.61 to 0.90 as time interval increases from weekly to monthly. Weekly price integration is lower than biweekly and monthly. Price integration on per live weight is lower than on per head basis. This result reflects absence of timely market information and delayed transmission of information. Market information is transmitted through inter personal contacts and communications among market participants. Thus, the price adjustment mechanism starts operating after long delays. Table 8. Live chicken price correlation coefficient between pairs of selected markets Price per head Price per live weight Pairs of markets Dis. DZ-Saris 46 0.42** 0.36 0.48 0.14 0.07 0.01 DZ-Modjo 25 0.56** 0.58* 0.65* -0.15 -0.13 -0.20 DZ-Meki Weekly Biweekly Monthly Weekly Biweekly Monthly 0.61** 0.77** 0.90** 0.60** 0.63** Dz-Chefedonsa 30 0.65** 0.67** 0.70** 0.64** 0.73** 0.77** Saris-Modjo 70 0.22 0.05 0.12 0.19 0.27 0.18 0.25 0.22 0.23 0.25 0.13 0.04 0.22 -0.03 0.21 0.25 0.13 0.15 0.81** -0.09 -0.02 -0.26 -0.18 Saris-Meki Saris-Chefedonsa 76 Modjo-Meki Modjo-Chefedonsa Meki-Chefedonsa 0.42* 55 0.68** 0.65** 0.65** 0.78** 0.44** 0.74** 0.88** 0.65** 0-.21 0.83** -0.24 0.74** 0.92** Source: Estimated based on survey data; **, * indicate significance at 1% and 5% levels, respectively Determinants of live chicken prices A multivariate regression model was specified and fitted to the data to find out factors that determine price per head. The factors that assumed to affect price were market location, age, age-square, weight, and weight-square, breed type, month of transaction, sex, color, and market outlets. Saris was considered as a reference market location; exotic breed were considered as a reference for breed type; December to January, 1999/2000 was considered as reference months of transaction; female was considered as a reference sex; mixed color was considered as a reference color type, and farmer buyers were considered as a reference market outlet. The result shows that, everything else being equal, price paid for a chicken at Debre Zeit market is not significantly different from price paid at Saris market. However, the prices paid per head at Modjo, Meki, and Chefedonsa were significantly lower than the price paid at Saris market. These results imply that access to large urban consumer market has influence on the prices of chickens. Attempts have been made to find out whether the colour of a chicken influences its price or not. It was found that there were variations in prices paid for chickens having different colours. With the exception of price paid for black coloured chickens, the prices paid for chickens having other colours were not significantly different from the prices paid for mixed color chicken. The price paid for black coloured chicken was significantly lower than that for mixed coloured chicken. This result implies that black coloured chickens are not preferred by consumers, consequently such type of chicken fetches lower price. In terms of sex the price paid for male birds was significantly higher than the price paid for female birds. This result suggests that sex of chicken does affect its price. Type of poultry breed has also an impact on price. Statistical results indicated that the price per head paid for local breed was significantly different from price paid for exotic breed. There was no significant difference between the prices of crossbred and pure exotic breed chickens. The price a consumer pays for a local bird weighing 1.25 kg is more than the price consumer pays for an exotic bird weighing the same weight. The premium price for local chicken is attributed to their coulor, comb type and alleged better taste. Some consumers do not prefer very soft chicken meat of exotic chickens. There was a highly significant relationship between weight (and weight square) of a chicken and its price. This implies that in the markets studied, heavier chickens fetch higher prices than lighter chicken. Age 76 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia and Age Square of chicken also significantly influenced prices of chicken. The negative signs on weight and age squares indicate that, everything being equals, chicken price increases at decreasing rate as weight and age increases. Table 8. Coefficients of variables assumed to affect chicken price Factors Coefficient Constant Live weight (kg) Live weight squared Sig. level St. error 10.170 0.000 1.145 2.650 0.000 0.360 -0.120 0.000 0.017 Age (month) 0.320 0.017 0.130 Age squared -0.015 0.015 0.006 Market location: Debre Zeit -0.381 0.320 0.382 Modjo -2.052 0.000 0.442 Meki -4.009 0.000 0.474 Chefedonsa -3.650 0.000 0.461 White -0.480 0.159 0.430 Black -1.500 0.001 0.441 0.305 Bird color: Red -0.200 0.505 Sex Type: Male 3.150 0.000 0.304 Breed type Local -3.220 0.000 0.521 Cross -1.620 0.098 0.974 Type of buyer: Small scale producers 0.033 0.968 0.820 Traders -0.660 0.165 0.470 Restaurants -0.880 0.288 0.830 Consumers 0.250 0.588 0.460 Feb. Mar. 2000 -1.170 0.031 0.538 Apr. May 2000 -0.970 0.082 0.556 June July 2000 -2.680 0.000 0.538 Aug. Sep. 2000 -0.790 0.121 0.512 Oct. Nov. 2000 0.370 0.477 0.515 Months of transaction R2 Adjusted R2 N DW 0.617 0.603 655 1.601 Source: Estimated based on survey data Seasonal demand for chicken meat is highly influenced by religious and New Year festivals. Consequently, such demand greatly influences price of chicken. The coefficients attached to months of transaction indicate that the price consumers paid from June to July significantly lower than price consumers paid in reference months, December-January. Similarly the prices paid by consumers from February-March, AprilMay was significantly lower than the reference period. There was no significant variation in the price of chicken in the months of August-September and the reference period. These two periods coincide with widely celebrated festival days, Ethiopian New year and Christmas. Major market constraints The major market constraints as identified by traders were lack of market place, poultry diseases, absence market information and lack of training on improved trading practice and marketing management. Lack of market place is a constraint mainly at Saris market. Most traders do not have access to permanent and market place. Poultry transaction on weight base is non-existent. Prices are determined with visual observation and approximation weighing with hand. This results in long bargaining where a party with limited bargaining capacity loses. Farmers do not get timely market information upon which to base their marketing decisions. They depend on other farmers and traders for price information. Some time they collect information at the market place just before making decision to sell or not. Such information exchange mechanism does not assist farmers to make decision regarding chicken production. Poultry traders have little skill on how to identify chicken diseases and its symptoms. Poor knowledge of poultry diseases may leads to risks, which could occur if diseased chicken are purchased and die. Poultry 10th ESAP-Proceedings 77 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production trade requires relatively small amount of capital. The initial capital requirement for entry into chicken trading is also small. Most traders use alternative capital sources like iqub, etc. and capital was rarely mentioned as a constraint for entry into chicken trading. Few traders underscored that limited capital and access to credit are constraints to expand their business. Conclusions and recommendations The objectives of this study were to assess poultry market structure, identify poultry price determinants and price association in spatially linked markets and generate information that helps to make informed decisions by producers, poultry traders and other stakeholders concerned with poultry production and market development. Descriptive statistics and correlation methods were used. Poultry marketing system is characterized by many suppliers (farmers) and considerable number of buyers. A single or few buyers did not dominate the markets studied. The channels are relatively short since transaction between producers and consumers are the dominant channels in most markets. Even in terminal markets the middlemen in the chain are few compared to other agricultural commodities. Chickens are transported to secondary and terminal markets along with bags, sacks of grain and bundle of firewood. Such transportation is risky for traders and poultry handling system for transportation needs to be improved. Necessary facilities are not available and the sanitation of poultry transaction areas was also very poor. As a whole, there is a need to demarcate poultry trading sites and encourage traders to establish necessary facilities required for feeding, watering and sanitation of poultry transaction sites. Transaction based on modern weight measuring method is non-existent and prices are determined with visual observation and approximation weighing with hand. Non-modern weight measuring based transaction may entail loss for farmers. Traders frequently visit different market and more acquainted with such type of transaction than farmers who rarely visit market. Consequently farmers may at loser side during the transaction as well-experienced traders be able to easily cheat them. Therefore, there is a need for modern weight measuring method-based transaction in the market so that marketing efficiency could be increased and the interests of seller and buyers protected. The results indicate that markets close to each other are more integrated than markets away from each other. The prices in two markets are more integrated as time interval increase. This is mainly due to absence of up-to-date market information and delays in transmission of information through communications particularly by traders who visit different markets. The weak market integration indicates inefficiency and may be caused by inadequately developed market infrastructure and facilities and absence of market information. Thus, improving the marketing infrastructure and facilities and putting in place market information system would improve spatial integration of markets. Market information regarding demand, supply, price etc. is essential for efficient function of a market if accurate information is provided timely. The existence of accurate and timely information helps market participants to make informed decisions regarding production and sale. Thus, mechanisms that provide accurate and timely market information need to be developed. Such information is absent for all agricultural produces. Poultry market information should be given due consideration when market information mechanism is devised for livestock. References Alemayehu Lirenso (1993). Grain marketing Performance in Ethiopia: A Study of the Impact of Deregulation on the Structure and Performance of Grain Markets, Unpublished Ph. D. Dissertation, University of East Anglia, Norwich, 1993. Alemu Yami and Tadele Dessie, (1997). The Status of Poultry Research and Development in Ethiopia, Research Bulletin No. 4. Poultry Commodity Research Program Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Alemaya University of Agriculture, Ethiopia. PP. 62. 78 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Asfaw Negassa and T. S. Jyane (1998) Vertical and Special Integration of Grain Markets in Ethiopia: Implications for Grain Market and Food Security Policies. Working Paper 9, Grain Market Research Project, Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, Addis Ababa. Branson, R. E., and D. G. Novell (1983) Introduction to Agricultural Marketing. McGraw-Hill Book, Inc. EARO (Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization) (2000) Summary of Livestock Research Strategy. EARO, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Goletti, F. and S. Babu (1994) “Market liberalization and Integration of Maize Market in Malawi.” Agricultural Marketing, 11: 311-324. Kennucan, H. W. and O. D. Forker (1987) “Asymmetry in Farm-Retail Price Transmission for Major Dairy Products.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 69: 285-292. Scarborough V. and J. Kydd (1992). Economic Analysis of Agricultural Markets: A Manual. Chatham, U.K. Tadele Dessie, (1996). Studies on Village Poultry Production Systems in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia. M. Sc. Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. PP. 72 Ward R. W. (1982) “Asymmetry in Retail, Wholesale, and Shipping Point Pricing for Fresh Vegetables.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 64: 205-212. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 79 Promotion of dairy marketing using farmers’ cooperatives: Lessons from India Berhane Mekete1and Workneh Ayalew 2 1Metekel Cattle Breeding and Improvement Center, P.O. Box. 30 Tel. 250001, Chagni. Livestock Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Tel 463215, Addis Ababa. 2International Abstract This paper discusses the importance of smallholder dairy marketing cooperatives as a strategy to promote the dairy sub-sector based on the lessons learned from the Anand pattern of dairy cooperative movement, which was later replicated throughout India. Apart from the history in India, this paper identifies the factors that contributed to the success of the Anand pattern, and then suggests what can be done in Ethiopia. Involvement of the government at every step of the development was very useful for the expansion of the dairy cooperatives in India. In some parts of Ethiopia, some form of organised marketing of milk is already present. The Anand pattern of dairy development can be emulated at least around the major milk shades, for instance around Nazareth, Dire Dawa, Harar, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Awassa, Jima and Assela. As demonstrated in India, dairy marketing cooperatives could provide farmers with continuous milk outlet, and easy access to essential inputs, such as AI, veterinary services and formula feeds. Generally dairy cooperatives help to trigger a series of positive developments in the sub-sector; hence strengthening the existing group milk marketing activities and formation of new cooperatives in different parts of the country is well justified. Introduction About 93% of the total milk production in Ethiopia is produced by the smallholder dairy farmers living in the villages and exercising, in most instances, traditional dairying. This sector also produces 90% of the overall agriculture output in the country (Tsehay, 1998). Largely village-level small market networks manage marketing of milk and milk products from this dominant smallholder sector. Large-scale marketing and processing of milk limited to the area around Addis Ababa, generally known as the Addis Ababa milk shed. It appears that butter dominates dairy marketing, and the transaction in the form of raw milk is limited around major urban centres. The short shelf-life of raw milk, lack of pasteurisation, poor market infra-structure, and above all, low demand for dairy products can explain the weak marketing of dairy products in the country. The perishable nature of milk coupled with lack of preservation facilities dictate that the product should be quickly transported from producer to consumer. The fact that milk is produced on daily basis throughout the lactation length of several months also requires mechanisms to accommodate continuous flow of produce to the consumers while allowing some flexibility in the process. Despite the practical difficulties of maintaining a viable milk-marketing network, the spread of milk sale over an extended period of several months is an economically worthwhile opportunity to the smallholder producers as they often wish to see their incomes evenly spread over time to match their habitual expenditures. Therefore, the creation of working linkages between milk producers and consumers not only ensures reliable supply of milk to the consumers, but also provides economic incentives to the producers for continuous supply of milk. Smooth marketing of milk stimulates production, raise dairy farm incomes and improve standard living of farmers. The marketing of dairy products therefore requires as much emphasis as for the production of milk. Biological interventions to improve the nutritional and health status of dairy animal may not bring about the desired improvements of income to the producers unless the produce is absorbed by viable markets. Lack of market can mean wastage of the milk, and the resources that went into its production (labour, land, time. As Tsehay (1998) put it, provision of improved and sustainable milk marketing arrangements in smallholder villages is therefore indispensable for advancement of the national dairy industry. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 81 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Smallholder dairy marketing cooperatives provide an appropriate option for laying out viable dairy marketing networks far off from major consumer centres. The cooperatives provide for the creating of the essential critical mass of output to draw the interest of large markets, financial institutions and policy makers. An effective milk-marketing network benefits both producers and consumers, and through its linkages with related sectors, the national economy as a whole. India presents a good example on the working of effective dairy marketing cooperatives, which over the past decades have helped the country to become one of the leading countries in the world in the production, marketing and consumption of milk. This paper describes the history of dairy cooperative movement in India, draws out lessons and suggests appropriate steps that can similarly be taken in Ethiopia for the development of its dairy sub-sector. Difficulties of milk marketing by smallholder farmers Milk is a highly perishable product and needs to be disposed or processed quickly into products of longer shelf life, like butter, cheese or powder. This requires considerable financial outlay as well as skilled manpower. The form and volume of milk to be sold by smallholder farmers to the consumers depends on the transportation facility and distance between producers and consumers. While some farmers residing in proximity to urban centers have easier access to major markets, those farmers from distant rural areas have to bear the additional costs of transportation and search for market information. Unfortunately, the majority of smallholder farmers live and work in remote areas relative to urban centers, and have to deal with the difficulty of accessing reliable markets for their produce. This situation puts them in an unfavorable bargaining position against potential traders. This may be part of the reason why many farmers sell their dairy output in the form of butter rather than raw milk. The opportunity of using whey, cottage cheese and skim milk also encourages them to process raw milk into butter. In any case, the smallholder farmers happen to be at a disadvantage if they wish to sell raw milk. The other operational constraint is the small size of milk that individual smallholder farmers supply the market on daily basis. Unless the consumers also prefer such fragmented pattern of milk supply, this situation inflates the costs of milk handling and processing to the extent that large scale processing of dairy products is effectively made prohibitively uneconomical. Again this constitutes lost opportunity for the smallholder farmers who otherwise have limited market outlet. Smallholder farmers often use their daily incomes for the procurement of household utilities, including food items. They hardly afford to wait for days or weeks to receive their incomes from the sale of milk. This means that development interventions to improve this dairy sub-sector should also meet farmers’ expectations in securing their incomes. The difficulty is that traders or large dairy processing industries (both private and parastatal) may not be prepared to bear the added costs of meeting these expectations, and even if they would, the added costs are reflected in the lower farm-gate prices of milk paid to the farmers. Again this is at a financial disadvantage of the smallholder farmers. Under these circumstances where numerous producers individually produce very small quantities of milk and are remotely located from major markets, development the dairy sub-sector requires an integrated approach to production, procurement, processing and marketing of the product. As demonstrated effectively under more or less similar circumstances in India (Parlmal and Bardhan, 1990), dairy marketing cooperatives could provide such a system that ensures reliable, stable and continuous procurement of the milk, suitable pricing system and opportunity for sustainable use of inputs, including feed, medicaments, equipment and even AI services. Above all, the incomes could readily be distributed to the producers with little additional transaction costs. Lessons from India Origin of the Indian dairy cooperatives Up until the emergence of the dairy cooperatives, milk marketing was under the control of private traders and middlemen. Farmers were compelled to sell milk for whatever they were offered by the traders. Often 82 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia they had to sell cream and ghee at throwaway prices. Many of the farmers, who were illiterate, were aware that the milk pricing system provided by the private traders allows huge profits to the traders while setting the milk prices too low for the producers. This became more noticeable when the Government of Bombay started the Bombay Milk Scheme in 1945. Milk had to be transported from Anand to Bombay, a distance of more than 400 kilometres. This could be done only if milk was pasteurised (Kailash, 1990). After preliminary trials, the Government of Bombay entered into an arrangement with a private company (Known as MS Polsons) from Anand to supply Bombay with milk from Anand on a regular basis. The arrangement was satisfactory to all concerned except the farmers. The government found it profitable; the private company maintained a good profit margin and the private traders contracted by the company also had good returns. But the latter had the opportunity to fix the price paid to individual milk producing farmers, and they used this opportunity to the disadvantage of the farmers. As a result the farmers could not benefit from the enhanced marketing of milk. In particular, the farmers of Kaira district took this situation more seriously. These farmers happened to have a popular political leader by the name Sardar Patel, who had been advocating for the formation of farmers’ co-operatives as early as 1940 (Kailash, 1990). The discontent of farmers encouraged Sardar Patel to reiterate his viewpoint for the farmers to market their milk through a cooperative of their own and the cooperative should have its own processing plant. Sadar Patel advised the farmers to seek permission to set up such a cooperative, and if this was rejected, they should refuse to sell milk to the middlemen, with potential consequences of short-term economic losses to the farmers, as they would not be able to sell milk for some time. Nevertheless, if they were prepared to put up with the losses, he was ready to lead them. The farmers’ political representatives accepted this proposal for the establishment of milk co-operatives. This political backing encouraged farmers to go as far as planning milk sale embargoes against the traders. The issue was then become a strong political issue and subsequent high-level meetings between politicians were necessary to resolve the differences. In the end consensus was reached to allow the setting up of village level milk producers’ cooperatives and their federated unions. Soon after, the cooperatives were organized in each of the villages of Kaira district, and later these were federated into a district Union, which would own the first milk processing facility in the district. It was further agreed that the Government of Bombay should undertake to buy milk from the Union and if this were not done; farmers would refuse to sell milk to the traders in Kaira district (Kailash, 1990). Initially the Government of Bombay did not accept this demand of the farmers, and the farmers went ahead with the milk sale embargo. Only 15 days later, the Government accepted the demand and this marked the beginning of the Kaira district Co-operative Milk Producers´ Union Limited Anand, popularly known as Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL). The union was formally registered on December 14, 1946. Through time AMUL evolved as a success story with active participation of farmers with average holding of less than two animals. It is also a story of linkage between producers and consumers, both working for their mutual benefits whereby producers get remunerative prices and production enhancement support services, and the consumers get quality products at reasonable prices (Kailash, 1990). Progress At the beginning of establishment, only a handful of farmers from two village dairy co-operatives were supplying about 250 litres of pasteurised milk per day for the Bombay Milk Scheme. An assured market proved a great incentive to the milk producers of the district. By the end 1948, more than 400 farmers had joined, and the quantity of milk handled by the Union increased to 5000 litres a day. With the spread of the co-operative movement, it was found that the Bombay Milk Scheme could not absorb all the milk supplied by Union during the winter season, as the winter production was on average two and half times more than that of the summer. This led to the idea of setting up a milk processing plant by the Union, which was readily accepted by both the Government of Bombay and the Government of India. The Government of India then provided assistance to the Union for it to receive financial assistance from UNICEF. This growth in the capacity to handle and process raw milk allowed dramatic increase in the supply and collection of milk. By 1958 the milk processing facility was expanded to manufacture sweetened condensed 10th ESAP-Proceedings 83 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production milk. Two years later, a new wing was added for the manufacture of 2500 tons of roller-dried baby food and 600 tons of cheese per year. It was for the first time anywhere in the world that cheese or baby food was made from buffalo milk on a commercial scale (Kailsh, 1990). In another important development, the Union was asked in 1963 to supply milk powder to the Defence Services, which encouraged the Union to invest on additional milk drying facilities. A new processing plant with a capacity of producing 40 tons of milk powder and 20 tons of butter a day was speedily completed, and the whole complex could then handle 500,000 litres of milk a day. By 1974 this capacity grew to 750,000 litres a day. Key to such a huge growth was the belief in Union that the responsibility to collect marketable surplus of milk should be linked with the provision of production inputs. The Union had thus started providing important inputs such as formula feeds, fodder seeds and later artificial insemination services. Soon after the union also started its mobile veterinary services, probably for the first time in the country. The co-operative has since then grown steadily and the supply of milk in 1994 reached about 229210 tons of milk per day from 532670 milk producers organized in 954 dairy co-operatives (See Table 1) (Kailash, 1990). Measures Taken to Expand AMUL Pattern AMUL´s success in this integrated dairy development paved the way for other districts to do the same pretty quickly in what later came to be known as the Anand pattern of dairy development. Meanwhile AMUL provided valuable assistance to sister milk co-operatives (Belavadi, 1998). Table 1: Development of the Indian Dairy Marketing Cooperatives from 1948 to 1994. Financial year Dairy cooperative societies Member of societies Milk collected from societies [tons] Milk collection centres owned by societies AI Centres No of AI services delivered Mobile vet. Dispensaries Cases treated by mobile dispensaries Sale of feed [tons] Value of milk sale [Rs’000] 1948-49 13 924 1,136 - - - - - - 790 1950-51 33 3,973 5,000 - 5 578 - - - 3,395 1955-56 64 22,828 11,136 - 7 3,854 2 - - 7,486 1960-61 195 40,500 23,915 - 26 9,077 4 16,453 - 19,853 1965-66 518 110,000 65,905 - 261 41,841 7 31,777 15,911 92,219 1970-71 706 180,000 118,225 210 523 157,547 16 70,078 36,858 273,942 1975-76 829 250,000 129,041 412 665 207,674 23 118,258 46,249 427,256 1980-81 895 327,000 169,577 521 735 285,073 23 133695 82,331 752,997 1985-86 872 365,000 227,262 606 759 497,174 18 183,614 152,651 1,334,192 1990-91 917 474,850 264,834 711 809 681,497 16 67,364 132,895 2,504,671 1991-92 923 487,400 233,895 728 811 690,385 16 54,615 140,460 2,690,622 1992-93 941 502,550 260,179 731 819 696,713 16 55,894 145,784 3,114,729 1993-94 943 513,280 277,360 739 826 72,073 16 60,030 144,506 3,289,072 1994-95 954 532,670 229,210 751 827 672,852 16 41,003 144,161 3,444,943 The success was so impressive that the Prime Minister of India, after having visited Anand in 1964, strongly advocated for the replication of the Anand Pattern of co-operatives in other parts of the country. For this replication, the Government of India established the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in September 1965 (Belavadi, 1998). In 1969, the NDDB formulated a program called ´Operation Flood` which was based on utilization of food aid provided by donor agencies such as World Food Programme to generate funds for replication of Anand Pattern of dairying. The first phase of Operation Flood, launched in 1970, linked four major metropolitan cities with 18 potential milk sheds in the country. This phase was implemented with the fund generated from converting donated dairy powder into liquid milk and selling it through existing dairy marketing networks. In so doing, the NDDB ensured that donated commodities would only be sold at prices at par with locally produced milk so that the local market would not be depressed, and that funds generated would be invested in setting up milk sheds in relatively remote areas (Belavadi, 1998). In less than a decade of implementation Operation Flood had clearly demonstrated the replicability of the Anand Pattern dairy co-operatives. This led to initiation of the second phase in 1979, with finance from the 84 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia World Bank and European Union, to expand the programme into selected districts in most of the States. Phase 3, which commenced in 1987, consolidated achievements by improving the productivity and efficiency of the co-operatives. Specific interventions of Operation Flood included: • Provision of technical support for the establishment of village dairy co-operatives and co-operative unions, • Creation of sufficient milk processing capacities in order to stabilise supplies by balancing the lean and flush supplies, • Equipping the dairy co-operatives with facilities for providing essential inputs to members to improve productivity of their dairy animals, • Development and provision of support services such as information systems, training and manpower services for the co-operatives, • Undertaking measures for enhancing member participation in the dairy co-operatives with due emphasis on increased involvement of rural women, • Establishment and management of centralized support services such as animal disease diagnostic centres, vaccine and biologicals production and delivery systems, and national frozen semen supply system, and • Undertaking research and other development activities. As a result of these integrated interventions through the three phases of Operation Flood, the country witnessed a phenomenal increase in milk production. National milk production rose from 23 million MT per annum during the 1970s to around 74 million MT per annum in 1997/98) with India emerging as the largest milk producer in the world. Despite the huge increase in the human population, the decline in the per capita consumption of milk during the period prior to Operation Flood was reversed, and reached 200g per person per day. In March 1998, there were 78500 village dairy co-operatives federated into 170 district milk unions across the country. In most of the States, the district milk unions have formed their own state dairy federations. Around 10 million farmers have become members of the village dairy co-operatives. In 1997-98, these cooperatives collected on average 13.1 million litres of milk every day (Belavadi, 1998). The expansion of dairy co-operatives under operation flood is summarized in Table 2. Table 2. Status of dairy co-operatives in India in 1997/98. Particulars Unit State Dairy Federations Nos. Status 22 Co-operative Milk Producers` Unions Nos. 170 Village Dairy Co-operatives Nos. 78500 Farmer Members Nos. (Million) 9.88 Rural Daily Milk Procurement (Avg. 1997/98) Million Kg per day 13.10 Peak Daily Milk Procurement (1997/98) Million Kg per day 15.55 Daily Liquid Milk sale to Urban Consumers (Avg. 1997/98) Million Litres per day 11.10 Cattle Feed Capacity MT per day 5105 Milk Processing Capacity Million litres per day 27.10 Milk Powder Capacity Tonnes per day 1054 Source: Belavadi (1998). The continuous regular income from the sale of milk improved the standard of living of members of the cooperatives. Milk production was twice as high in the villages with co-operatives as in the control villages, and overall income was 8 percent higher (Parlmal and Bardhan, 1990). What Contributed to Success? United affirmative action of the farmers, coordinated by good community leaders was very crucial for the success. The farmers were gradually sensitised and led to act in unison on the lost opportunity because of 10th ESAP-Proceedings 85 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production lack of control of the milk market. Good community leaders and governments that listen to farmers’ concerns helped the farmers a lot in the formation of the co-operatives. Involvement of the government at every step of the development was also very useful; the government was supportive of, and provided assistance to, the public awareness campaigns on the scale of the problem as well as its solution; it assigned extension professionals; it trained members of the co-operatives; it provided financial assistance for the instalment of the milk processing and formula feeds plants as well as in the procurement of assets. In so doing the government facilitated development of the milk-marketing network in favour of the farmers. All these contributed a lot to the expansion of dairy co-operatives. Another important factor was the high demand for milk, which is related to food habits of the people. About 40 % of the country’s population has vegetarian diet in which milk and milk products happen to be the major source of animal protein. A variety of sweets are also made from milk particularly during holidays. Considerable amount of milk is also consumed along with tea and coffee. What can be done in Ethiopia? Some form of organised marketing of milk is already practices in some parts of the country, for instance in eastern Hararghe highlands and some pastoral communities. On the other hand, major milk producing areas of the country, such as the Selale plateau have serious problems in accessing the Addis Ababa market. The Anand Pattern of dairy development can be replicated, at least around the major milk sheds. The conducive policy environment on the establishment and operation of farmers´ cooperatives also facilitates the initiation of organised milk marketing by the small producers themselves. A concerted effort to organise these farmers into marketing groups, to provide finances for the setting up of essential milk collection, handling and processing facilities, and to link the producers with consumers in systematic market networks could revolutionise the smallholder dairy industry. The Adaa Liben Woreda Dairy and Dairy Products Marketing Association operating between Debre Zeit and Addis Ababa is a good example of organised dairy marketing driven by the producers themselves. The same can be attempted in other major milk sheds of the country, for instance around Nazareth, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar, Gondar, Awassa, Jimma and Asella. The Smallholder Dairy Development Project (SDDP) of the Ministry of Agriculture had established some milk-marketing units; impact assessment on this intervention revealed that members have been benefited much by selling their milk at more attractive prices. The creation of a new market outlet for fluid milk brought major improvements in the production, marketing, and consumption behaviour of smallholder households. The intervention led to increased milk production, consumption and marketing in the villages. Incomes received by the households from dairy production and marketing, have increased. The new marketing outlet may also promote involvement in more intensive dairying (e.g. owning crossbred cows, use of other inputs) by households not previously involved (Nicholson et al, 1998). Therefore, it is possible to initiate market-oriented and sustainable development of the smallholder dairy sub-sector in harmony with the medium size commercial dairy producers. The tested milk sale units and operational small milk processing facilities can be used as starting points. Participating farmers need to be trained on specific technical and managerial issues; they need to visit and exchange views with similar groups. Necessary infrastructure, at least access roads, should be put in place to support and encourage this development. Affordable financing services are also essential. Conclusions As demonstrated in India, dairy co-operatives provide farmers with a continuous milk outlet. As income increases, more cash will be available to purchase inputs into the milk production process. Level of management will be gradually improved, in terms of feeding, veterinary health care, and better housing. Generally dairy co-operatives help to trigger a series of positive development. So strengthening the existing group milk marketing activities, and formation of new co-operatives in different parts of the country is well justified. Involvement of the government is necessary for this to happen. 86 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia References Belavadi, N.V. 1998. Dairy Development, the Indian Experience. Proceedings of the Role of Village Dairy Co-operatives in Dairy Development: Prospects for Improving Dairy in Ethiopia, 22-24, April 1998, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp.4247. Nicholson, C L, Getachew Gebru, Simeon K. Ehui, Barry I. Shapiro and Christopher Delgado. 1998. Producer Milk Groups in Ethiopia’s Highlands: A framework for Assessing Impacts and Review of Group Performance. Proceeding of the Role of Village Dairy Co-operatives in Dairy Development: Prospects for Improving Dairy in Ethiopia, 22-24, April 1998, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp.84. Kailash, vyas. 1990. Dairy India 1997. Fifth Edition. Pp. 67-69. Mergos and Slade. 1987. Dairy Development and Milk co-operatives. National Dairy Development Board, Anand. Parlmal C. And Bardhan. 1990. Operation Flood: Its Evaluation, the strategy followed and progress Achieve. National Dairy Development Board, Anand. Pp.612-614,620. Tsehay Redda. 1998. Prospects of Ethiopian Dairy Development. Proceeding of the Role of Village Dairy Co-operatives in Dairy Development: Prospects for Improving Dairy in Ethiopia, 22-24, April 1998, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp. 149151. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 87 Challenges and opportunities to livestock and livestock products marketing in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region: A case study of Wolaita Zone Million Tadesse* Awassa Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box 6. Awassa, Ethiopia. Abstract This paper examines livestock and livestock product marketing conditions in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPRS) particularly in Wolaita Zone. Secondary data and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) were used to investigate the livestock marketing condition in the study area. The results of PRA survey indicate that livestock are important sources of income and wealth indicators. Based on the number of livestock owned, farmers in the study areas were categorized into rich (7.5%), medium (15.5%), poor (41.5%) and very poor (35.5%). Livestock products such as butter, meat, hides and skins, cheese and milk are important products traded both in rural and urban markets in the study area. Returns to better livestock marketing conditions can be manifested in terms of improved food security, increased farm incomes, and increased supply of food. Local breeds are the dominant spices kept by farmers in the area. In addition, exotic dairy breeds are also found in Wolaita Sodo dairy farm and the farm is used as a center to disseminate these breeds to farmers. Generally, livestock marketing in Wolaita Zone is characterized by lack of improved market place, storage and processing services, standards and weight, lack of transportation, poor market information on the price and supply condition, problem of infectious and parasitic diseases. Therefore, improving the current livestock and livestock products marketing problems is an obvious policy option in the area. Introduction According to the national accounts estimates of Ethiopia, the livestock sub-sector contributes approximately 12-15% to value added of agriculture and allied activities. Next to coffee, though smaller compared to the potential, livestock exports constitute a major source of foreign exchange earnings. Particularly, hides and skins are the single most important commodities next to coffee in generating foreign exchange. In 1995/96, for instance, livestock exports alone accounted for nearly 14% of the value of agricultural exports in Ethiopia, 96% of which being accounted for hides and skins (MEDaC, 1999). The Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) has a huge number of livestock population with the current estimate of about 7.5 million cattle, 2.4 million sheep, 2.2 million goats, 6.9 million equines and 5 million chicken. According to Bureau of Planning and Economic Development (BOPED) report trends in cattle population in the region slightly increasing starting from 1997 while it was relatively constant for sheep and goats (BOPED, 2002) (Annex 1). Livestock have various social and economic functions in both highlands and lowlands/pastoral farming systems. In the highland and midaltitude areas of the region, livestock are part of the mixed farming complex providing integrated inputs for crop production (i.e. traction, threshing, transport and manure) and outputs such as milk, meat, eggs, wool, hides and skins. In the low land parts of the region, livestock are generally the sole sources of livelihood providing milk; meat and transport at large, while hides and skins provide additional income. Lowland cattle provide a significant amount of the draught animals for highlands. However, shortage of draught power is a critical problem in the region. For instance, about 49.3% of the farming household heads in the region do not have oxen, about 27.2% have one ox, 17.47% have two oxen, 1.91% have three oxen, 2.13% have four oxen and only 1.97% have five and above (BOPED, 1998). However, in some areas like Gedio Zone where perennial crops such as coffee and enset are important, the majority of the farmers do not need draught power because of the nature of the farming system. Generally, in both areas livestock * Corresponding author, E-mail: [email protected] 10th ESAP-Proceedings 89 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production provide a living insurance, as a store of value for financing modest level of investment against risk/uncertainties in crop production. Among the livestock products, sale of hides and skins, milk, butter, cheese and the like contribute a lot to household income. In addition to these products, farmers obtain a significant amount of money from the sale of live animals. In the past different authors attempted to study livestock and livestock products marketing conditions in some parts of the country. However, the potentials and constraints of livestock and livestock products marketing have not been well investigated in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State particularly in Wolaita Zone. Hence, assessment of livestock and livestock products marketing potentials or opportunities and constraints in the study area is paramount importance for the development of the livestock sector not only on this specific area but also on other similar areas in the region. Objectives 1. To assess livestock and livestock products marketing potentials or opportunities in the region in general and in Wolaita Zone in particular. 2. To identify constraints to livestock and livestock products marketing in Wolaita Zone The SNNPRS and the Wolaita zone SNNPRS is located in the South and Southwestern parts of the country and covers an area of 113,639 km2, which is about 10 percent of the total area of the country. Bordered with Oromiya region in the East and Southeast, with the Sudan and Gambella region in the West, and with Kenya in the South. The latitudinal range of the region is from 500 to over 3000 meters above sea level. Four major agro-ecologies, semi-desert (6.2%), Kolla (49.8%), Weinadega (36.8%), Dega (6.5%) and Werch (0.7%) exist in the region (BOPED, 1998). The population of the region was estimated to be 12.5 million projected for the year 2001 (CSA. 1994). The highest population of the region is located in Gedio Zone of Wonago Wereda which is about 890 persons per kilo metres square and the lowest population density is located in South Omo Zone which is about 3 persons per kilo meters square. Wolaita Zone is located around 360Km Southwest of Addis Ababa and next to Gedio zone Wolaita Zone is one of the most densely populated areas in the region. For instance, a population density of about 600 persons per kilometers squares was recorded in Damot Gale Wereda with in the zone. Mixed farming is the dominant farming system of Wolaita Zone. Wolaita Zone is selected in this study due to the existence of large number of buyers and sellers for livestock and livestock products such as butter, hides and skins, cheese, milk and other products. In addition, the livestock production system in Wolaita highlands is relatively modern because of previous extension intervention such as by Wolaita Agricultural Development Unit (WADU) since 1970. The lowland areas of the Zone such as Humbo, Offa and Bele Weredas are important sources of live animals for highlanders as draught power and butter, hides and skins, cheese and sometimes milk for the urban people. Wolaita Sodo town is the major livestock and livestock products market place. Saturday and Tuesday are the two market days in a week. However, Saturday is a big market day. Areka and Bodti towns are also another important livestock market places next to Sodo town in terms of volume of livestock and livestock product flows. Livestock market potential in the region Most farmers in the region keep livestock such as cattle, sheep, goat, poultry, equine and the like. Livestock are sources of food, draught power, and fuel and cash income. They also provide employment and means of security and fixed asset. Livestock may be kept as a reserve for times of hardship or some times for particular social requirements. They are marketed eventually, but from the owners point of view they are not part of regular sales. As can be seen in figure 1 below the supply of hides and skins in Ethiopia significantly declined starting from 1997 to 1999. Then after, its volume increased considerably and in the year 2000, reaches its maximum level. On the other hand, meat and meat products declined starting from 1998 but the volume of live animals slightly increased starting from the same year. However, it can be concluded that in terms of 90 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia volume of sale hides and skin are the single most important livestock products that provide foreign currency. Therefore, much has to be done to diversify livestock export so as to benefit more from the sector. Export volume 12,000,000 quantity in kg 10,000,000 Hides and Skins 8,000,000 Live Animals 6,000,000 Dairy Products Meat & Meat Products 4,000,000 2,000,000 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 years Source: Ethiopian Export Promotion Agency, July 2001.Addis Ababa Figure 1: Ethiopian Livestock and Livestock Products Export (1994-2000). As shown in figure 2 below the volume of hides supplied to central market, Addis Ababa, from the region is very small as compared to sheep skin in the last six years. This might indicate that sheep and goat are relatively slaughtered more frequently than cattle in the region in contrast to the national data (figure 1 above). However, the decline in the supply of sheep and goat skin from the region may be associated in one way or another due to the increase in traditional use of sheep and goat skin, unfavorable terms of trade, decline in quality of these products. Some traders in the area indicated that the price of hides and skin is fixed by processing factories and suppliers are price takers. In addition, due to the liberalization measures, which have taken place, the number of illegal hides and skin traders increased and the terms of trade are against legal traders. Livestock market information particularly price, is an indicator of short-term demand and supply conditions in various markets. Lack of livestock market information services is one of the main contributing factors to livestock trade inefficiency. Those private traders who use market information in the marketing of their products mostly obtain this information from their relatives and friends. Most of them use this information to get better profit from the sale of their commodities. Those traders who are relatively educated recognized the importance of market information though inadequate to obtain this information observed. The average producer price of livestock and livestock products in SNNPRS is given in figure 3. As can be seen from figure 3 cattle and small ruminants off-take rates in the region have remained low. For instance, the rate of cattle off-take in the year 2000 decreased by about 71 percent as compared to the rate in 1995 in the region. This might be due to the fact that large number of draft oxen maintained in the mixed cereal-livestock farming systems negatively influenced cattle off take rates. Livestock are also kept as insurance against crop failure. In the lowland parts of the region, prestige considerations have discouraged sales of animals. The results of the study in Gununo Catchment, Wolaita Zone indicated that livestock production is relatively modern and farmers' use cut and carry system in order to feed their livestock. Many farmers reported that there is a declining trend in the size of grazing land over the last three years. The principal reasons given for the declining trend in the size of grazing land include intensive cultivation, expansion of 10th ESAP-Proceedings 91 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production settlement and a concomitant expansion of settlement and afforestation (eucalyptus tree planting) (Million T., 2001). Livestock Products Supplied to Central Market, Addis Ababa (1995-2000) 16000 Quantity in qt 14000 12000 10000 Hides (Qt) 8000 6000 Sheep skin(Qt) Goat skin (Qt) 4000 2000 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 years Figure 2: Hides, Sheep and Goat Skins Supplied to Central Market (Addis Ababa), from the Region Between 1995-2000. Average prices in Birr Trends in livestock prices 1400 1200 1000 800 Cattle average price (off-take) Cattle average price (stock) Goat average price (off-take) 600 400 200 0 Goat average price (stock) Sheep average price (off-take) Sheep average price (stock) 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Years 1 USD= 8.56 Ethiopian Birr in 2002. Figure 3: Average Producer Price of Livestock and their Product in SNNPRS, 1995-2000. Animal products such as butter, cheese, egg, hides and skins are important sources of income for farmers in Gununo area of Woliata Zone. Among the animal products, which generate cash income to the farmers, butter is the most important product in Wolaita area. Wolaita zone is well known for its quality butter supply to the central market and other regions and cities in the country. The price of butter usually increases immediately after fasting and during holidays and sometimes when there is unfavorable whether condition i. e when supply falls down. The average price of butter in Wolaita Sodo town between 1999-2001 is about 21 Ethiopian Birr per kilogram (about 2.45 US Dollar). However, many farmers in Wolaita Zone are not interested to sale milk culturally. This may be due to the fact that farmers give more emphasis for butter rather than milk. The results of Participatory Rural Appraisal indicated that livestock ownership among others is an important factor, which classifies farmers into different wealth category (Table 1). Those farmers who have relatively large number of livestock (a pair of oxen, two or one cows, heifers or bulls) are considered as rich accounting 7.5% of the total households in the catchment. But the majority of the farmers in the area (77%) are very poor and poor (Table 1). Those farmers who have relatively large number of livestock have more prestige value and considered as rich. Hence, this may in one way or another discourage livestock marketing in the area. 92 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia The average number of oxen owned in Gununo area is about one. On average, a household owns 1.78 heads of livestock. The survey indicated that about 48 and 4 percent of the farmers had one and two oxen, respectively, where as the rest 47.5% do not have ox. Those farmers who do not have ox cultivate their land using hand hoe/spade and in most cases they rent out their land. Therefore, the problem of food insecurity is still persistent in the area and will continue in the future unless agricultural production (crop, livestock, and other allied activities) is improved through the use of modern technologies. Table 1: Wealth Category of Sample Households in Gununo Catchment Wealth Group Indicators N Percent Rich Mostly have 2 oxen Have one or two: cows, heifers or bulls Most of them have up to 2 hectares (ha) of land They give their animals to be kept by others and obtain 2/3 of the benefit. They rent in land/use others farmers’ land Are relatively food secured/ grain reserve lasts until next harvest? 25 7.5 Medium One ox is common One or no: cow, heifers, bulls, goats and sheep Have up to 0.5 ha of land Share cropping/ coupling of ox with others is a common practice. 51 15.5 Poor Most of them do not have ox but some have one: ox, sheep and goat They keep livestock of others and practice fattening of animals though they do not have property right. 137 41.5 116 35.5 Off-farm activities such as sale of grasses, fuel wood and pottery are common. Have land size up to 0.125ha Very poor No ox and other animals Most of them are female headed Work on other farmers’ field as daily laborers. They sell fuel wood, grasses, pots, etc. Landless except the homestead area. Total 329 100 Source: PRA Result, 2000 Constraints to livestock marketing in Wolaita zone The major problem of livestock and livestock products marketing in the area often lies in defective infrastructures such lack of regular market place, storage and processing facilities, absence of standards and weights, problem of roads and transport services. In the study areas many roads have inadequately maintained, and as a result transport costs have been increased. Feeder roads have been deteriorated and truckers are refusing to go into rural areas because of the high costs involved for spare parts, maintenance and fuel. Lack of market information particularly price and supply conditions is one of the main contributing factors to livestock market inefficiency in Wolaita Zone. Regular market information on prices and supplies and grades and standards are non-existent in the study area. Traders' sources of information for livestock and livestock products sale are their own assessment and other merchants. Brokers are also important sources of information. Agreement on prices is reached by a long one -on- one bargaining between a seller and a buyer. Animals are sold on a per head basis. Under such circumstances, prices paid will reflect buyers’ preference for various animal characteristics (e.g sex, weight, age, condition, breed and color), the season of the year, the purpose as to whether the animals are purchased for consumption, breeding, fattening or resale, and buyer’s and seller’s bargaining skills. From a marketing management perspective, body conformation and live weight of the animal are the key factors that influence the marketing of live animals. The two factors are related to the age and the sex of the animal and other secondary body parameters like fleshing. These factors will thus directly influence the price at which the live animals can be sold. The channel through which the animal reaches the market place will influence both the body condition and the live weight of the animal that is being marketed. The types of channels used will be influenced primarily by domestic marketing infrastructure and the type of the ultimate market being considered i.e whether the domestic market or the export market. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 93 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Most farmers in the study areas do not have access to marketplace. They travel long distance to sale their animals. However, the problem of market place is more serious especially in pastoral areas in the region such as the low land areas of South Omo Zone, Burji, Amaro special weredas (sub-districts) and others. Due to problem of market place pastoral farmers forced to cross the border of Ethiopia to sale their animals. Good marketing facilities are important for efficient livestock marketing system. Next to coffee, hides and skin are important sources of foreign currency. However, hides and skin marketing in Wolaita Zone has been constrained by lack of improved facilities such as weighing and grading, storage, processing factories, absence of control of unlicensed hides and skin traders. According to traders response in Wolaita Zone the number of unlicensed traders increases from time to time and licensed traders are in a disadvantaged position. Livestock marketing and slaughtering places are government owned but most of them lack essential facilities such as water, crash, weighing scale and other related materials. Due to the absence of hide and skin processing factories in the region, the demand for such products is very low and farmers are not in a position to get better profit margin. As a result, most of the benefit goes to market middlemen and assemblers. Brokers bring potential buyers and sellers together. For instance, in cattle marketing place in Wolaita zone, brokers play an important role. The actual transfer of ownership takes place between the original buyer and seller, with the broker acting as a counselor and intermediary in return for a fee. Some brokers charge 5-10 birr per cattle, 3-5 birr per sheep or goat, which is paid by the individual, who purchase the animal. This amount of payment is very high as compared to the services given by brokers and many consumers mentioned the issue as a problem. Currently, hides and skin traders are expected to pay 30 percent sales tax and they reported that the amount of charge often discourage hides and skin marketing. Another problem in hides and skin marketing is the existence of monopolistic price determination by processing factories. Hides and skin suppliers from the region in general and Wolaita Zone in particular do not have bargaining power and they will accept the price set by the factories in most cases. Due to this suppliers in return also fix lower price for farmers. Hence, producers do not reasonable price for their animals and animal products. In addition to the above problem, the results of PRA survey in the study area indicated that infectious and parasitic diseases significantly influence livestock marketing. For instance, livestock diseases reduce household incomes directly by causing considerable livestock losses and indirectly by necessitating health restrictions on export. Conclusions and policy implications The livestock sub-sector in Ethiopia on average contributes about 23.3 percent of agricultural value added. Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa, however the direct contribution of livestock to value added is very low due to the low level of productivity. However, so long as a predominant farming system depends on oxen draught power for ploughing and on pack animals as a means of transport, livestock are an important "engine to agriculture". Livestock products and cash crops such as coffee, chat, vegetables, fruits, and tea accounts for more than 85 percent of total foreign currency earnings of the country. Animal characteristics that affect price are mainly weight, sex, age, condition and color. In addition, the purpose for which the animal was purchased, whether for resale, slaughter, fattening or reproduction, affect price. An efficient and integrated market for livestock and livestock products is crucial for a dynamic agricultural sector. Efficiency and integration of markets determine the tradability of products and the accessibility of markets to farmers. Improving market efficiency contributes to increased level of food security by reducing consumer prices, increasing returns to producers, or both. That is, returns to better integration are manifested in terms of improved food security, increased farm incomes, and increased supply of food. Inadequate transport network, limited number of large interregional traders with inadequate storage and working capital, high handling costs, inadequate market information system, weak bargaining power of producers, and lack of processing factories have contributed to inefficient livestock market in the region. 94 10th ESAP-Proceedings Challenges and Opportunities of Livestock Marketing in Ethiopia Poor infrastructure has hindered the movement of livestock inputs and outputs. Perishable products such as fresh milk can hardly be transported over long distance to high demand urban centers. Commercial feed (concentrates) and veterinary services are either unavailable or too costly in most parts of the region. Economic viability of dual-purpose dairy technology strongly depends on good market for the milk produced. Milk must be sold at reasonable price to recover investment costs and pay for concentrates and veterinary services. Therefore, a strategy of improving livestock and its products marketing facilities such as processing and storage, road and transport services, standards and weights, improved market places, price information and better extension services to improve the quality of livestock products such hides and skin are important policy options for the region. Annex 1: Livestock Population in SNNPRS in '000 Trends in Livestock population livestock number '000 8000 7000 6000 5000 cattle sheep goat 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Years Source: BOPED, 2002. Awassa, Ethiopia Annex 2: Volume of Livestock and Livestock Products Exports in Kg (National, 1994-2000) Commodity Hides and Skins 1994 1995 1996 1997 7,991,710 8,247,002 7,320,779 9,115,145 1998 6, 642,512 1999 6,232,079 2000 11,350,616 Hides (semi-processed) 2,338,844 2,876,557 2,022,770 1,705,073 1,376,329 1,439,725 3,197,355 Skins(semi-processed) 5,646,350 5,359,216 4,872,865 7,043,375 5,103,078 4,509,087 7,700,481 Leather Products Live Animals 6,516 11,229 425,144 366,697 163,105 283,267 452,780 2,046,270 529,574 142,925 2,115,480 823,123 1,351,335 1,319,883 115,388 Bovine Animals 705,430 8,125 190,063 364,973 179,142 Other Animals 559,840 101,380 4,450 209,150 120,000 348,151 895 Sheep and Goats 781,000 420,069 138,475 1,716,267 338,150 824,042 1,203,600 Dairy Products Meat & Meat Products 815 328 2,894 485 835 5,732 861 209,129 579,980 1,267,885 1,819,772 2,508,279 1,905,628 1,165,960 Source: Ethiopian Export Promotion Agency, July 2001.Addis Ababa Annex 3: Average Producer Prices of Livestock in SNNPRS Item Sheep average price (stock) Unit 1995 birr/head 76.5 1996 82.31 1997 1998 1999 2000 75.40 63.92 53.38 56.68 Sheep average price (off-take) birr/head 77.63 84.54 78.87 68.11 54.71 59.07 Goat average price (stock) birr/head 71.00 77.72 72.90 68.24 49.11 48.63 Goat average price (off-take) birr/head 78.22 88.25 75.82 67.97 58.55 56.04 Cattle average price (stock) birr/head 256.62 282.28 265.02 209.47 185.22 187.34 Cattle average price (off-take) birr/head 552.84 592.77 544.06 456.83 385.64 397.50 Source: BOPED, 2002. Awassa, Ethiopia. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 95 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production References BOPED (Bureau of Planning and Economic Development). 1998. Socio-Economic Profile of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, Peoples Region. Awassa. BOPED (Bureau of Planning and Economic Development). 2002. Regional Income Accounting Document (Unpublished). Awassa, Ethiopia. CSA (Central Statistical Authority). 1994. Population Census of the Southern, Nations, Nationalities, Peoples Region. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. MEDaC (Ministry of Economic Development and Copperation).1999. Survey of the Ethiopian Economy. Review of PostReform Developments (1992/93-1997/98). Million Tadesse. 2001. Factors Influencing the Adoption of Soil Conservation Practices in Wolaita Zone. The Case of Gununo Area. M.Sc Thesis. Department of Agricultural Economics. Alemaya University. 96 10th ESAP-Proceedings ANIMAL BREEDING / REPRODUCTION 10th ESAP-Proceedings 97 The effect of age and sex on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Horro lambs Gemeda Duguma, Takele Kumsa, Ulfina Galmessa and Solomon Abegaz Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Bako Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box 03, West Shoa, Bako, Ethiopia. ABSTRACT Forty-five intact, castrates and ewe lambs of Horro sheep (15 of each ‘sex’) were used to investigate the effect of age and sex on growth performance and carcass characteristics. At 6-, 9-, 12- and 15- month of age 3 lambs from each sex were slaughtered for carcass measurements. Body weight of the lambs were not significantly (p > 0.05) different between ‘sexes’ at 6-, 9- and 12-months of age, but differed significantly (p < 0.05) at 15-month of age. Sex had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on most of the carcass traits measured, except for dressing percentage at 6-month of age, head weight and fore quarter at 9-and 12-month of age and kidney fat at 9-month of age, which were significant at p < 0.05. The results of this study revealed that ewe lambs, for the purpose of meat production, were as good as those of intact or castrated lambs until 12-month of age, after which they tended to be inferior to both groups. In general, it has been revealed that the effect of sex on body weight gain and carcass characteristics of lambs increased with an increase in age. Introduction As males and females exist in different hormonal environments, there are differences in growth and developments between the two sexes. In males it promote muscle growth and in females it results in lower mature size, slower growth rate and earlier maturing carcass (Owen, 1976). There are also sex differences in carcass characteristics (Cameron et al., 1998). These authors also indicated that the qualities of meat like tenderness and juiciness are said to be affected by the age of the animals. Studies conducted on Horro sheep (Solomon and Solomon, 1995) have indicated that the dressing percentage was linearly increased with age of lambs. A comparative study conducted for three months on the same breed (Demisse et al., 1989) also reported that castrated lambs showed significantly slower growth, but significant increases in carcass and internal fat and a tendency towards a smaller eye muscle. The Horro sheep are solely reared for meat production. Among others, large mature size is the quality of this sheep breed, which is attractive for meat production. The studies conducted so far to improve the breed for meat production sector were not exhaustive and even did not consider gender differences. Since we expect equal proportion of animals from both sexes, considerable number of female animals are send to the market, kept or slaughtered on farm for consumption. Thus, the sex and age differences in carcass characteristics in Horro sheep is scanty and the importance of ewe lambs for meat production is over looked. Since sex has been identified as a factor, which affects growth in general and skeletal growth in particular (Mahgoub and Lodge, 1994), its implications for Horro lambs raised under semi-intensive management for meat production need to be investigated. From commercial point of view, in countries like ours where consumers prefer sheep of certain age or weight, comparison at certain age appears to be appreciable. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age and sex on growth rate and carcass characteristics of Horro lambs. Materials and methods Location The climatic conditions and environmental descriptions of Bako Agricultural Research Center is given elsewhere (Solomon and Gemeda, 2000). Briefly, the animals were maintained at Bako Agricultural Research Center, which is located at about 258 km west of Addis Ababa on the main road to Nekemte. The area experiences a unimodal pattern of rainfall. The average annual rainfall is about 1219 mm with most precipitation between May and September. The mean minimum and maximum temperatures are 14°C and 10th ESAP-Proceedings 99 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production 28°C, respectively, with an average monthly temperature of 21°C. Potential evapotranspiration for about 21 years (1977 to 1998) averaged 62 mm per month (Solomon and Gemeda, 2000). Animals and management Forty-five intact ram lambs, castrates and ewe lambs (15 of each ‘sex’) of about four months of age were obtained from the sheep Research unit of Bako Agricultural research Center. Grouping of these animals were carried out based on their body weight and type of birth. Castration was conducted immediately after weaning using ‘elastrator’ rubber rings. Three animals in each ‘sex’-group were randomly chosen to be slaughtered at 6-, 9- and 12-months of age. These slaughter ages were chosen to represent the range at which lambs not meant for breeding are traditionally marketed and slaughtered in this region of the country. According to Snyman et al. (1997), the aim with the slaughter lamb production is to produce slaughter lambs that can be marketed as soon as possible after weaning without the need for supplementary feeding. The animals were selected for the trials after weaning and were grazed on natural pasture. Males and females were kept separately. They were offered 200g concentrate feed/day (49 % maize flour, 49 % Noug cake (Guizotia abyssinica), 1 % salt and 1 % bone meal) and hay from Rhodes grass (Chloris guyana) during night. The quantity of concentrate was adjusted fortnightly according to body weight changes. The lambs were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and fortnightly thereafter until the end of the trail. Fresh drinking water was provided ad lib. twice a day. All animals were housed on the same premises, but in different classes, in a well ventilated shed made of Bamboo with concrete floor. Lambs were fasted overnight and weighed before slaughtering. Carcass and non-carcass components were weighed immediately after slaughter. The carcass was portioned into hind or fore quarter between 10th and 11th ribs. Three ribs (11th and 13th) were chilled overnight at -4ºC, then the rib eye muscle was traced after cutting the chilled ribs between 12th and 13th ribs. Back fat thickness was measured on the 12th rib over the rib eye muscle at two sites (left and right) using a graduated ruler. Rib eye muscle and back fat thickness values are averages of the left and the right sides. Weight of gut contents at slaughter was computed by difference between full and empty digestive tract and empty body weight was also calculated by subtracting the weight of digestive content from slaughter weight. Statistical analysis The General Linear Model of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 1996) was used in the analysis of the data to determine the importance of each independent effects on body weight and carcass measurements. Sex of lambs was fitted as independent effects in the analysis of growth performance and carcass measurements taken at different ages. Initial body weight was fitted as covariable in the analysis of growth performances at different ages. Results The mathematical model for each analysis, with appropriate degrees of freedom, and the least square means (± SE) for body measurements taken at different ages were shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. For possible comparison growth performance of the different ‘sexes’ is shown in Figure 1. The effect of sex was not significant (p > 0.05) for body weight taken at 6-, 9- and 12-months of age. However, its effect was significant (p < 0.05) for body weight taken at 15-month of age. Initial body weight of lambs had an effect (p < 0.05) on body weight measurements at 6-, 9- and 12-month of age, but it did not affect body weight taken at 15-month of age. Table 1. Mean squares and analysis of variance of body weight as affected by sex Sources df Sex of lambs 2 Initial body weight 1 Mean Squares at 6--month 13.27 138.61*** 9-month 29.73 127.54*** 12-month 15-month 11.68 100.40* 189.17** 55.52 R² (%) 35.52 45.14 42.82 39.85 C.V. (%) 20.99 11.71 11.86 12.03 9.99 9.09 14.94 21.50 Error Mean Square 100 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Table 2. Least square means (± SE) of body weight measurements taken at different ages Body weight (kg) at 6-month 9-month 12-month Intact lambs 15.2±1.12 27.8±1.14 32.7±1.94 39.8±2.32ab 15-month Castrates 15.5±0.85 25.4±0.88 32.8±1.24 40.7±1.61b Ewe Lambs 14.5±0.93 24.7±0.96 32.3±1.32 35.8±1.62a a,b denotes significant differences in columns within effects 40.0 38.0 Intact 36.0 Castrates 34.0 Ewe lambs 32.0 30.0 28.0 26.0 Least square means (kg) 24.0 22.0 20.0 18.0 16.0 14.0 12.0 10.0 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Age (month) Figure 1. The effect of 'sex' on growth performance of Horro lambs Carcass measurements Overall means of carcass weight were 6.2 kg, 12.1 kg and 17.3 kg at 6-, 9- and 12-month of age respectively. The corresponding dressing percentages were 43.5, 46.8 and 47.4, respectively. Sex had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on carcass traits measured at different ages except for dressing percentage at 6month of age, head weight and fore quarter at 9- and 12-month of age and kidney fat at 9-month of age. At 6month of age ewe lambs had higher dressing percentage than both intact and castrates (43.6 ± 0.62, 40.8 ± 0.63 and 43.1 ± 0.63, respectively). Intact ram lambs had heavier head (p < 0.05) than those of castrates and ewe lambs (1.7 ± 0.12 kg, 1.4 ± 0.12 kg and 1.1 ± 0.12 kg at 9-month of age and 1.8 ± 0.11 kg, 1.6 ± 0.11 kg and 1.2 ± 0.11 kg at 12-month of age, respectively). Ewe lambs had more kidney fat (p < 0.05) than those of castrates and intact ram lambs at 9-month of age (0.21 ± 0.03 kg, 0.11 ± 0.02 kg and 0.08 ± 0.03 kg, respectively) and tended to be higher both in omental and kidney fats than castrates and intact rams at all ages. Ram lambs had heavier skin (at least at p = 0.06) than the other sex groups both at 9- and 12-month of age. Discussion Body weight Liveweight growth performance of Horro lambs in the current study was not significantly different between ‘sexes’ until the age of 12-month. But it was significantly differed between ‘sexes’ at 15-month of age. At 15-month of age, castrates had heavier liveweight than both intact and ewe lambs. Ewe lambs had also lighter liveweight than those of intact and castrated lambs. According to Fourie and Heydenrych (1982), Nagy et al. (1999) and Solomon and Gemeda (2000), the influence of sex on liveweight increased with an increase in age. Such differences might be attributed to the different physiological functions in the two sexes (Rajab et al., 1992). 10th ESAP-Proceedings 101 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Carcass traits In the current study, there was no significant difference in most of the carcass traits measured among ‘sexes’ until 12-month of age. This could indicate that ewe lambs are not less suitable for meat production than castrates or intact ram lambs, when they are slaughtered under 12-month of age. In the present study, the absence of significant effects of castration on carcass traits measured possibly because the ages were early in terms of mature weights; and differences may still appear if the animals were slaughtered at latter ages. According to Solomon and Gemeda (2000), the growth curve of Horro sheep shows that maturity is achieved at about 3-years of age. In addition, intact compared with castrate growth and composition differences are greater when animals are well fed (Mahgoub and Lodge, 1994). Dressing percentage was increased with age. The increase in dressing percentage with age is due to higher growth rates of carcass tissues, especially muscle and fat, and the slower growth of early developing parts (Hammond, 1932 as cited by Gaili et al., 1972). According to Gaili et al. (1972), dressing percentage is dependent not only on age but also on the state of the animal. In the present study, though not significant, dressing percentage was greater in castrates than in intact and ewe lambs. Lower dressing percentage in intact males than in castrates were reported for Horro sheep (Demisse et al., 1989). There were indications of some sex differences in pattern of deposition of fat. Fore instance, ewe lambs had higher kidney and Omental fats than castrates and intact lambs. Intact rams had heavier skin than the other groups. The higher proportions of the skin in intact males can be partially attributed to their relatively heavier hair cover (particularly around the neck region) compared to the short hair of those of castrates and ewe lambs. In Goats, Mahgoub and Lodge (1996) reported that sex differences in the neck and shoulder regions may be attributed to some of the intrinsic muscles which were developed in bucks than in does. This may also holds true in the current study. Mahgoub and Lodge (1994) also suggested that limb bones are less retarded by castration than is the axial skeleton. Conclusions Differences in carcass measurements caused by ‘sex’ are small and unlikely to have significant commercial implications on meat production from this sheep breed before a year of age. Thus, ewe lambs could be used as important as that of intact or castrates for the purpose of meat production until a year of age; while later than this age intact rams or castrates are advisable for meat production. Acknowledgments Our special thanks are due to Mr. Birhan Feleke and Birhanu Soboka who had put much effort in data collection and management of the experimental animals. References Cameron, R.M., Sahlu, T., Gilchrist C., Hart S. and Coleman S. 1998. The effect of age and sex on production and carcass characteristics of growing Spanish X Boer kids. Goat field day. In: Proceedings of Agricultural Research and Extension program. April 1-25, 1998. Langston, Oklahoma 7305. Demissie Tiyo, Kassahun Awgichew and Yohannes Gijjam. 1989. Comparison of castrated and entire Horro male lambs for growth and fattening ability under various plane of feeding regimes. In: Proceedings of the Second National Livestock Improvement Conference. 24-26 February 1988. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Fourie, A. J. and Heydenryich, H. J. 1982. Phenotypic and genetic aspects of production in the Dohne Merino I. The influence of non-genetic factors on production traits. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 12: 57 - 60. Gaili, E. S. E., Ghanem, Y. S. and Mukhtar, A. M. S. 1972. A comparative study of some carcass characteristics of Sudan Desert sheep and goats. Anim. Prod. 14; 351 – 357. Mahgoub, O. and Lodge, G. A. 1994. Growth and body composition of Omani local sheep. 2. Growth and distribution of musculature and skeleton. Anim. Prod. 58: 373 - 379. 102 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Mahgoub, O. and Lodge, G. A. 1996. Growth and body composition in meat production of Omani Batina goats. Small Rumin. Res. 19: 233 - 246. Nagy, I., Solkner, J., Komlosi, I. and Safar, L. 1999. Genetic parameters of reproduction and fertility traits in Hungarian Merino sheep. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 116: 399 - 413. Owen, J.B., 1976. Factors influencing the pattern of Growth and Development in lambs. Sheep production. Bailliere Tindall. PP 66. Rajab, M. H., Cartwright, T. C., Dahm, P. F. and Figueiredo, E. A. P. 1992. Performance of three tropical Hair sheep breeds. J. Anim. Sci. 70: 3351 - 3359. SAS, 1996. SAS User’s Guide, Statistics. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute, Inc., Carry, North Carolina, USA. Snyman, M. A., Olivier, J. J., Erasmus, G. J. and Van Wyk, J. B. 1997. Genetic parameter estimates for total weight of lamb weaned in Afrino and Merino sheep. Livest. Prod. Sci. 48: 111 - 116. Solomon Abegaz and Gemeda Duguma. 2000. Genetic and phenotypic parameters of growth, reproductive and survival performance of Horro sheep at Bako Agricultural Research Center. Research Fellowship Report. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Solomon Gizaw and Solomon Abegaz. 1995. Changes in carcass characteristics of Horro rams with increasing age and body weight under different feeding regimes. In: proceedings of the Third National Conference of the Ethiopian society of Animal Production. 27-29 April 1995. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P 233-239. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 103 Effects of sire and dam breed genotypes on preweaning traits of calves in indigenous (Boran and Barka) and indigenous X Bos Taurus crossbred cattle. Hailu Dadi Adami Tullu Research Center, P. O. Box 35. Adami Tullu, Ethiopia Abstract The influence of sire and dam breed genotypes on birth weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and weaning weight (WW) in calves of Boran (B), Barka (K) and crosses of these indigenous with Bos Taurus (Friesian (F), Jersey (J), Simmental (S)) were investigated. BW of calves sired by Friesian bulls were significantly heavier (P<0.05) than calves sired by Jersey, Boran, Barka, 1/2B1/2F and 1/2K1/2J bulls. Calves from Simmental were 4.5kg heavier (P<0.05) than calves sired by Barka. Calves from 1/2B1/2J-crossbred sires were 3.7kg heavier at birth than purebred Jersey sires. ADG and WW of Barka sired calves were significantly (P<0.05) different from Bos Taurus breed sires. Calves from 1/2B1/2S and 1/2B1/2F dams were heavier at birth than calves from 1/2B1/2J, 1/2K1/2J, Boran and Barka dams, but not significantly different from 1/2K1/2F calves. The result also indicated that ADG and WW of Barka dams were superior (P<0.05) to Boran dams. Keywords: crossbreeding, sire genotype, dam genotype, preweaning traits. Introduction Crossbreeding has been proposed for genetic improvement in tropical environment. This approach particularly in commercial production condition has become widely accepted by producers as a means of improving productivity (Harwin, 1989). Crossbreeding combines two or more breeds selected for their economically important traits to optimize simultaneously the use of heterosis and breed differences (Long, 1980; Bourdon, 2000). As described by Bourdon (2000) the important question concerning improving production in the future are not whether or not crossbreeding systems will be applied, but rather what breeds should be used in different crossbreeding systems in different production conditions. This is also a big concern in Ethiopia. The breed of sires and dams used in crossbreeding influence birth and weaning weights of their progenies. Birth weight has been studied thoroughly principally because of its association with dystocia and subsequent reduction in productivity (Smith et al., 1976; Notter et al., 1978). Breed type also has a pronounced influence on weaning weight of calves. Weaning weight is approximately two-third the result of milking ability of the dam and one-third the result of the inherent growth potential of the calf (Harwin, 1989). Producers need information concerning the productivity of breeds and breed combinations under a wide range of production conditions. The reason is that different genotypes are not expected to perform similarly under all environments mainly due to genotype-environmental interactions (Bourdon, 2000). Hence, the relative productive performances of breed and breed combinations should be evaluated in different feeding systems as well as environments. The aim of this study therefore was to evaluate the influence of sire and dam genotypes on birth weight, average daily gain and weaning weight of calves under semi-arid environment. Materials and methods Data were obtained from a crossbred cattle herd of the Adami Tullu Research Center and consists of 377 Birth and weaning weight records collected from 1974 to 1981. The crossbreeding program was started in 1974 with the first initial crosses (F1). Five foundation sire breeds were included in the initial crossbreeding programs (Viz. Friesian (F), Jersey (J), Simmental (S), Boran (B) and Barka (K)), and later F1 sires were mated to F1 dams to produce F2 offspring. In this scenario the Bos taurus sires were also mated to F1 females to produce backcross animals. The initial females were Boran and Barka, which were purchased from local markets. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 105 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production The aim of this crossbreeding program was to produce various combinations of two breed crosses of animals in order to find superior genotypes under semi-arid conditions. Friesian and Jersey represented large frame and small frame dairy breeds, respectively. Simmental represented large breed of beef cattle. Boran and Barka are indigenous cattle types. The herd was mainly raised on natural pastures (dominated by pennesitum and cinchrus grass species with scattered acacia trees) supplemented with silage, bone meal, concentrate and salt when necessary. Calves were weaned at six months of age. Calves born to Boran and Barka cows were allowed to suckle their dams while calves of crossbred cows were fed on limited amount of milk using buckets. Females were artificially inseminated and bulls were also used as required. Age at first insemination and dam age were not available; for this reason dam age was not included in the analysis. In several crossbreeding programs the influence of dam age on growth traits were well documented (Alenda et al., 1980, Dillard et al., 1980, Van Zyl, 1990, Hailu, 2001). Although dams were calved almost throughout the year, about 42.2% of calves were born during the dry season (November to February) while the rest were born during the wet season (July to October) and short rains (March to June). Statistical analysis The characteristics of the data set are presented in Table 1. Records of animals that were incomplete or animal with suspect genotype/breed identity were excluded from the analysis. Data were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedures of Statistical Analysis System (SAS) (1999). All factors and their interactions that had no (P>0.05) influence on birth weight, average daily gain and weaning weight were excluded from the final analysis according to a step down procedure. Where Yijklmn = the weight of the nth calf of ith sire and jth dam Yijklmn = µ+Gi +Dj+Sk+Yl+Nm+eijklmn th th genotype and k sex born in the l year and mth season, (µ= Population mean, Gi=sire genotype (i=1,2…9), Dj = dam genotype (j=1,2…7), Sk= sex of calf (k =1,2), Yl=year of birth (l=1,2…8), Nm= season of birth (m=1,2,3), eijklmn= residual error. All factors in the model were taken to be fixed, except the residual effect. Table 1. Characteristics of the data set Trait N Minimum Birth weight (kg) 377 9.0 Average daily gain (kg) 377 0.19 Weaning weight (kg) 377 53 Maximum 38.0 1.03 212 Mean 24.88 0.59 132.20 The model fitted included the effects of sire genotype, dam genotype, sex of calf, year of birth and season of birth: Result and discussions Analysis of variance for BW, ADG and WW are presented in Table 2. All the factors in the model contributed significantly in explaining the variation in BW, ADG and WW, with the exception of sex and season on BW (P>0.05). Table 2. Analyses of variances for BW, ADG and WW of calves. Source Year Season of birth Sex of calf Sire genotype Dam genotype DF 7 2 1 8 6 R2 model (%) CV (%) BW F value ADG F value WW F value 3.46** 0.26ns 1.00ns 11.02*** 5.10*** 19.86*** 5.93** 6.31** 5.47*** 22.22*** 18.57*** 5.61** 6.45** 7.62*** 17.48*** 39 14.40 68 16.89 66 14.57 . **, *** P<0.01and P<0.001, respectively; ns, non-significant Year was a significant factor for all three traits. Other authors have reported year to be a significant source of variation influencing BW and WW (Gray et al., 1978; Thrift et al., 1978; Skrypzeck et al., 2000) and ADG (Cundiff et al., 1974a, b; Dillard et al., 1980; Paterson et al., 1980). The non-significant influence of season on BW is in accordance with the results of Paterson et al. (1980) and Tawah et al. (1993). The response in ADG and WW to season effect is in agreement with the reports of Tawonezvi et al. (1988) and Skrypzeck et 106 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction al. (2000). Sex was not significant for BW, this is in contrast to those reported by other workers (Thrift et al., 1978; Paterson et al., 1980; Van Zyl, 1990; Plasse et al., 1995) but in agreement with Tawah et al. (1993) for Gudali cattle. Male calves were significantly superior at weaning, and also grow faster than the female calves (Table 3). Table 3. Least squares means and standard errors (SE) for BW, ADG and WW of calves by sex of calves. Sex n BW (kg) ±SE ADG (kg) ±SE WW (kg) ±SE Male 199 25.25±0.31a 0.52±0.01a 118.26±2.12a Female 178 24.86±0.39a 0.48±0.01b 112.98±2.30b Means with different superscript are significantly different at P<0.05 Sire genotype. The effect of sire genotype on all pre-weaning traits was highly significant (P<0.001) (Table 3), and it accounted for 16.6, 3.9 and 5.9% of variation in BW, ADG and WW, respectively. Several studies reported the significant influence of sire breed on BW of calves (Laster et al., 1973; Smith et al., 1976; Paterson et al., 1980; Van Zyl, 1990; Hailu, 2001), which is consistent with the present results. Least squares means for BW, ADG and WW of calves by sire genotype are presented in Table 4. Calves sired by Friesian bulls were 5.1kg heavier (P<0.05) at birth than calves sired by 1/2B1/2F bulls. Calves sired by Friesian bulls were also 2.3, 5 and 4.2kg heavier (P<0.05) at birth than calves sired by Boran, Barka and Jersey bulls, respectively. The difference in BW of calves by the Boran and Barka bulls was significant, the Boran calves being 2.7kg heavier. The lowest BW found was 22.6kg for calves sired by 1/2B1/2F. No explanation was available from the data, but it may reflect the direct additive effect of the Friesian bulls. With respect to this Cunningham and Magee (1988) reported a negative estimate for calves of Friesian bulls in a study on genetic effects of preweaning traits in crossbred calves. It also depends on dam genotype, type of environment and dam age (which was not included in the model). Calves born to Simmental and Boran and 1/2B1/2S bulls were not significantly different at birth. Calves sired by Simmental were 4.5kg heavier (P<0.05) than calves sired by Barka bulls. Calves sired by 1/2B1/2J bulls were 3.7kg heavier (p<0.05) than the Jersey sired calves. On the other hand, the difference was not statistically significant for calves sired by 1/2K1/2J and Jersey bulls. Simmental and Friesian sired calves are known to experience significantly more calving difficulty than those are from Jersey sires (Laster et al., 1973; Notter et al., 1978) and this can be explained by the bigger BW. Smith et al. (1976) and Laster et al. (1973) found that calves sired by Jersey bulls had lower BW than calves sired by other Bos Taurus sire breeds. Percent calving difficulty was 6.5 and 32.7% in Jersey and Simmental sired calves, respectively (Laster et al. 1973). Schoeman et al. (2000) reported that increasing the genetic proportion of Simmental in a multibreed beef cattle population increased BW almost linearly with increasing Simmental proportion. In another investigation carried out by Lawlor, et al. (1984) increasing Simmental breeding level in crossbreeding also increased BW of crossbred progenies. The reason for this could be related to the large direct additive effects of the Simmental sires. Direct additive effect contribution for BW were positive for Simmental (Skrypzeck et al., 2000) while Cunninghum and Magee (1988) reported a negative direct genetic effect for BW relative to the breeds with which it was compared. According to the results of Skrypzeck et al. (2000) using this breed as a sire breed in crossbreeding systems may result in increased BW of crossbred progenies. Several crossbreeding studies revealed that high BW is associated with high incidence of dystocia (Laster et al., 1973; Smith et al., 1976; Burfening et al., 1978; Tawnezvie et al., 1988) and subsequent reduction in productivity, which is undesirable. Because of this, sire breed effects on BW should be carefully evaluated before initiating large-scale use of large Bos taurus sire breeds in crossbreeding systems, particularly on Bos indicus dams. Weaning weight and ADG of calves sired by Barka bulls were less (p<0.05) than those of calves by purebred Bos taurus, Boran and 1/2B1/2F sires, and ADG and WW of calves sired by Boran bulls were lighter (P<0.05) than Friesian and Simmental sired calves. The relatively higher WW of calves sired by Simmental bulls is in accordance with other investigations (Paterson et al., 1980; Van Zyl, 1990; Skrypzeck et al., 2000). The direct additive effect contributions of Simmental for WW were positive (Cunninghum and 10th ESAP-Proceedings 107 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Magee, 1988; Skrypzeck et al., 2000). For Friesian, Cunninghum and Magee (1980) also reported a positive estimate for direct effect. According to McDonald and Turner (1972) direct effects may account for a large portion of the explainable variation in WW than heterosis. Even in certain crossbred calves there is a probability of obtaining negative heterotic effects for WW and ADG (Dillard et al., 1980). In such cases complementarity of breeds and sequence of their application should be carefully considered when selecting breeds for crossbreeding. Large differences in WW can be expected in systematic rotational crossbreeding systems depending on the sequence of sire breeds (Alenda et al., 1980). In general, differences between sire genotype mated to Barka, Boran and crossbred dams in this study indicate differences in direct additive effect exhibited in the crossbred progenies, although environmental influences are vital. Table 4. Least squares means and standard errors (SE) for BW, ADG and WW of calves by sire genotype. Sire genotype n Indigenous Boran (B) Barka (K) Bos taurus Friesian (F) Jersey (J) Simmental (S) Crossbred 1/2B1/2S 1/2B1/2F 1/2B1/2J 1/2K1/2J BW(kg) ± SE ADG(kg) ) ± SE WW(kg) ±SE 23 27 25.52±0.95bd 22.82±0.93c 0.49±0.03ce 0.42±0.03d 114.30±5.04bd 99.01±4.96c 103 98 75 27.77±0.62 a 23.59±0.61c 27.28±0.49 ab 0.54±0.02ab 0.48±0.02ce 0.55±0.02a 125.58±3.28a 110.30±3.27 bd 126.85±3.99a 14 12 15 10 25.03±1.66abcd 22.63±1.65cd 27.30±1.77ab 23.58±2.00bcd 0.51± 0.05abcd 0.56± 0.05abe 0.47±0.05abcd 0.48 ±0.06abcd 117.64±8.83 abc 124.08±8.81ab 112.44±9.47 abcd 110.36±10.67 abcd Means with the same superscript are not significantly different at P>0.05 Dam genotype. The influence of dam genotype on the three traits of calves was highly significant (P<0.001) (Table 2). This is in accordance with the results of Paterson et al. (1980) and Van Zyl (1990). Dam genotype only explained 5.3, 11.9 and 10.1% of variation in BW, ADG and WW, respectively. Maternal influences were larger for ADG and WW than BW while the influence of sires were larger for BW. Least squares means of these traits for calves by dam genotype are presented in Table 5. At birth, the progeny of 1/2B1/2S and 1/2B1/2F dams were significantly (P<0.05) larger than those of Jersey derivative and indigenous dams. Calves from 1/2B1/2S dams were 4.5kg heavier (P<0.05) at birth than calves from Boran dams. Calves from Barka dams were 3.6kg less than calves from 1/2K1/2F dams. Another noticeable feature in this study was the non-significance of differences between the calves from indigenous dams and those from the 1/2K1/2J and 1/2B1/2J. As a purebred, the Boran and Barka dams were noted for the production of smaller calves, even when calves were sired by Bos taurus breeds. Barka dams produced the heavier (P<0.05) calves at weaning than Boran dams. This suggests that Barka dams were superior in maternal ability, indicating better suitability as maternal line for such crossbreeding. No significance differences were observed between crossbred dams for ADG and WW performances of calves. Table 5. Least squares means and standard errors (SE) for BW, ADG and WW of calves by dam genotype. Dam genotype Indigenous Boran (B) Barka (K) Crossbred 1/2K1/2F 1/2B1/2S 1/2B1/F 1/2B1/2J 1/2K1/2J n BW(kg)±SE ADG(kg)±SE WW(kg)±SE 144 138 *23.44±0.48b *23.60±0.48b 0.63±0.01a 0.67±0.01b 137.55±2.59a 144.00±2.52b 10 22 23 24 16 27.17±1.32ac 27.94±1.45 a 28.01±1.23 a 21.83±1.36 b 23.41±1.60bc 0.46 ±0.04 c 0.44±0.04c 0.42±0.03c 0.44±0.04c 0.45±0.05c 109.99± 7.00c 107.80± 7.70c 104.35± 6.57c 101.80± 7.22c 103.84± 8.52c Means with different superscripts are significantly different at P<0.05 * calves born to Boran and Barka cows were allowed to suckle their dams where as those of crossbred cows were bucket-fed limited amount of milk. In this crossbreeding project crossbred dams were also evaluated for their milk production performances; as a result calves from crossbred dams were fed limited amount of milk using bucket, whereas Boran and 108 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Barka dams were allowed to suckle their dam until six months of age. Due to this, the indigenous dams were not compared with the crossbred dams for ADG and WW, and the least squares means are presented only to indicate the overall performances of the crossbred dam genotypes under this management system for WW and ADG. Conclusion Overall the results of this study show that despite the significance larger BW of some crossbreeds, crossbreeding did not lead to improvement either in ADG or WW under these management conditions. On the other hand the choice of sire breed in crossbreeding should be done to complement those characters that are weak in Boran and Barka dams by additive means and to utilize heterotic genetic effects. Further investigations involving other traits like calving ease, carcass and cow efficiency traits should be considered in future evaluations. References Alenda, R., Martin, T.G., Lasley, J.F. and Ellersieck, M.R., 1980. Estimation of genetic and maternal effects in crossbred cattle of Angus, Charolais and Hereford parentage. I. Birth and weaning weights. J. Anim. Sci. 50, 226. Bourdon, R. M., 2000. Understanding animal breeding. 2nded. Prentice Hall. New Jersey. Burfening, P.J., Kress, D.D., Friedrich, R.L. and Vaniman, D.D., 1978. Phenotypic and genetic relationships between calving ease, gestation length, birth weight and preweaning growth. J. Anim. Sci. 47, 595. Cundiff, L.V., Gregory, K.E. and Koch, R.M., 1974a. Effect of heterosis on reproduction in Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 38, 711. CUNDIFF, L.V., GREGORY, K.E., SCHWULST, F.J. and KOCH, R.M., 1974b. Effects of heterosis on maternal performance and milk production in Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 38, 728. Cunningham, B.E. and Magee, W.T., 1988. Breed-direct, breed-maternal and non-additive genetic effects for preweaning traits in crossbred calves. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 68, 83. Dillard, E.U., Rodriquez, O. and Robison, O.W., 1980. Estimation of additive and nonadditive direct and maternal genetic effects from crossbreeding beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 50, 653. Gray, E.F., Thrift, F.A. and Absher, C.W., 1978. Heterosis expression for preweaning traits under commercial beef cattle conditions. J. Anim. Sci. 47, 370. Hailu Dadi. 2001. Genetic parameter estimates for weaning traits in a multibreed beef cattle population. MSc Thesis, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Harwin, G.O., 1989. Strategies for beef production in South Africa. A selection of lectures. Stock Owners Cooperative limited, South Africa. Laster, D.B., Glimp,H.A., Cundiff, L.V. and Gregory, K.E., 1973. Factors affecting dystocia and the effects of dystocia on subsequent reproduction in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 36, 695. Lawlor, T.J., Kress, D.D., Doornbos, D.E. and Anderson, D.C., 1984. Performances of crosses among Hereford, Angus and Simmental cattle with different levels of Simmental breeding. I. Preweaning growth and survival. J. Anim. Sci. 58, 1321. Long, R., 1980. Crossbreeding for beef production: Experimental results. J. Anim. Sci. 51, 1197. Mcdonald, R.P. and Turner, J.W., 1972. Estimation of maternal heterosis in preweaning traits of beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 35, 1146. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 109 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Notter, D.R., Cundiff, L.V., Smith, G.M., Laster, D.B. and Gregory, K.E., 1978. Characterisation of biological types of cattle. VI. Transmitted and maternal effects on birth and survival traits in progeny of young cows. J. Anim. Sci. 46, 892. Paterson, A.G., Venter, H.A.W. and Harwin, G.O., 1980. Preweaning growth of British, Bos indicus, Charolais and dualpurpose type cattle under intensive pasture condition. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 10, 125. Plasse, D., Fossi, H., Hoogesteijn, R., Verde, O., Rodrĺguez, R., Rodrĺguez, M.C. and Bastidas, P., 1995. Growth of F1 Bos taurus X Bos indicus versus Bos indicus beef cattle in Venezuela. I. Weights at birth, weaning and 18 months. J. Anim. Breed. Genet. 112, 117. SAS (Statistical Analysis system) 1999, by SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA.. Schoeman, S.J., Jordaan, G.F. and Skrypzeck, H., 2000. The influence of proportion of Simmentaler breeding in a multibreed synthetic beef cattle population on preweaning growth traits. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 30, 98. Skrypzeck, H., Schoeman, S.J., Jordaan, G.F. and Neser, F.W.C., 2000. Estimates of crossbreeding parameters in a multibreed beef cattle crossbreeding project. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 30, 193. Smith, G.M., Laster, D.B. and Gregory, K.E., 1976. Characteriation of biological types of cattle. I. Dystocia and preweaning growth. J. Anim. Sci. 43, 27. Tawah, C.L., Mbah, D.A., Rege, J.E.O. and Oumate, H., 1993. Genetic evaluation of birth and weaning weight of Guddli and two-breed synthetic Wakwa beef cattle populations under selection in Cameroon. Genetic and phenotypic parameters. Anim. Prod. 57, 73 Tawonezvi, H.P.R., Ward, H.K., Trail, J.C.M. and Light, D., 1988. Evaluation of beef breeds for rangeland weaner production in Zimbabwe. I. Productivity of purebred cows. Anim. Prod. 47, 351. Thrift, F.A., Gallion, S.R. and Absher, C.W., 1978. Breed sire and dam comparison for preweaning traits under commericial beef cattle condition. J. Anim. Sci. 46, 977. Van Zyl, J.G., 1990. Studies on performance and efficiency of pure and crossbred cattle in an arid bushveld environment. Ph.D. thesis. University of Pretoria. 110 10th ESAP-Proceedings Reproduction efficiency of zebu and crossbred cows as measured by the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals at Bako Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes1, Azage Tegegne2, M.L.Diedhiou2. and B.P. Hegde3 1 2 3 Bako Agricultural Research Centre, P. O. Box 3, Bako International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa Alemaya University, P. O. Box 138, Dire Dawa Abstract The study was conducted to evaluate the reproduction efficiency of zebu and crossbred cows measured by the interestrus and inter-service intervals using data from Bako Agricultural Research Center. The overall mean inter-estrus and inter-service intervals were 44.3 ± 0.85 and 49.1 ± 1.24 days, respectively. Comparison of the sire breeds indicated that the Jersey crosses had significantly (p < 0.00) the shortest inter-estrus (43.9 ± 2.57 days) and interservice (41.8 ± 4.01 days) interval compared to the other sire breeds. The Boran and the Horro had the longest interestrus (51.2 ± 3.10 days) and inter-service (62.2 ± 2.92 days) intervals, respectively. Neither the crossbred nor the zebu cows significantly differed among each other in both traits. As a dam breed, the Horro was not significantly (p > 0.05) different from Boran in inter-estrus and inter-service intervals. Cows in the first parity had significantly (p < 0.001) the longest (55.8 ± 2.61 days), while cows in the sixth parity had the shortest (40.3 ± 2.25 days) inter-estrus interval, while the effect of parity on inter-service interval was not significant (p > 0.05) The first inter-service interval was significantly (p < 0.01) the longest (64.2 ± 3.91 days) compared to subsequent inter-service intervals. The longest (p < 0.001) inter-service interval was observed in 1997 (68.6 ± 7.32 days) and the shortest was recorded in 1998 (33.5 ± 13.06 days),.while the longest inter-estrus was recorded for cows that calved in 1991 (73.9 ± 6.07 days) and the shortest for 1985 (30.4 ± 4.17 days) Distribution of the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals into different estrus cycle length categories indicated that 43.2 and 42 % of the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals were within the normal (18 to 24 days) range of estrus cycle, while 13 and 5.6 percent were short (<17 days) and 38.8 and 45.4 percent were long (>36 days), respectively. The inter-estrus interval was significantly longer (p < 0.05) than the inter-service interval. From this study, it can be concluded that the prolonged inter-estrus and inter-service intervals could be due to poor heat detection, poor breeding and probably early embryonic mortality. Thus, improving the heat detection and breeding efficiency and identification of the causes of early embryonic mortality might enable in improvement of the overall reproductive efficiency of the farm. Introduction An indication of the general efficiency of estrous detection may be obtained by recording the interval between successive inseminations of the same cow provided it is known that the cow has not been served meanwhile and that the second insemination was successful. Failure to conceive could be due to either fertilization did not take place, even though the cow was in estrous, or fertilization did take place, but the embryo failed to survive or the cow was not on heat when served (Wood, 1976). The inter-estrous and inter-service intervals help in evaluating estrous detection efficiency and embryonic mortality. If estrous detection is accurate, the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals should be either 18 to 24 days or 38 to 45 days and at least 60% of second estrus should be in these intervals. If not then the presumption is that at least one of the two cycles was incorrectly detected or early embryonic death has occurred (Radostits et al., 1994). The mean estrus cycle of a cow is 21 days (Val-vilho, 1986). However, the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals from different studied (Mukasa-Mugerwa et al., 1991) are longer than 21 days. This was affected by breed of the cow (Mekonnen Haile-Mariam and Goshu Mekonnen, 1996), management (Yoseph Mekasha et al., 2000) and other factors (Zakari et al., 1981). Therefore, this indicates that depending on the genotype used, management followed and other genetic and non-genetic factors, determination of the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals will serve as a guide to improve the herd reproductive efficiency. Thus, this study was based on the objectives of evaluating the reproduction 10th ESAP-Proceedings 111 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production efficiency using the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals and suggest possible improvement interventions. Materials and methods Inter-estrus (interval between two consecutive estruses in a lactation) and inter-service interval (interval between two consecutive services in a lactation) were studied to evaluate the reproduction efficiency of the farm using data from the Bako Agricultural Research Center. Details of Bako Agricultural Research Center climate, herd management, feeding and health care are indicated in previous works (Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes and Mulugeta Kebede, 1996).Heifers were bred at least at two years of age when they attained a body weight of 200 kg. Heat detection was based on daily visual observation (6-8 am and 5-6 pm) by a trained inseminator and throughout the grazing time by the herdsmen. Cows and heifers observed in heat were bred either naturally (local or crossbred bull) or inseminated either with frozen Friesian, Jersey or Simmental semen purchased from Kality National Artificial Insemination Center. Those that were bred and hence, not returned to estrus were checked for pregnancy after two months. Postpartum breeding took place after 45 days of voluntary waiting period. Data from pure Boran, pure Horro and their F1 crosses with Jersey, Friesian and Simmental exotic sire breeds were used to study the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals. Five sire breeds (Jersey for Boran x Jersey and Horro x Jersey; Simmental for Boran Simmental and Horro x Simmental; Friesian for Boran x Friesian and Horro x Friesian; pure Boran and pure Horro); two dam breeds (Boran and Horro; Boran as a dam breed for pure Boran and its crosses with Friesian, Jersey and Simmental; and Horro as a dam breed for pure Horro and its crosses with Friesian, Jersey and Simmental); six parities (1 to 6; with the sixth parity including parities six and above pooled together); four calving season categories based on the centers meteorological data (season one (high rainfall, June - August), season two (medium rainfall, good natural pasture an aftermath grazing, September - November), season three (dry season, poor natural pasture and aftermath grazing, December - February) and season four (short rainy season with limited grazing, March - May)); 19 calving years (1980 to 1998) and six inter-service interval categories (1 to 6 classes; this refers to the nth inter-service interval in a lactation for cows with repeated services). Data from both artificially inseminated and naturally mated cows and heifers were considered. Inter-estrus and inter-service were analyzed using the General Linear Model of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 1999). The model included the fixed effects of sire breed, dam breed, parity, calving season, calving year and inter-service classes. Result and discussion Inter-estrus interval The overall mean inter-estrus interval was 44.3 ± 0.85 days (Table 1). The accepted mean length of estrus cycle for a cow is approximately 21 days (Vale-Filho et al., 1986). However, the inter-estrus interval obtained in this study (44.3 ± 0.85 days) was longer than the estrus cycle (Alberro, 1983; Llewlyn et al., 1987; Mattoni et al., 1988; Pleasant and McCall, 1993) and inter-estrus interval (Gemechu Wirtu, 1992) reported from previous studies. Nevertheless, it is shorter than the inter-estrus interval reported by Mekonnen HaileMariam and Goshu Mekonnen (1996) and Yoseph Mekasha et al. (2000) for different breeds and managements. This difference could be related to differences in heat detection efficiency, breeding management employed and genotypes used for the different studies. Besides, longer inter-estrus interval could be due to missed heat or undetected heat as a result of shorter duration of estrus (Mattoni et al., 1988), prolongation of the luteal phase (Llewlyn et al., 1987) and other genetic and non-genetic factors (Zakari et al., 1981; Alberro, 1983). Horro (50.1 ± 2.09 days) and Boran (51.2 ± 3.10 days) as a sire breed showed significantly (p < 0.05) longer inter-estrus interval than the Jersey crosses. Neither the crossbred nor the zebu sire breeds significantly differed among/between each other. The sire breed effect observed in this study is consistent with the reports of Mattoni et al. (1988), Garcia et al. (1990), Imtiaz et al. (1992) and Mekonnen Haile-Mariam and 112 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Goshu Mekonnen (1996) but contradicts with the reports of Zakari et al. (1981), Gemechu Wirtu (1992) and Pleasants and McCall (1993). Mekonnen Haile-Mariam and Goshu Mekonnen (1996) reported inter-estrus interval of 118 ± 25.9 days for Barca, 65.8 ± 10.8 days for Barca x Friesian crosses and 67.2 ± 12.2 days for Boran x Friesian crosses. Zakari et al. (1981), however, reported non-significant breed variations in estrus cycle length for Bunaji (22.9 ± 0.7 day) and Bokoloji (23.8 ± 0.65 day) cattle. Similarly, Gemechu Wirtu (1992) reported that the Boran and Boran x Friesian crossbred cows were not significantly different in inter-estrus interval. Cows in the first parity had significantly (p < 0.001) the longest (55.8 ± 2.61 days) while cows in the sixth parity had the shortest (40.3 ± 2.25 days) inter-estrus interval. This difference could be related to maturity of the cow. The longest inter-estrus was recorded for cows that calved in 1991 (73.9 ± 6.07 days) and the shortest for 1985 (30.4 ± 4.17 days; Figure 1). The distribution of inter-estrus interval (Table 3) into different estrus cycle length categories showed that 43.2% of the inter-estrus intervals were within the normal range (18 to 24 days) of the estrus cycle, while 23.4% were abnormally long (>48 days) and 13.0% were short (<18 days). Inter-service interval The overall least square mean inter-service interval was 49.1 ± 1.24 days (Table 2). This is comparable to the 44.4 ± 15.6 and 65.8 ± 16.1 days reported for crossbred cows on the experimental and private farms (Garcia et al., 1990), 53 ± 40 days for Arsi cows (Mukasa-Mugerwa et al., 1991b) and 59.6 ± 4.8 days (Gemechu Wirtu, 1992) for Boran and crossbred cows. Horro as a sire breed had significantly (p < 0.001) the longest (62.2 ± 2.92 days), while the Jersey crosses had the shortest inter-service interval (41.8 ± 4.01 days). Among the crossbreds the Simmental crosses had significantly (p < 0.001) the longest (51.3 ± 3.15 days), while the Jersey crosses the shortest inter-service interval. The Horro, as a dam breed, was not significantly (p > 0.05) different from the Boran cows. Similar breed difference was reported by Garcia et al. (1990). Garcia et al.(1990) reported 25 days shorter interservice interval in what they called undefined crossbred cows compared to European x Zebu animals, while Gemechu Wirtu (1992) did not find breed variation between Boran and Boran Friesian cows. Figure 1 showed least square mean inter-estrus and inter-service intervals across years. Significantly (p < 0.001) the longest inter-service interval was observed in 1997 (68.6 ± 7.32 days) and the shortest was recorded in 1998 (33.5 ± 13.06 days; Figure 1). Mukasa-Mugerwa et al. (1991b) reported year effect on first service interval. The variations among the calving years could be related to differences in breeding management and herd composition. Table 1. Least square mean (± SE) inter-oestrus interval Source Overall mean N Inter-estrus interval 2697 44.3 ± 0.85 553 44.9 ± 2.32 ab Sire genotypes Friesian crosses * Jersey crosses 437 43.9 ± 2.57 b Simmental crosses 577 46.4 ± 2.16 ab Boran 293 51.2 ± 3.10 a Horro 837 50.1 ± 2.09 a Horro 1743 45.0 ± 1.65 Boran 984 49.6 ± 2.04 1 419 55.8 ± 2.61 a 2 385 46.4 ± 2.65 bc 3 504 49.5 ± 2.29 b 4 520 46.9 ± 2.26 b 5 372 44.9 ± 2.56 bc 6 497 40.3 ± 2.25 c Dam breed NS Parity *** Means in a column within a group with different superscript vary significantly (*** = P < 0.001, * = P < 0.05 and NS = not significant) 10th ESAP-Proceedings 113 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production For cows with repeated services, the first inter-service interval was significantly (p < 0.01) the longest (64.2 ± 3.91 days) compared to the other categories. This difference could be related to the stage of lactation of the cow. The time that the longest interval recorded probably matched with the time of peak milk yield. During the first estrus cycle after parturition there was significantly shorter period when plasma progesterone levels were elevated than during the next two cycles (Webb et al., 1980). This could result in short estrus cycles that could be missed undetected but could have an influence on the inter-service and inter-estrus interval. Frequency distribution of inter-service intervals (Table 3) showed that 42.0% of the inter-service intervals were within the range of 18-24 days and 15.7% within the range of 36-48 days. About 5.6% (<18 days) and 29.7% (>48 days) were abnormal. The observation that 45.4% of the intervals were multiples of the normal (36-48 and >48 days) range suggested that many heats probably occurred at regular intervals. This is consistent with the findings of Garcia et al (1990) who also found that only 36% of the estrus returns were normal, 16% and 8% occurred at 42 and 63 days, respectively. Similarly, Mukasa-Mugerwa et al. (1991a) reported that 35.7% of the heats in Abernosa cows were silent or missed visually and ovarian cyclicity resumed 33 days earlier than externally detected. MacMillan and Watson (1971) also reported that 18% of cows returned to service within 49 days of first insemination were re-mated within the first 17 days. About 5.6% of the cycles were short (<17 days; Table 3). This figure is within the range of 5-9% short cycles reported by Garcia et al. (1990) and Mukasa-Mugerwa et al. (1991b) but lower than the 18% reported by MacMillan and Watson (1971). They reported 31.4% of all short return intervals occurred between 8 to 10 days after first insemination. The proportion of cows within the range of 18-24 and 36-48 days interval obtained were comparable to the 60% reported by Rodostitis et al. (1994). Moreover, Mukasa-Mugerwa et al. (1991b) reported 24.4% and 51.9% of estrus occurred within 18-24 days and within multiples of normal range, respectively. Days Comparison of the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals showed a difference of about five days and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). This indicates that apart from the problems associated with inter-estrus interval, some degree of embryonic mortality might have occurred in the herd. Wood (1976) and Kummerfield et al. (1978) used the proportion of cows returning for insemination after an interval longer than a normal cycle to estimate embryonic mortality. Embryonic mortality of about 5.1% was reported based on progesterone assay (Kummerfield et al., 1978). Diskin and Sreenan (1980) on the other hand, reported 90% fertilization following a single insemination and 93% estimated embryonic survival up to day eight but markedly reduced survival at day 12 (56%), day 16 (66%) and day 42 (58%) and suggested that most embryonic mortality occurred between day 8 and 16. Therefore, the approximately five days difference between the inter-estrus and inter-service intervals are comparable to the 8-9 days reported by Diskin and Sreenan (1980). 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 C alving year IO I IS I Figure 1. Inter-oestrus (IOI) and inter-service (ISI) intervals across calving years. 114 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Table 2. Least square mean (± SE) inter-service interval Source N Overall mean Inter-service interval 1572 49.1 ± 1.24 Friesian crosses 358 48.8 ± 3.33 bc Jersey crosses 218 41.8 ± 4.01 c Simmental crosses 340 51.1 ± 3.15 b Boran 87 55.8 ± 5.88 ab Horro 569 62.2 ± 2.92 a Horro 1147 48.8 ± 2.56 Boran 425 55.1 ± 3.14 1 184 64.2 ± 3.91 a 2 220 54.7 ± 3.66 ab 3 187 52.4 ± 3.99 b 4 145 48.9 ± 4.38 b 5 119 43.9 ± 4.81 b 6 717 47.7 ± 2.58 b Sire breed *** Dam breed NS Inter-service number ** Means in a column within a group with different superscript vary significantly (*** = P < 0.001, ** = P < 0.01 and NS = not significant) Table 3. Frequency distribution of inter-oestrus and inter-service intervals into different oestrus intervals in zebu and crossbred cows Rang Inter-estrus interval N Inter-service interval % N % <3 days 359 6.9 14 3-17 317 6.1 106 4.9 18-24 2241 43.2 901 42.0 25-35 261 5.0 151 7.0 36-48 797 15.4 336 15.7 >48 1215 Total 5190 23.4 100 638 2146 0.7 29.7 100 Conclusion Both inter-estrus and inter-service intervals are used to monitor heat detection efficiency and breeding management of a farm. Both values obtained in this study are very long compared to the normal estrus cycle length of 21 days reported in literature. Besides, the longer inter-estrus interval could also indicate that there was heat missed unobserved. Therefore, improving the heat detection efficiency will undoubtedly improve the reproductive efficiency of the farm. Similarly, the longer inter-service interval apart from the heat detection efficiency is influenced by early embryonic mortality. Hence, require further study to assess when and why embryonic mortality could have had occurred in the herd. Acknowledgements The authors are great full to the Bako Agricultural Research Center for the provision of the data used for this study and the International Livestock Research Institute for the computer facilities provided during the course of the study. References Alberro, M. 1983. Comparative performance of F1 Friesian x Zebu heifers in Ethiopia. Anim. Prod. 37 (2): 247 Diskin, M. G. and Sreenan, J. M. 1980. Fertilization and embryonic mortality rates in beef heifers after artificial insemination. J. Reprod. Fertil. 59: 463 - 468. Garcia, M., Huanca, W. and Echevarria, L. 1990. Reproductive performance of pure bred and crossbred zebu cattle under artificial insemination in Amazon. Anim. Prod. 50 (1): 41 - 49. Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes and Mulugeta Kebede.1996. Fertility of Horro and crossbred (F1) cows at Bako Research Centre. In: ESAP Proceedings of the Fourth National Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP). 18-19 April, 1996. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P. 120-126. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 115 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Gemechu Wirtu. 1992. Evaluation of the reproductive performance and aspects of oestrus phenomenon in zebu and crossbred cattle at ILCA Debre Zeit Research Station. D.V.M. Thesis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University. Imtiaz Hussain, S. M., Fuquay, J. W. and Younas, M. 1992. Estrus cyclicity in lactating and lactating Holsteins and Jerseys during a Pakistani summer. J. Dairy Sci. 75 (11): 2968 - 2975. Kummerfeld, H. L., Oltenacu, E. A. B. and Foote, R. H. 1978. Embryonic mortality in dairy cows estimated by non-return to service, estrus and cyclic milk progesterone patterns. J. Dairy Sci. 61: 1773 - 1777. Llewelyn, C. A., Munro, C. D., Luckins, A. G., Jordt, T., Murray, M. and Lorenzini, E. 1987. Behavioral and ovarian changes during the estrus cycle in the Boran (Bos indicus). Br. Vet. J. 143: 75 - 82. MacMillan, K. L. and Watson, J. D. 1971. Short estrus cycles in New Zealand dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 54 (10): 1526 1529. Mattoni, M., Mukasa Mugerwa, E., Cecchini, G. and Sovani, S. 1988. The reproductive performance of East African (Bos indicus) zebu cattle in Ethiopia 1. Estrus cycle length, duration, behavior and ovulation time. Theriogenology 30 (5): 961 - 971. Mekonnen Haile-Mariam and Goshu Mokonnen. 1996. Reproductive performance of zebu, Friesian and Friesian-Zebu crosses. Trop. Agric (Trinidad) 73 (2): 142 - 147. Michalak, B. W., Beyene Kebede and Galal, E. S. E. 1983. Seasonality in reproductive behavior of local (zebu) and crossbred cows in three locations in Ethiopia. Ethiopian. J. Agric. Sci. 5: 119 - 129. Mukasa-Mugerwa, E., Azage Tegegne and Hiskias Ketema. 1991a. Patterns of postpartum estrus onset and associated plasma progesterone profiles in Bos indicus cows in Ethiopia. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 24: 73 - 84. Mukasa-Mugerwa, E., Azage Tegegne and Yihun Teklu. 1991b. Characterization of service intervals and frequency of short estrus cycles in zebu (Bos indicus) cows in Ethiopia. Reprod. Nutr. Develop. 31: 361 - 367. Pleasants, A. B. and McCall, D. G. 1993. Relationships among post calving anoestrus interval, estrus cycles, conception rates and calving rate in Angus and Hereford x Friesian cows calving in six successive years. Anim. Prod. 56: 187 192. Radostits, O. M., Leslie, K. E. and Fetraw, J. 1994. Herd health and food production medicine. 2nd ed. Saunders Company. Rakha, A. M. and Igboeli, C. 1971. Effect of nutrition, season and age on the estrus cycle of indigenous central African cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 32: 943 - 945. SAS (Statistical Analysis System). 1999. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. Vale-Filho, V. R., Pinheiro, L. E. L. and Basrur, P. K. 1986. Reproduction in zebu cattle. In: Morrow D. A. (ed.), Current therapy in Theriogenology. 2. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of reproductive diseases in small and large animals. Saunders Company. P. 437 - 442. Webb, R., Lamming, G. E., Haynes, N. B. and Foxcroft, G. R. 1980. Plasma progesterone and gonadotrophin concentrations and ovarian activity in postpartum dairy cows. J. Reprod. Fertil. 59: 133 - 143. Wood, P. D. P. 1976. A note on detection of estrus in cattle bred by artificial insemination and the measurement of embryonic mortality. Anim. Prod. 22 (2): 275 - 278. Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and Umunna, N. N. 2000. Characterization of postpartum ovarian activities using milk progesterone profiles in dairy cows in urban/ peri-urban dairy production systems. In: ESAP (Ethiopian Society of Animal Production) Proceedings of Seventh Annual Conference of ESAP, 26 - 27 May 1999, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P. 307 - 319 116 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Zakari, A. Y., Molokwa, E. C. I. and Osori, D. I. K. 1981. Effects of season on the estrus cycle of cows (Bos indicus) indigenous to northern Nigeria. Vet. Record 109 (11): 213 - 214. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 117 Reproductive and growth performance of Fogera cattle and their F1 Friesian crosses at Metekel ranch, Ethiopia Addisu Bitew1 and B.Prabhakar Hegede2 1 2 Bure Agricultural Development Office, P.O.Box 3, West Gojjam, Ethiopia Alemaya University, P. O.Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia Abstract The study deals with the Fogera cattle and their F1 Friesian crosses at Metekel Cattle Breeding and Improvement Ranch based on data collected between 1989 and 1998 to evaluate their reproductive and growth performance. The age at first calving (AFC) varied significantly in relation to breed group and year of birth while, season of birth had no significant effect. The AFC averaged 47.61 and 40.46 months for Fogera and F1 heifers, respectively. The calving interval (CI) of Fogera cows was significantly affected by the year, season of calving and parity of dam. The cows that calved in the long rainy season had shorter calving interval. The average CI of Fogera cows was found to be 559 days. The average gestation length (GL) of Fogera cows was 281.4 days. The effect of sire breed, year and season of calving were significant unlike the sex of calf and the parity of dam. The cows mated to pure Fogera bulls carried their calves for 5.4 days longer than those cows artificially inseminated with Friesian semen. The mean body weights of Fogera and F1 calves were 22.45 kg and 24.92 kg at birth and 114.2 kg and 130.5 kg at weaning respectively. All the factors tested had significant effect on both the parameters with the exception of effect of the sex of calf on weaning weight. The average body weights of Fogera and F1 calves were 146.8 kg and 153.3 kg at one year and 188.9 kg and 214.1 kg at two years of age, respectively. At one year of age, only year of birth and at two years of age, both breed group and year of birth had significant effects. Keywords: Fogera, Friesian, Age at first calving, Calving interval, Gestation length, Birth weight, Weaning weight, Yearling weight, Two years weight. Introduction Reproductive and growth performance are of major importance in dairy and beef enterprises. The main traits related to reproductive performance are age at first calving, the interval between successive calving and, from these two, the potential lifetime production. Under station conditions, AFC depends not only on the rate of growth achieved by calves but is also influenced by the management policies with regard to weight or age at first mating and whether or not seasonal breeding is practiced (Saeed et al., 1987). Preweaning performance traits such as birth and weaning weight have important implications on herd productivity, management systems and breeding policies to be followed. They are also important early indicators of adaptability and management adequacy (Mekonnen and Goshu, 1996). The objective of the study was to evaluate the reproductive and growth performance of Fogera cattle and their half bred with Friesian at Metekel Cattle Breeding and Improvement Ranch found in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Materials and Methods The study was conducted at Metekel Cattle Breeding and Improvement Ranch, Ethiopia with an elevation ranging between 1500 and 1680 meters and average annual rainfall of 1615 mm. Average temperature ranged from 12 to 27 oc and annual mean relative humidity was 65% (MOA, 1988). The herd was established in 1987 with 450 Fogera cattle to be used for selection and crossbreeding with Friesian breed. The cattle were herded based on breed, sex and age. The feeding program varied over the years. Animals grazed on natural pasture during the daytime and on dry season were provided with hay. Crossbred female calves above three months of age and sick animals were supplemented with desmodium in wet season and elephant grass both in wet and dry seasons through cut and carry system. Since 1996 female crossbred animals were provided with concentrate composed of noug seed cake and ground maize/wheat bran. Health management practice had prevention and control scheme. The prevention scheme focused on vaccination against anthrax, blackleg, and pasturollosis once in every 6 to 8 months and once per year for CBPP. The control measures were taken 10th ESAP-Proceedings 119 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production for internal and external parasites. Deworming was conducted twice per year, at the start and end of the rainy seasons. Data were analysed using the least squares procedures of Harvey (1990) model 1. The linear models that were assumed for the traits included breed group, year of birth, season of birth, sex of calf, parity of dam and the interaction effect between breed group and year of birth for birth and weaning weight. Months were classified as dry season (November-February), short rainy season (March-May) and long rainy season (June-October). Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (Steel and Torrie, 1960) was used to determine any significance differences with in means. Results and Discussion Age at first calving (AFC) The mean AFC for 143 (74 pure Fo and 69 FFo) heifers was 44±0.60 months, with a CV of 15.3%. AFC was significantly influenced by breed group and year of birth whereas season of birth had no significant effect. Friesian Fogera heifers calved 7.15 months earlier than pure Fogera heifers. The superiority of the crossbred heifers over the Fogera heifers in AFC had been reported also by Mekonnen and Goshu (1987) and Asheber (1992) and in other breed by Anders et al., (1987). The trend of AFC showed a decreasing pattern over the years, which could be attributed to a better feeding and management practices offered to young stock. Season of birth had no significant effect on the AFC. The time gap between the birth and the AFC is long enough to mask the effect of season of birth. Table 1. Least-square means of age at first calving (months) Variable No. Mean ± SE Overall mean 143 44.0 ± 0.60 Fogera 74 47.61±0.77 a Crossbred 69 40.46±0.93 b 14 50.64±1.47 a 1990/91 10 43.54±1.63 b 1991/92 29 42.0 ± 1.06 b 1992/93 36 42.68±1.02 b 1993/94 36 43.49±0.96 b 1994/95 18 41.86±1.30 b 11 44.21±1.50 Breed group ** Year of birth 1989/90 ** Season of birth Dry NS Short rainy 56 43.99±0.68 Long rainy 76 43.90±0.64 Within variable group, means followed by the same letter or with no letter do not differ significantly (p<0.05). Acronyms CV, coefficient of variation; Fo, Fogera; FFo, Friesian Fogera; NS, not significant; SE, standard error. Calving interval (CI) The mean calving interval for 653 records of Fogera cows was 559 days with a coefficient of variation of 24.5% (Table 2). Calving interval was significantly influenced by year and season of calving and parity of dam. The value observed in this study is in agreement with the findings of Asheber (1992) on the same breed, Mekonnen (1987) on Borana cows mated to Friesian bulls and Rege et al., (1994) on Ghana short horn. However, it is lower than the value reported by Wagenaar et al., (1986) for Fulani cattle and is much higher than to those observed by Azage (1981) for Borana breed, Kiwuwa et al., (1983) for Arsi breed, Mekonnen and Goshu ( 1987) for Fogera cows and Mulugeta et al.,(1991) for Horro cattle. The year of calving had significant effect (p<0.01) on calving interval (Table 2). The significantly shorter CI of 1996/97 may be an indication of change of breeding program from seasonal to year round and/or managerial differences. The season of calving had significant effect on CI. Short CI was observed for cows, which calved during the long rainy season than those, which calved during the short rainy and dry seasons. Significantly high CI was noticed for first calver, and rest of the parities were similar. The relatively long CI in this study might be related to long days open, seasonality of mating system, 120 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction difficulties in heat detection and allowing the calves to suck their dams until weaning age which was eight months. Gestation length (GL) The mean gestation length of 583 pure Fogera cows was 281.4 days with a CV of 3.54% (Table 3). The value was in close agreement with the observation made by Mekonnen and Goshu (1987) working on the same breed and Azage (1981) for Borana, Horro and Barka cows. However, higher value of GL was reported by Alberro (1983) for highland zebu of Ethiopia and Saeed et al., (1987) for Kennana cattle in Sudan. Table 2. Least square means for calving interval (days) Variable No Mean ± SE 653 559.0±12.74 13 488.2±38.22 d 1990/91 13 599.1±27.60 ab 1991/92 11 640.2±40.58 a 1992/93 40 599.3±22.95 b 1993/94 104 561.7±16.91 bc 1994/95 174 542.8±13.96 c 1995/96 246 556.9±12.05 bc 1996/97 52 483.7±20.06 d 73 558.1±19.71 ab Overall mean Year of calving 1989/90 ** Season of calving Dry ** Short rainy 258 576.8±14.31 a Long rainy 322 542.1±13.59 b 1 358 605.5±10.93 a 2 183 547.6±12.99 b 3 68 543.5±18.15 b 4 30 532.6±25.60 b 5+ 14 565.8±36.50 b Parity of dam ** Within variable group, means followed by the same letter or with no letter do not differ significantly (p<0.05). Acronyms CV, coefficient of variation; Fo, Fogera; FFo, Friesian Fogera; NS, not significant; SE, standard error. The breed of sire had significant effect on gestation length (Table 3). Cows mated to pure Fogera bulls carried their calves for 5.4 days longer than those artificially inseminated with Friesian semen. A negative genetic correlation between GL and prenatal gain was reported by Bourdon and Brinks (1982), which suggests that the birth process is initiated in an earlier stage of gestation among fast growing than among slow growing breeds. The year of calving had a significant effect (p<0.01) on the GL. The shorter GL was recorded for those cows, which calved during 1992/93 compared to rest of the years. The season of calving had a significant effect on GL. Cows which calved in the long rainy season had longer GL, followed by those which calved in the dry and short rainy seasons. Access to sufficient nutrients during long rainy season might have retained the calves for little longer time within the physiological limits of gestation period. The sex of calf and parity of dam showed non-significant effect on gestation length. Birth weight (bwt) The mean bwt of 1254 calves, of which 882 were sired by pure Fogera bulls and 372 by Friesian was 23.68 kg with a coefficient of variation of 12.42%. The mean squares from the analysis of variance showed that breed group, year of birth, season of birth, sex of calf, parity of dam and interaction between breed group of calf and year of birth significantly affected birth weight. The genotype of calf had a significant effect on birth weight (Table 4). Crossbred calves outweighed Fogera calves by 2.47 kg which is related to the high prenatal growth rate of crossbred calves. Sendros et al.,(1987), Mekonnen (1987) and Asheber (1992) also noticed that calves sired by Friesian bulls had higher bwt than those sired by native bulls. The year of birth showed a significant effect (p<0.01) on the bwt. The variation in the bwt of calves over the years might be associated with the nutritional status of their dams as affected by the rainfall pattern and thus with feed availability. Calves born during the long and short rainy seasons were significantly heavier (p<0.05) than those born during the dry season. This variation could be attributed to improved nutrition for the cows calving in the rainy seasons due to the availability of green forage during the later phase of 10th ESAP-Proceedings 121 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production pregnancy. This observation is in agreement with the findings of Agyemang and Nkhonjera (1986) and Asheber (1992). Male calves were significantly heavier (p<0.01) than female calves. Calves born from first calver were significantly lighter than those calves born from second to fifth parity of cows. This variation could be attributed to a good maternal environment provided by mature cows to the newly developing fetus. The interaction between the breed group of calf and the year of birth was highly significant (p<0.01). Table 3. Least square means for gestation length (days) Variable No Mean ± SE 583 281.4±0.92 Fogera 280 284.1±1.23 b Friesian 303 278.7±0.89 b 19 276.4±2.41 c 1993/94 61 282.1±1.65 ab 1994/95 68 283.3±1.56 a 1995/96 138 282.5±1.13 a 1996/97 120 279.5±1.02 b 1997/98 177 284.4±0.94 a 36 281.7±1.82 ab Short rainy 297 280.0±0.89 b Long rainy 250 282.4±0.89 a Male 305 281.9±0.10 Female 278 280.8±1.01 1 239 281.1±0.85 2 185 282.3±0.97 3 106 280.4±1.22 4 31 283.2±1.86 5+ 22 279.9±2.22 Overall mean Sire breed ** Year of calving 1992/93 ** Season of calving Dry * Sex of calf NS Parity of dam NS Within variable group, means followed by the same letter or with no letter do not differ significantly (p<0.05). Acronyms CV, coefficient of variation; Fo, Fogera; FFo, Friesian Fogera; NS, not significant; SE, standard error. Weaning weight (wwt) The overall mean wwt of 612 calves was 122.4 kg with a coefficient of variation of 18.22%. The total body weight gain and average daily gain from birth to weaning were found to be 99.72 kg and 416 gm, respectively. The mean squares from the analysis of variance demonstrated a significant effect of breed group, year, season of birth, interaction between breed group with year of birth and parity whereas; sex of calf had no influence on wwt. The estimates for the wwt and average daily gain in the present study are higher than those reported by Asheber (1992) on the same breed and Rege et al., (1994) on Ghana Short horn, Gudali and their Jersey crosses. Contrary to this, Trail et al., (1985) and Mekonnen (1987) reported higher wwt and average daily gain up to weaning age than the estimates in the present study for Borana calves. The mean wwt indicated that crossbred calves were significantly heavier by 16.3 kg than the Fogera calves at weaning (Table 4). The average preweaning daily gain was estimated to be 440 gm for the crossbreds and 382.3 gm for the Fogera calves. The superiority of the crossbreds over the Fogera calves indicate the effect of heterosis as a result of crossing with the Friesian breed, since both groups suckled Fogera cows. Mekonnen (1987) and Asheber (1992) also reported that wwt and preweaning gain of the native purebreds were significantly lower than the crossbred calves. Year of birth had a significant effect (p<0.01) on the wwt. The variation among years in wwt might be due to variation of rainfall affecting the feed availability to dams and general management of the calves. Asheber (1992) and Rege et al., (1994) had also indicated that year of birth affected wwt significantly. Season of birth had a significant effect on the wwt. Calves born in the short rainy season were the heaviest (129.1 kg), followed by those born during the dry season (124.8 kg) and those born in the long rainy season were lighter (113.1 kg). The difference in wwt is related to the suckling period of the calves during their preweaning growth. The present result is in agreement with reports of Trail et al., (1985), Mekonnen 122 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction (1987) and Asheber (1992). Sex of calf had no significant influence on the wwt. The effect of parity on wwt was significant (p<0.05). The lowest wwt was recorded for calves from first calver and highest wwt for calves from second and subsequent calvers (Table 4). The low wwt of calves from dams in the first parity could be due to nutritional requirement of the dams for their own growth and maintenance leading to lower milk production. The present observation is consistent with the findings of Asheber (1992), Wagenaar et al., (1986) and Rege et al., (1994). The interaction between the breed group of calf and year of birth was significant (p<0.01). Table 4. Least square means for birth and weaning wts (kg) of Fogera and F1 calves Variable Overall mean Birth wt No 1254 Breed group Weaning wt Mean± No Mean±SE 23.68±0.21 612 122.4±1.8 ** ** Fogera 882 22.45±0.17 a 398 114.2±1.91 a Crossbred 372 24.92±0.37 b 214 130.5±2.29 b Year of birth ** ** - 1991/92 22 24.14±1.21 b 1992/93 40 25.63±0.40 a 1993/94 111 22.07±0.27 e 105 127.3±2.66 a 1994/95 184 23.51±0.21 c 153 117.1±2.27 b 1995/96 313 23.66±0.18 b 278 117.7±1.87 b 1996/97 275 23.01±0.23 d 76 127.4±3.47 a 1997/98 309 23.78±0.18 bc - * ** Season of birth - Dry 147 23.35±0.28 b 41 124.8±3.39 b Short rainy 553 23.75±0.23 a 252 129.1±1.97 a Long rainy 554 23.96±0.22 a 319 113.1±1.68 c Sex of calf ** NS Male 652 24.11±0.23 a 317 123.9±2.01 Female 602 23.26±0.22 b 295 120.8±1.95 Parity of dam ** * 1 600 23.23±0.21 b 344 118.3±1.65 b 2 361 23.72±0.23 a 164 125.0±1.95 a 3 185 23.68±0.26 a 60 124.4±2.80 a 4 64 24.10±0.35 a 30 122.2±3.74 ab 5+ 44 23.70±0.41 a 14 121.9±5.43 ab Breed x year ** ** Fogera-1991/92 14 25.07±0.53 cd - - Fogera-1992/93 15 23.79±0.62efg - - Fogera-1993/94 46 20.46±0.38 j 47 122.7±3.48 cd Fogera-1994/95 108 20.93±0.26 ij 92 116.0±2.60 e Fogera-1995/96 213 22.10±0.20 h 194 109.0±2.05 f Fogera-1996/97 242 21.56±0.17 hi 65 109.2±2.81 f Fogera-1997/98 244 23.26±0.18 g - - F1cross-1991/92 8 23.21±2.36 g - - F1cross-1992/93 25 27.46±0.49 a - F1cross-1993/94 65 23.68±0.32 fg 58 131.9±3.13 b - F1cross-1994/95 76 26.09±0.29 b 61 118.2±2.99 de F1cross-1995/96 100 25.21±0.25 c 84 126.3±2.50 bc F1cross-1996/97 33 24.46±0.42 de 11 145.6±6.08 a F1cross-1997/98 65 24.31±0.30 ef - - Adjusted one year weight The overall mean one year weight for 229 calves of which 156 were pure Fogera and 73 F1 crossbreds was 150.0 kg with a CV of 16.9%. The average growth from birth to yearling age and the average rate of daily gain from birth to yearling age were 127.4 kg and 349 gm, respectively. The mean squares from the analysis of variance showed that only year of birth had significant effect (p<0.01) while breed group, season of birth, sex of calf and parity of dam had no significant effect on yearling weight (Table 5). Analysis of raw data to strengthen the discussion revealed that weight gains from weaning to one year age were 25.8 kg and 25.1 kg for the Fogera and crossbred calves, respectively. The daily weight gain during 10th ESAP-Proceedings 123 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production same period were 207 gm and 201 gm compared to 382 gm and 440 gm during preweaning period for the Fogera and Crossbreds, respectively. Thus post-weaning retardation of growth rate is less for the Fogera calves (175 gm) compared to crossbreds (239 gm). This is an indication that native calves are more capable of withstanding the post weaning stress compared to F1 calves. Hence, the first few months after weaning are highly critical period for the crossbred and demand better management, more nutrients and extra care. Year of birth affected adjusted one year weight significantly (p<0.01). The effect of year on weight at yearling age confirms the reports of Wagenaar et al., (1986) and Mekonnen (1987). Season of birth, sex of calf and parity of dam were not important source of variation for yearling weight. Table 5. Least square means for adjusted one year and two years wt (kg) of Fogera and F1 calves Variable Overall mean One year wt Two years wt No Mean±SE No Mean±SE 229 150.0±3.11 169 201.5±4.26 156 146.8±3.52 78 188.9±5.03 a 73 153.3±3.81 91 214.1±5.19 b - 60 194.0±6.38 b Breed group Fogera Crossbred NS Year of birth ** ** ** 1993/94 - 1994/95 50 161.5±4.68 a 84 191.9±4.76 b 1995/96 54 153.1±4.06 b 25 218.6±7.31 a 1996/97 125 135.6±3.37 c - Season of birth NS NS Dry 19 150.3±5.91 13 205.8±9.46 Short rainy 89 147.4±3.46 66 202.4±4.91 Long rainy 121 152.4±3.10 90 196.4±4.81 Sex of calf Male Female NS NS 137 150.2±3.43 86 205.4±5.04 92 149.9±3.56 83 197.6±4.95 Parity of dam NS NS 1 94 140.9±3.17 80 192.6±4.65 2 80 149.9±3.22 50 203.2±5.41 3 36 151.6±4.55 21 201.4±7.00 4 5 162.5±10.3 11 202.8±9.85 5+ 14 145.3±6.61 7 207.7±12.6 Within variable group, means followed by the same letter or with no letter do not differ significantly (p<0.05). Adjusted two years weight The mean adjusted two years weight was 201.5 kg with a CV of 17.1% (Table 5). The average growth from birth to two years of age and average daily gain were found to be 177.8 kg and 244 gm/day, respectively. The value in the present study is lower than the two years weight reported by Mekonnen (1987) for Borana calves and higher than estimated for N’Dama calves in Senegal by Fall et al., (1982). The breed group was an important source of variation (p<0.01) on the adjusted two years weight. The crossbred calves outweighed Fogera calves by 25.2 kg at two years age. The difference in weight between the two breeds could be attributed to the genetic effect of Friesian for higher growth rate since extra feeding started only after June 1996. The results from direct analysis of raw data revealed that the weight gain between one to two years of age as 45.03 kg and 51.08 kg resulting in daily weight gain of 123 gm/day and 140 gm/day respectively for the Fogera and crossbred calves. Year of birth affected (p<0.01) the weight at two years age significantly. Yearly variation in weight at two years age might have been caused due to variation of agro climatic conditions and management. Season of birth, sex of calf and parity of dam had no significant effect on the two years weight. Conclusions and recommendations Within the limits of the data available, the following conclusions and recommendations were made: Age at first calving of Fogera and crossred heifers is relatively high compared to other results reported for cattle in Ethiopia. The policy of restricted breeding during long rainy season and slow post weaning growth rate might be two main causes of delayed AFC. It was a wise decision of the farm management to change the seasonal mating system to breeding year round from 1995. It was also an equally important step to have started concentrate feeding to crossbred heifers since 1996. The calving interval of 559 days for 124 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Fogera cows is relatively long compared to tropical standards. The longer CI observed at the ranch might be due to restricted seasonal breeding and because of allowing the calves to suckle till the age of eight months (weaning age). Recorded conception of majority of Fogera cows coincidentally was after the calves were weaned. Thus improved post parturient feeding and good calf rearing strategy through supplementation with other feed so as to wean the calves at an early age will have effect on on-set and intensity of post parturient oestrus resulting in an increase of the calf crop yield through reduction of calving interval. The average gestation length estimated in the present study is within the range reported for tropical cattle. The average birth wt and weaning wt are in agreement with the reports made on the same breed under farm and ranch management levels and also within the range reported for tropical breeds. Yearling and two years wt in the present study are relatively low when compared to many reports for tropical cattle. Though the records available for postweaning growth study were small, the result elucidates the inability of crossbred calves to withstand the postweaning stress compared to native breed and higher capacity for compensatory growth later on. Therefore most important factor to improve is the growth rate, which should be appropriate to predetermined age at first calving. References Alberro, M. 1983. Comparative performance of F1 Friesian x Zebu heifers in Ethiopia. Anim. Prod. 37: 247-252. Agyemang, K. and Nkonjera L.P. 1986. Evaluation of the productivity of crossbred dairy cattle on smallholder and government farms of Republic of Malawi. ILCA Research Report No. 12. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Anders, O., Mohammed Yusuf, Asfaw Tolessa, Tegene Alemayehu and Tsehay Biadgilgn. 1987. Performance of dairy cattle at research and dairy co-operatve farms in the Arsi region of Ethiopia. In: First National Livestock Improvement Conference (NLIC). 11-13 February 1987, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 66-67. Asheber Sewalem. 1992. Evaluation of the reproductive and preweaning growth performance of Fogera cattle and their F1 Friesian crosses at Andassa Cattle Breeding Station, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Alemaya University of Agriculture, Alemaya, Ethiopia. Azage Tegegn 1981. Reproductive performance of zebu cattle and their crosses with temperate breeds in Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Alemaya College of Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Bourdon, R.M. and J.S. Brinks. 1982. Genetic, environmental and phenotypic relationship among gestation length, birth weight, growth traits and age at first calving in beef cattle. J.Anim.Sci. 53 (3): 543-553. Fall, A., Diop, M., Sandford, J., Wissoeq, Y.J., Durkin, J. and Trail, J.C.M. 1982. Evaluation of the productivities of Djallonke sheep and N’Dama cattle at the center de recherches Zoo technique, Kolda, Senegal. ILCA Research Report No.3. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Harvey, W.R. 1990. User’s Guide for Least squares and Maximum Likelihood Computer Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA. Kiwuwa,, G.H., Trail, J.C.M., Kurtu, M.Y., Worku, G., Anderson, FM. and Durkin, J. 1983. Crossbred dairy cattle productivity in Arsi region, Ethiopia. ILCA Research Report No. 11. ARDU and ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mekonnen Haile-Mariam. 1987. Evaluation of reproductive and growth performance of Boran cattle and Friesian at Abernossa, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis, Alemaya University of Agriculture, Alemaya, Ethiopia. Mekonnen Haile-Mariam and Goshu Mekonnen. 1987. Reproductive performance of Fogera cattle and their Friesian crosses. Ethiopian J. of Agri. Sci. 9(2): 95-114. Mekonnen Haile-Mariam and Goshu Mekonnen. 1996. Reproductive performance of Zebu, Friesian, and Friesian-Zebu crosses. Trop. Agric. (Trinidad). 73 (2). 10th ESAP-Proceedings 125 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production MOA (Ministry of Agriculture). 1988. Metekel Cattle Breeding and Improvement Ranch. Project Document, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mulugeta Kebede, Tesfaye Kumsa, and Gebre-Egziabher Gebre-Yohannes. 1991. Some productive and reproductive performances of Horro cattle at Bako research center. In: Proceedings of the fourth National Livestock Improvement Conference (NLIC). 13-15 Nov 1991, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 78-82. Rege, J.E.O., Aboagye, G.S., Ahah, S., and Ahunu, B.K. 1994. Crossbreeding Jersey with Ghana Short horn and Sokoto Gudali cattle in a tropical environment: additive and heterotic effects for milk production, reproduction and calf growth traits. Anim. Prod. 59: 21-29. Saeed, A.M., Ward, P.N., Light, D., Durkin, J.W., and Wilson, R.T. 1987. Characterization of Kenana cattle at Um Banein, Sudan. ILCA Research Report No. 16. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Sendros, Demeke., Beyene Kebede., Taye, Bekru., Mulugeta, Kebede and Hailu, G-medhin. 1987. Premilinary results of cattle crossbreeding studies. II Growth performance of European x Zebu crossbred calves. In: proceedings of First National Livestock Improvement Conference (NLIC). 11-13 Feb 1987, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 73-75. Steel, R.G.D. and Torrie, J.H. 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York. Trail, J.C.M., Sones, K., Jibbo, J.M.C., Durkin, J., Light, D.E. and Murray, M. 1985. Productivity of Boran cattle maintained by chemoprophylaxis under trypanosomiasis risk. ILCA Research Report No. 9. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Wagenaar, K.T., Diallo, A., Sayers, A.R. 1986. Productivity of transhumant Fulani cattle in the inner Niger delta of Mali. ILCA Research Report No. 13. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 126 10th ESAP-Proceedings Performance of two and three way crossbred dairy cattle at Holetta Research Center in central highlands of Ethiopia: Growth Rate Gizachew Bekele, Zelalem Yielma, Taddese Bekele, Alemu G/wold, Sendros Demeke, Yohannes Gojjam and Roman H/Silassie Holetta Research center, P.O.Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ABSTRACT Birth weight and the mean daily weight gain up to 90days, 180days and one year of age and weight attained at those three age groups of 127 two breed (Friesian and Boran) and 87 three breed cross (Friesian, Jersey and Boran) calves born from 1990 to 1999 was studied. The overall means of daily weight gain up to 90days, 180days and one year of age was 340gm, 330gm and 250gm per day respectively. Least square mean birth weight were not significantly (P<0.05) different between two and three breed crosses. Two breed crosses were heavier by 3Kg (6%) than three breed crosses at the age of 90days. This significant (P<0.05) weight difference was also reflected in average daily weight gain from birth to 90days, where two breed crosses gained 31gm (9.7%) more weight daily than three breed crosses. However rate thereafter up to one year of age was not markedly different (P<0.05). The average daily weight gain of 50% Friesian crossbred calves were significant (P<0.05) when compared to 25% Friesian and 25% Jersey Crossbred calves up to the age of 90days (370gm Vs 320gm/day). But the gain was not persistent and the average daily weight gain was not significant to any other exotic blood level group when we considered growth rate up to 180days or till one year of age. However, it was noticed that calves with 62.5% Friesian blood inheritance had significant (P<0.05) average daily weight gain than other exotic blood level groups up to 180days or one year of age though their growth rate up to 90days was not significant. Birth year didn’t affect birth weight. However calves born in the years 1995 to 1999 were 3kg (5.6%), 9.5kg (11.8%) and 27kg (24.9%) heavier than those born during 1990 to 1994 at 90days, 180days and one year of age respectively, and these differences were significant (P<0.05). In this study there was no significant growth difference between calves produced through two breed and three breed crossing from birth to one year of age. Introduction In our country exotic dairy breeds, in particular the Friesian were crossed with the local Zebu breeds for many years to increase the productivity of our local cows. The aim has been to combine adaptability, hardiness, disease resistance and heat tolerance of indigenous cattle with the high milk potential and faster growth rate of temperate cattle (Beyene, 1992). The major genetic consequences of crossbreeding to increase the proportion of heterozygosity in the progeny over that which would be found in random mated or inbred population. When out bred progeny exceed the average of progeny of the group, contributing to the cross, there is heterosis or hybrid vigor. Crossbreeding includes specific two breeds cross, specific three breeds cross, rotational cross and combination of terminal rotational cross. MOA, IAR, ARDP, and Alemaya University of Agriculture and ILRI have undertaken crossbreeding activities in research and development for the last twenty to thirty years in Ethiopia. All breeding activities were focused on two way crossing. Milk yield, reproductive performance and growth performance of these crosses have been reported earlier (Beyene, 1992, Little et al, 1988, Sendros et al, 1987a, 1987b, Azage et al, 1981). From these crossbreeding studies and experiences it was concluded that F1 crosses were found to be better in performance and adaptation under low standard of management and husbandry practices. However it was found that the supply of F1 progenies for extension purpose doesn’t guarantee sustained stock. It calls for continuos supply of F1 crossbred or AI services, which may be difficult for remote areas. This is because back crossing or inter se mating reduces their heterozygosity. But in three breed rotational crossing scheme heterosis coefficients stabilize fairly rapidly (Hohenboken, 1985). It is also generally concluded that three breeds are the minimum that can be used in rotational crossing system to maintain approximately the level of heterosis obtained in first generation (Cunningham and Syrstad, 1987, McDowel, 1985). 10th ESAP-Proceedings 127 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Accordingly, after reviewing the earlier two breed-crossing program of IAR, three breeds crossing was initiated to maintain level of heterosis obtained in the first generation (Merha and Alemu, 1989). Growth rate trait is one of the important parts of dairy cattle goals and it needs to be evaluated in any breeding program. In dairy cattle, culling can be more rigorous and stocks can be replaced earlier if growth rates are better as heifers can calve at younger age and increase their life time productivity (Hohenboken, 1985). The target of dairy cattle management program for European breeds is to feed well so that age at first breeding (service) is 14-16 months, age at first calving is around 24-26 months (Etgen et al., 1987). However, for two breed crosses of European and Zebu, mean age of 36 months for first conception and 45 months for calving were reported (Beyene, 1992). This paper reports results of the effects of type of cross, exotic blood level, sex, birth year and birth season on the growth performance of crossbred cattle up to the age of one year. Materials and methods Location and source of data The study was conducted at Holetta Research Center. The center is located at 45km west of Addis Ababa and it has an altitude of 2400mt above sea level. The mean annual rainfall is 1060mm with maximum average temperature of 21.35oC. The data used were from 214 calves born from 1990 to 1999 in a long term crossbreeding project at Holetta. The experiment involved two exotic sire breeds (Friesian and Jersey) and one indigenous dam breed (Boran) mated to form 7 crossbred groups. Animal management Calves were weighed and identified by ear tag at birth and fed colostrum for the first four days of life. Subsequently they received milk 3lit/day for 11days, 4lit/dayfor the next 27days, 3lit/day for 21days, 2lit/day for 21days and finally 1lit/day for 14days until weaning at 98days, giving a total allowance of 260lit. The amount is slightly higher that recommended by MOA (Alemu, 1983). All calves had free access to hay and ½ kg allowance of concentrate starting from 15th day of birth until weaning. All calves were housed indoors until 6 month of age in individual pens, except for 1 to 2hr of daily exercise in loafing pens. They were also being weighed every month and the data were recorded. After 6 months of age calves were let to graze out in the field on natural pasture. During the evening , calves were provided with native grass hay ad-lib and 1kg of concentrate supplement up to the age of one year. Calves were drenched and sprayed against internal and external parasites when parasites infestation is evident. After 6 months of age all calves were vaccinated against Anthrax, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Blackleg, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Pasteurolosis. Statistical analysis The growth traits evaluated were birth weight (BWT), Weaning weight (90days weight) (WWT), Six month weight (SMWT), Yearling weight (YWT) and average daily weight gain till the respective age groups. Data were analysed by least squares means methods using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS (SAS, 1987). Result and discussion Least square means (±S.E) of Birth weight, live weights attained at 90days, 180days and one year and average daily weight gain up to those different age categories were reported in Table1 and Table2. These growth parameters were categorized by type of cross, sex, exotic blood level, birth year and birth season. The overall mean daily weight gain up to 90days, 180days and one year of age was 336, 327 and 253gm/day respectively. Two breed crosses were heavier by 3km (6%) than three breed crosses at the age of 90days. This weight difference was also reflected in average daily weight gain from birth to 90days, where two breed crosses gained 31gm (9.7%) more weight daily than three breed crosses (Table 2). However, the growth rate thereafter up to one year of age was not significantly different (P<0.05). The average weight 128 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction gain rate for two breed crosses as well as three breed crosses after 90days up to one year of age was decreasing (From 349gm/day to 258 gm/day and from 318 gm/day to 246gm /day for two breed crosses and three breed crosses respectively). Contrary to this however, Little et.al. (1988) reported an increasing daily weight gain rate after 90days of age up to 9 months (From 310gm/day to 410gm/day) on bucket reared group 50% Boran X Friesian crossbred calves. The reason may be that our calves after weaning were not cared well nutritionally and were managed in-group to graze out in the field. Fifty percent Friesian crossbred calves on average gained 50gm (15.9%) more weight daily than 25% Friesian 25% Jersey calves and though not significant (P<0.05), 33gm (9.9%) more weight daily than 50% Jersey crossbred calves up to the age of 90days (Table2). This is possibly because of the proportion of Friesian blood inheritance. Better growth performance of Friesian crossbred calves over Jersey crossbred calves was also been reported by Little et.al. (1988) and Sendros et.al. (1987). However, the gain was not persistent and the weight attained at one year of age by 50% Friesian crossbred calves was not significant (P<0.05) to any other exotic blood level group as could be seen from Table1. However, Sendros et.al. (1987) reported that Friesian crossbred calves attained marked weight (P<0.05) than Jersey crossbred calves at one year of age (152kg Vs 139kg). Similar to this finding however, we have noticed that calves with 62.5% Friesian blood inheritance attained significant (P<0.05) weight at one year of age than any other group except 37.5Jersey 25%Friesian calves (Tale1). Birth season did not brought any apparent change in average daily weight gain up to WWT, SMWT and YWT. Birth year didn’t affect birth weight. However calves born in the years 1995 to 1999 were 3kg (5.6%), 9.5kg (11.8%) and 27kg (24.9%) heavier than those born during 1990 to 1994 at 90days, 180days and one year of age respectively, and these differences were significant (P<0.05). These weight differences were also reflected in average daily gains from birth till the age groups considered. Calves born during 1995 – 1999 on average gained 35gm (11%), 55gm (18.1%) and 74gm (32.5%) more weight daily from birth to 90days, 180days and one year of age, respectively than calves born during 1990 – 1994. The least square means of weight attained and average daily gain differences between the two birth year groups tended to increase, as they grow older. This may be attributed to better management of calves in the years 1995 – 1999. Table 1. Least squares means (± s.e.) of live weights attained at birth (BWT), 90 days (90DWT), 180 days (180DWT) and yearling (YWT) categorized by type of cross, sex, exotic blood level, birth year and birth season of crossbred cattle Variable Overall mean No.of obs. BWT (kg) 90DWT (kg) 180DWT (kg) YWT (kg) 214 25.4 55.7 84.3 117.9 127 87 25.4 ± 0.45 25.3 ± 0.54 56.9± 0.87b 54.0± 1.05a 85.2 ± 1.39 83.1 ± 1.68 119.7 ± 2.38 115.2 ± 2.87 94 120 26.2± 0.64b 24.2± 0.44a 56.7± 1.33b 54.6± 0.93a 85.0 ± 2.10 84.8 ± 1.47 127.0±3.34b 116.9±2.34a 49 38 24 15 67 10 11 28.2± 0.65c 23.0± 0.74a 28.6± 0.94c 20.7± 1.13a 26.0± 0.58b 26.3±1.47bc 24.1±1.40ab 61.2± 1.35b 52.8± 1.55a 60.1± 2.00b 50.8± 1.96a 54.6± 2.44a 54.9±1.21ab 55.0±2.91ab 89.0± 2.13bc 79.9 ± 2.45a 94.3 ± 3.10c 77.5 ± 3.86a 84.1 ±1.92ab 84.8±4.80abc 85.0±4.60abc 120.4±3.38a 115.0±3.89a 136.6±4.92b 119.0±6.12a 119.9±3.04a 116.3±7.65a 127.7± 7.2ab 126 88 25.3 ± 0.48 25.2 ± 0.60 54.0± 1.00a 57.0± 1.26b 80.2 ± 1.58b 89.7 ±1.99a 108.5±2.51a 135.5±3.14b 153 61 24.6 ± 0.45 25.9 ± 0.66 55.6 ± 0.93 55.6 1.37 84.9 ± 1.48 85.0 ± 2.17 122.0 ± 2.35 122.0 ±3.44 17.5 16.5 17.2 19.6 Type of cross Two-way Three-way Sex Male Female Exotic blood level* 50% F 50% J 62.5% F 62.5% J 25% F 25% J 37.5% F 25% J 37.5% J 25% F Birth year 1990 – 94 1995 – 99 Birth season Dry Wet C.V. % Means with different superscripts within the same category are significantly (P,<0.05) different * Where; 50% F = 50%Friesian and 50%Boran; 50% J = 50%Jersey and 50% Boran; 25% F 25% J = 25%Friesian, 25%Jersey and 50%Boran; 37.5% F 25% J = 37.5%Friesian, 25%Jersey and 37.5%Boran Generally three breed crosses had intermediate growth performance when compared to Friesian crosses and Jersey crosses. This is expected because Friesian crosses has been reported to grow better than Jersey 10th ESAP-Proceedings 129 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production crosses (Little et.al, 1988, Sendros et.al, 1987) and three breed crosses are a combination of Friesian, Jersey and Boran blood. However, to evaluate whether heterosis was maintained in three breed rotational crossing or not, it is likely better to use exotic sire breeds with more or less equal growth performance so as to avoid the effect of the breeds growth difference. Table 2. Least squares means (± s.e.) of average daily weight gain at different ages categorized by type of cross, sex, exotic blood level, birth year and birth season of crossbred cattle Variable No.of Obs. Overall mean Birth to90 days, g Birth to180 days, g Birth to 1 year, g 214 336 327 253 127 87 349 ± 0.01b 318 ± 0.01a 331 ± 0.01 321 ± 0.01 258 ± 0.01 246 ± 0.01 94 120 337 ± 0.01 336 ± 0.01 326 ± 0.01 337 ± 0.01 276 ± 0.01 254 ± 0.01 49 38 24 15 67 10 11 365 ± 0.01b 332 ± 0.01ab 351 ± 0.02ab 335 ± 0.02ab 315 ± 0.01a 317 ± 0.03ab 341 ± 0.03ab 338 ± 0.01ab 314 ± 0.01a 367 ± 0.02b 315 ± 0.02a 323 ± 0.01a 324 ± 0.02ab 339 ± 0.02ab 252 ± 0.01a 252 ± 0.01a 296 ± 0.01b 268 ± 0.02ab 255 ± 0.01a 247 ± 0.02a 284 ± 0.02ab 126 88 319 ± 0.01a 354 ± 0.01b 304 ± 0.01a 359 ± 0.01b 228 ± 0.01a 302 ± 0.01b 153 61 343 ± 0.01 330 ± 0.01 335 ± 0.01 328 ± 0.01 267 ± 0.01 263 ± 0.01 26.5 22.8 24.3 Cross Two-way Three-way Sex Male Female Exotic blood level 50% F 50% J 62.5% F 62.5% J 25% F 25% J 37.5% F 25% J 37.5% J 25% F Birth year 1990-94 1995-99 Birth season Dry Wet C.V. % Means with different superscripts within the same category are significantly (P<0.05) different * Where; 50% F = 50% Friesian and 50% Boran ; 25%Jersey and 37.5%Boran 50% J = 50% Jersey and 50% Boran; 25% F 25% J = 25% Friesian, 25% Jersey and 50% Boran ; 37.5% F 25% J = 37.5%Friesian, Conclusion and recommendation In this study there was no significant difference in calve growth performance from birth to one year of age between calves produced through two breeds and three breeds crossing. Hence to evaluate whether heterosis was maintained in three breed rotational crossing or not, it is likely better to use exotic sire breeds with more or less equal growth performance so as to avoid the effect of the breeds growth difference. Post weaning management of calves at Holetta Research center should be improved so that better growth performance can be attained. Hence, further study on how to manage weaned calves well is very important as far as earlier breeding age of females and increased lifetime productivity is aimed. Generally, however, to accept three breeds crossing as appropriate method in maintaining heterosis, calf survival, milk yield and reproductive performance of three breed crosses must be evaluated. References Alemu, M.1983. Care of Young Animals. In-service training Manual. Animal Breeding and Improvement Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, P.16. Azage Tegegne, E.S.E. Galal and Beyene Kebede. 1981. A Study on the Reproduction of Local Zebu and F1 crossbred (European and Zebu) cows. 1. Number of services per conception, gestation length and days open till conception. Eth. J. Agric. Sci. 3(1): 1-14. Beyene Kebede. 1992. Estimation of Additive and Non-additive Genetic Effects for Growth, milk Yield and Reproductive Traits of Crossbred Cattle in the wet and dry environments in Ethiopia. Ph.D. Dissertation, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Cunningham, E.P. and Syrstad , O. 1987. Crossbreeding Bos Idicus and Bos Taurus for Milk Production In The Tropics. F.A.O Animal Production and Health Papers. No. 68.F.A.O. Rome. 130 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Etgen, M.W., E.j. Robert and M.R. Paul. 1987. Dairy Cattle Feeding And Management. Hohenboken, w.d. 1985. Genetic Structure Of Populations. 2. Mating Among Distantly Related Individuals. Chapman (Ed). World Animal Science. Elsvier Science Pub. B.V. Amesterdam. Oxford. New York. Tokyo. In: A.B. Little, D.A.F.M. Anderson, J.W. Durkin. 1988. Partial Suckling Of Crossbred Dairy Cows: Initial Results On Effects Of Milk Off Take And Calf Growth At Debre Berhan. In: Proc. Of The 2nd N.L.I.C., 24-26 Feb. 1988, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Merha Zerabruk And Alemu G. Wold. 1989. Two Way and Three Way Cattle Program Crossbreeding Program. I.A.R. Research Directory. Page 133-134. SAS. Users Guide For Personal Computers. SAS Institute INC, Cary, U.S.A. Sendros Demeke, Beyene Kebede, Tesfaye Kumsa, Taye Bekure And Hailu Gebre Mariam. 1987a. Preliminary Results Of Cattle Crossbreeding (European X Zebu). StudyI. Milk Production Performance Of F1 Cows In: Proc. 1st N.L.I.C. 1113 Feb, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. PP.61-65. Sendros Demeke, Beyene Kebede, Tesfaye Kumsa, Taye Bekure And Hailu Gebre Mariam. 1987a. Preliminary Results Of CattleCrossbreeding (European X Zebu). studyII. Growth Performance Of European X Zebucrossbred Calves In: Proc. 1st N.L.I.C. 11-13 Feb, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. PP73-75. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 131 Body weight dynamics of zebu and crossbred cows in relation to postpartum reproduction under sub humid climate of Bako Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes1, Azage Tegegne2, M.L.Diedhiou2. and B.P. Hegde3 1 2 3 Bako Agricultural Research Centre, P. O. Box 3, Bako International Livestock Research Institute, P. O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa Alemaya University, P. O. Box 138, Dire Dawa Abstract Postpartum body weight dynamics of zebu and crossbred cows in relation to postpartum reproduction was studied using data from the Bako Agricultural Research Centre. Body weight at calving, first postpartum oestrus, first service and conception were analysed using the General Linear Model which included cow breed, parity, and calving season and year as a fixed effects and calving weight and body weight gain from calving to three months as a covariate. Accordingly, the result indicated that the overall mean body weights at calving, estrus, service and conception were 299.7 ± 1.35, 304.6 ± 0.61, 309.5 ± 0.79 and 313.3 ± 0.90 kg, respectively. Boran Simmental cows had significantly (p < 0.001) the heaviest weight at calving (381.3 ± 5.95 kg), estrus (322.3 ± 3.07 kg), service (330.6 ± 4.00 kg) and conception (344.2 ± 4.56 kg), while Horro cows had the lightest weight. Significantly (at least p < 0.05) higher calving weight was recorded for cows that calved during June to August while the highest service and conception weights were recorded for cows that calved during December to February. Cows in the first parity had significantly (p < 0.05) lighter weight at calving, estrus, service and conception compared to cows in the other parities. Body weight at estrus, service and conception were linearly and significantly (p < 0.001) related to body weight at calving and body weight gain from calving to three months. All breeds except Horro and Horro Jersey cows lost a portion of their calving weight at estrus (0.3 to 16.3 %), service (3.7 to 13.3 %) and conception (0.9 to 11.5 %). The Jersey lost 0.3% of its calving weight at estrus but gained 1.5 and 2% of their calving weight at first service and conception. From this study it can be concluded that cows had to attain the critical postpartum body weight to resume reproduction and conceive. Besides, the critical weight at conception is higher than at first postpartum estrus and service. Cows had to gain a portion of their calving weight lost to resume reproduction. Introduction Body weight of a cow has a significant bearing on its reproductive and productive performance, which is more pronounced during the postpartum period (Batra et al., 1986; Richards et al., 1986; Louw et al., 1988; Sawyer et al., 1993; Smeaton et al., 2000). Heritability of body weight ranges from medium to high. Batra et al (1986) for instance reported heritability of calving weight and body weight at 112 days postpartum ranging from 24 to 43% for Holstein and 26 to 38% for Ayrishire line heifers. Hence body weight could be improved through crossbreeding or selection. Several factors influence body weight. Breed, age and feeding system are few among many. Roy (1980) indicated that breeds of large mature size have higher absolute growth rate (kg gain/day) and slow maturity that is at the same percentage of mature weight larger breeds will be older. The differences that occur within and between breeds are due to differences in muscle to bone ratio, in skeletal size and in the amount of fat deposited at the same stage of maturity (Roy, 1980). Antepartum and postpartum feeding level also reported to influence postpartum weights (Taddesse Bekele et al., 1991; Tegegne Azage et al., 1994; Senatore et al., 1996). Despite the importance of body weight on both reproduction and production performance of the cow-limited information is available on the postpartum body weight dynamics in Ethiopian cows. Therefore, this study was planned to see the trend of body weight in the postpartum zebu and crossbred cows and suggest possible management interventions. Materials and methods Details of Bako Agricultural Research Center climate, herd management, feeding and health care are indicated in previous works (Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes and Mulugeta Kebede, 1996). Data from pure Boran and Horro and their F1 crosses with Jersey, Friesian and Simmental exotic sire breeds were considered for the study. The traits considered calving weight (weight of the cow taken within two weeks of calving), and 10th ESAP-Proceedings 133 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production postpartum body weight at estrus, postpartum service and conception. The General Linear Model used to analyze the traits included cow breed, parity, calving season and calving year as fixed effects and calving weight and body weight gain from calving to three months as a covariate (SAS, 1999). Eight breed/genotypes (Horro, Boran, Horro x Jersey, Horro x Friesian, Horro x Simmental, Boran x Friesian, Boran x Jersey and Boran Simmental), six parities (1 to 6, with the sixth parity including parities six and above pooled together), four calving season categories based on the centers meteorological: season one (June - August), season two (September - November), season three (December - February) and season four (March - May) and 19 calving years (1980 to 1998) were considered. All animals were weighed every month. Results The overall least square mean body weight at calving, estrus, service and conception are 299.7 ± 1.35, 304.6 ± 0.61, 309.5 ± 0.79 and 313.3 ± 0.90 kg, respectively (Table 1). Boran Simmental cows had significantly (p < 0.001) the heaviest weight at calving (381.3 ± 5.95 kg), estrus (322.3 ± 3.07 kg), service (330.6 ± 4.00 kg) and conception (344.2 ± 4.56 kg), while Horro cows had the lightest weight. Calving season had significant effect on body weight at calving (p < 0.05), service (p < 0.001) and conception (p < 0.001) only. Higher calving weight was recorded for cows that calved during June to August, while highest body weight at first service and conception were recorded for cows that calved during December to February. Furthermore, significantly (at least p < 0.05) the lightest weight was recorded for the cows in the first parity compared to those cows in the other parities (2 to 6 parities). Body weight at estrus, service and conception were linearly, directly and significantly (p < 0.001) related to calving weight and body weight gain from calving to three months. Calving year significantly (p < 0.001) affected cow weight at calving, estrus, service and conception (Figure 1) Table 4. Least square mean (± SE) body weight (kg) at calving, oestrus, service and conception Source N Calving weight Estrus weight Service weight Conception weight Overall mean 735 299.7 ± 1.35 304.6 ± 0.61 309.5 ± 0.79 313.3 ± 0.90 *** *** *** *** 78 313.9 ± 4.76 de 302.1 ± 2.18 c 310.0 ± 2.85 c 311.1 ± 3.24 e Boran x Friesian 66 374.9 ± 5.02 ab 313.7 ± 2.66 b 327.6 ± 3.47a 333.6 ± 3.95 b Boran x Jersey 45 323.7 ± 5.96 d 302.3 ± 2.71 c 311.7 ± 3.54 bc 315.4 ± 4.03 cd Boran x Simmental 46 381.3 ± 5.95 a 322.3 ± 3.07 a 330.6 ± 4.00 a 344.2 ± 4.56 a Horro x Friesian 65 341.8 ± 4.73 c 313.4 ± 2.25 b 318.7 ± 2.93 b 323.9 ± 3.34 c Horro 78 267.4 ± 2.45 f 300.2 ± 1.25 c 302.6 ± 1.63 d 303.3 ± 1.85 e Cow breed Boran Horro x Jersey 44 304.8 ± 4.39 e 303.9 ± 1.99 c 309.4 ± 2.59 c 310.9 ± 2.95 de 313 362.5 ± 5.98 b 312.5 ± 2.90 b 316.5 ± 3.78b c 320.9 ± 4.03 c * NS *** *** 151 340.3 ± 3.51 a 307.4 ± 1.73 311.3 ± 2.26 c 315.8 ± 2.58 b 2 (Sept. - November) 161 335.7 ± 3.50 ab 309.8 ± 1.71 314.5 ± 2.23b c 319.4 ± 2.54 b 3 (December- February) 179 331.2 ± 3.29 bc 309.7 ± 1.59 321.6 ± 2.07 a 326.9 ± 2.36 a 4 (March - May) 244 327.9 ± 3.07 c 308.3 ± 1.56 316.2 ± 2.03 b 319.5 ± 2.31 b *** * * ns 284.5 ± 3.68 d 306.3 ± 1.68 b 311.3 ± 2.19 b 319.6 ± 2.49 319.8 ± 2.52 Horro x Simmental Calving season 1 (June - August) Parity 1 168 2 150 320.8 ± 3.68 c 309.6 ± 1.69 ab 315.5 ± 2.21 ab 3 149 337.5 ± 3.53 b 307.1 ± 1.72 b 315.1 ± 2.25 ab 320.1 ± 2.56 4 117 349.3 ± 3.84 a 309.5 ± 1.93 ab 318.3 ± 2.51 a 322.6 ± 2.86 5 80 359.6 ± 4.50 a 312.2 ± 2.32 a 318.1 ± 3.01 ab 320.5 ± 3.44 6 71 351.1 ± 4.86 a 308.1 ± 2.36 ab 317.1 ± 3.08 ab 319.9 ± 3.51 *** *** *** Calving weight 0.888 ± 0.018 0.850 ± 0.023 0.828 ± 0.026 Gain 0-3 months 0.046 ± 0.002 0.051 ± 0.003 0.052 ± 0.004 Regression *** = P < 0.001, ** = P < 0.01 and * = P < 0.05 and NS = not significant Relative change of cow body weight at first estrus, service and conception to body weight at calving across breeds is presented in Figure 2. It can be observed that in all breeds except Horro, calving body weight was higher than body weight at estrus, service and conception. All breeds except Horro and Horro Jersey cows, lost a portion of their calving weight at estrus (0.3 to 16.3 %), service (3.7 to 13.3 %) and conception (0.9 to 11.5 %). The Horro Jersey lost 0.3% of its calving weight at estrus but gained 1.5 and 2 % of their calving weight at first service and conception. Cows showed their first estrus at a lower weight than calving 134 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction weight. However, at conception they required higher weight than what they had at first estrus indicating higher target weight for conception than that for estrus. 360 350 Weight (kg) 340 330 320 310 300 290 280 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 Calving year calving oestrus service conception Figure 2. Body weight at calving, oestrus, service and conception across calving years Relative change (%) 15 10 5 0 -5 BB BF BJ BS HF HH HJ HS -10 -15 -20 Breed oestrus service conception Figure 3. Relative change of body weight at oestrus, service and conception to body weight at calving for Boran (BB), BF (Boran x Friesian), BJ (Boran x Jersey), BS (Boran x Simmental), HF (Horro x Friesian), HH (Horro), HJ (Horro x Jersey) and HS (Horro x Simmental) cows, respectively Discussion Body weight at conception was higher than calving, estrus and service weight. These postpartum cow weights were different among breeds. This difference could be attributed to differences in genotype and environmental factors. Different genotypes have different mature body weight. At any stage of development, animals of the same breed attain a certain proportion of their mature weight. According to McDowell (1989), female cattle at birth should have a weight equivalent to 6.3 to 7% of its mature body weight, to have increased its birth weight by at least 250% at three months, to have reached at least 50% of mature size by 15 months and attain 85% of mature weight by 30 months. Roy (1980) on the other hand indicated that breeds of large mature size have higher absolute growth rate (kg gain/day) and slow maturity that is at the same percentage of mature weight larger breeds will be older. The differences that occur within and between breeds are due to differences in muscle to bone ratio, in skeletal size and in the amount of fat deposited at the same stage of maturity (Roy, 1980). Similar breed variation in body weight was reported in previous studies by Sendros Demeke et al. (1987), Wright et al. (1987), Alemu Gebre Wold (1988), Taddesse Bekele et al. (1991) and Sawyer et al. (1993). Breeds also vary in their potential for food intake and partitioning of nutrients between milk production and body reserve (Bauman and Currie, 1980). This could also partly contribute to the variation among breeds. Genotype difference was also reported in the work of Wright et al. (1987). These authors reported that Blue-grey cows were lighter (437 kg) at calving and lost weight and 10th ESAP-Proceedings 135 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production condition after calving compared to Hereford Friesian (496 kg) cows. Heritability of calving weight and body weight at 112 days postpartum is moderate to high and ranges from 24 to 43% for Holstein and from 26 to 38% for Ayrishire line heifers (Batra et al., 1986). Hence, body weight could be improved through selection or crossbreeding. The significantly higher weight obtained for crossbreds compared to zebu cows could be due to heterosis effect from crossing zebu with the exotic sire (Friesian, Jersey and Simmental) breeds. The effect of parity on body weight at calving, estrus and service was significant, while its effect on conception weight was not significant. Cows in earlier parities were lighter than those in later parities. The body weight at calving, estrus and service increased until third parity since the weight change after third parity was not significant probably indicating that the cows had attained their mature body weight. Yimam Hassen and Brannang (1996) also reported significant effect of parity on cow weight and found an increase in cow weight after calving from parity one to two and decreased then after. The effect of parity could be related to variations in calving age. According to Smeaton et al. (2000) herd live weights increased each year as herd age increased and cow live weight increased by 30-60 kg for every year of age. Unless the composition of the herd changes from year to year, keeping the same animals across years could result in higher weight year after year due to the maturation of the animal. Besides, the herd composition at Bako has also changed from crossbred dominance during early periods to Horro dominance during the later years of the study period. The mature body weight of the zebu is different from that of the crossbreds and this contributed to annual variations in weight of the cows. The effects of calving year and season on body weight at calving, estrus, service and conception could also be related to seasonal variations in availability of feed both in quality and quantity. In the majority of dry cows, the anoestrus state induced by sever under-nutrition can be rapidly changed to one of normal fertility, once cows regained sufficient mass and condition to reinitiate estrus cycles (Richards et al., 1986; Louw et al., 1988). Relatively larger cows may thus experience lower conception rate following sever mass losses than smaller cows (Louw et al., 1988). Energy balance during the first four weeks postpartum was significantly negatively correlated with calving weight and positively correlated with body weight change during weeks 1 to 10 of lactation (Senatore et al., 1996). Among the crossbred cows Jersey crosses were the lightest in weight compared to Friesian and Simmental crosses (Table 1). This agrees with the Kebede Beyene and Galal (1982), Alemu Gebre Wold (1988) and Sendros Demeke et al., 1987. O’Donovan et al. (1978) reported that Friesian and Simmental crosses had higher daily gains, feed intakes and conversion efficiencies than the Jersey crosses. The weight of the animals at any of these stages postpartum could be improved through proper supplementation. Cows are anoestrus until they gain most of the weight lost. A study conducted to see the effect of supplementation on body weights at calving, estrus and conception, revealed that supplementation improved the weight of the cows at calving, first estrus and conception (Tegegne Azage et al. 1994). Conclusion Generally it is a normal trend to see a cow losing a portion of its calving weight postpartum particularly during the first few weeks of lactation. This is because of the negative energy balance that the cow could experience due to the demands of nutrients for various production and physiological functions. However, this weight loss has a negative impact on the reproductive activity of the cow. Therefore, minimizing the degree of weight loss through proper feeding of the postpartum cow might result in higher weight for estrus and conception relative to calving weight, thus improves postpartum reproduction. To realize this the nutrient need of the cow need to be studied and appropriate ration formulated. Acknowledgements The authors are great full to the Bako Agricultural Research Center for the provision of the data used for this study and the International Livestock Research Institute for the provision of computer facilities. 136 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction References Batra, T. R., Lee, A. J. and McAllister, A. J. 1986. Relationships of reproduction traits, body weight and milk yield in dairy cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 66: 53 - 65. Bauman, D. E. and Currie, W. B. 1980. Partitioning nutrient during pregnancy and lactation a review of mechanism involving homeostasis and homeorhesis. J. Dairy Sci. 63: 1514 - 1529. Gebre Wold Alemu. 1988. Milk yield and body weight changes of F1 crossbred cows during the first six months of lactation. Proceedings, VI World Conference in Animal Production, Helsinki, Finland, Finish Animal Breeding Association. P.555. Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes and Mulugeta Kebede.1996. Fertility of Horro and crossbred (F1) cows at Bako Research Centre. In: ESAP Proceedings of the Fourth National Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP). 18-19 April, 1996. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P. 120-126. Kebede Beyene. and Galal, E.S.E. 1982. A study of body weight from birth to one year of age in European-zebu crossbred cattle in Ethiopia. Anim. Prod. 34:85-93. Louw, B. P., Thomas, C. R. and Lishman, A. W. 1988. The influence of loss and gain of body mass on ovarian activity in beef cows. S. Afri. J. Anim. Sci. 18 (1): 1 - 7. McDowell, R. E. 1989. Strategies for genetic improvement of cattle in warm climate. In: IAR (Institute of Agricultural Research) Proceedings of the Second National Livestock Improvement Conference, 24-26 February 1988, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P.61-73. O’Donovan, P. B., Alemu Gebre Wold, Beyene Kebede and Galal, E. S. E. 1978. Fattening studies with crossbred (European x Zebu) bulls. I. Performance on diet of native hay and concentrate. J. Agric. Sci. Camb. 90: 423 - 429. Richards, N. W., Spitzer, J. C. and Warnwer, M. B. 1986. Effect of varying levels of postpartum nutrition and body condition at calving on subsequent reproductive performance in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 62: 300 - 306. Roy, J. H. B. 1980. The calf. 4th ed. Butterworth, London. SAS (Statistical Analysis System). 1999. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. Sawyer, G. J., Milligan, J. and Barker, D. J. 1993. Time of joining affects the performance of young Angus and Angus x Friesian cattle in the South-West of Western Australia. I. Live weight, body condition, and reproductive performance in heifers and first calvers. Aust. J. Exper. Agric. 33: 511 - 521. Senatore, E. M., Butler, W. R. and Oltenacu, P. A. 1996. Relationship between energy balance and postpartum ovarian activity in first lactation dairy cows. Anim. Sci. 62: 17 - 23. Sendros Demeke, Beyene Kebede, Taye Bekure, Mulugeta Kebede and Hailu Gebre Mariam. 1987. Preliminary results of cattle crossbreeding study II. Growth performance of European x Zebu crossbred calves. In: IAR (Institute of Agricultural Research) Proceedings of the First National Livestock Improvement Conference, 11 - 13 February 1987, Addis Ababa. P. 73 - 75. Smeaton, D. C., Bown, M. D. and Clayton, J. B. 2000. Optimum live weight, feed intake, reproduction and calf out put in beef cows on North Island hill country, New Zealand. New Zealand J. Agric. Research 43: 71 - 82. Taddesse Bekele, Alemu Gebre Wold and Kassahun W. Gebriel. 1991. Effect of levels of concentrate feeding on milk production of crossbred cows. In: IAR (Institute of Agricultural Research) Proceedings of the Third National Livestock Improvement Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24 - 26 May 1989, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P. 108 - 111. Tegene Azage, Geleto, A., Osuji, P. O., Kasa Tessfu. and Franceschini, R. 1994. Influence of dietary supplementation and partial suckling on body weight and on lactation and reproduction performance of primiparous Boran (Bos indicus) cows in Ethiopia. J. Agric. Sci. Camb. 123 (2): 267 - 273. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 137 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Wright, I. A., Rhind, S. M., Russel, A. J. F., Whyte, T. K., McBean, A. J. and McMillan, S. R. 1987. Effect of body condition, feed intake and temporary calf separation on the duration of the postpartum anoestrus period and associated LH, FSH and prolactin concentrations in beef cows. Anim. Prod. 45 (3): 395 - 402. Yimam Hassen and Brannang, E. 1996. Cow weight and calf birth weight performance of Jersey cattle at Ada Berga state farm, Ethiopia. In: ESAP Proceedings of the Forth National Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 18 - 19 April 1997, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. P. 93 - 98. 138 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Evaluation of the General Farm Characteristics and Dairy Herd Structure in Urban and Peri-Urban Dairy Production System in the Addis Ababa Milk Shed Yoseph Mekasha1, Azage Tegegne2, Alemu Yami3 and N.N. Umunna2 1Alemaya University (AU), Department of Animal Sciences, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa; 2International 3Ethiopian Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa; Agricultural Research Organization (EARO), P.O.Box 32, Debre Zeit. Abstract Evaluation of the general farm characteristics and dairy herd structure was undertaken in urban and peri-urban dairy production system in the Addis Ababa milk shed. A total of 41 dairy farms were selected randomly from three production sub-systems (intar-urban, large peri-urban and secondary town sub-systems), and cross sectional survey was implemented across all the production sub-systems. The result indicated that female-headed family owned 24.4% of the dairy farms, where the largest proportion was observed in intra-urban dairy farms (40%). The proportion of dairy farm owners being farmers was 34.2% followed by household wives (14.6%). About 78% of the dairy farm owners were literate (39% above secondary), while 22% were illiterate. The largest proportion of literate owners was found in large peri-urban, while the largest proportion of illiterate was found in intra-urban dairy farms. Most dairy farms (73.2%) were managed by the owner themselves and the type of cattle production is mainly dairying. All the dairy farms keep Holstein-Friesian as a dairy stock and the management system followed was intensive. The largest mean herd size was observed in large peri-urban dairy farms (128) followed by secondary town (9.1) and intra urban farms (9.2). The proportion of cows out of the total herd was 50%, where the largest proportion was observed in intra-urban (58%) dairy farms. The contribution of indigenous zebu cattle to the overall herd was only 2.5%. Milking cows contributed to 35.8% of the total herd and 72.2% of the total cows, where the largest was occurred in secondary town dairy farms. The proportion of heifers in the production system was 25.6% while the proportion of calves was 21.6%. The largest proportion of calves (88%) was found to be females. Key words: Urban/Peri-urban; Dairy farm; Dairy herd Introduction Urban and Peri-urban Dairy production system encompasses the production, processing and marketing of milk and milk products that are channeled to urban centers (Rey et al., 1992). It is an important type of livestock production systems prevalent in tropics and sub-tropics. The increasing human population and purchasing power in urban centers, inadequate foreign reserves and the increasing price of milk and milk products in abroad have given impetus to the flourishing of urban and peri-urban dairy production systems in this region. The production system plays a vital role in improving the nutritional status of the ever increasing urban population, generate substantial income and create job opportunities through the process of production, processing and marketing of dairy products. However, information is meager to indicate the general picture of the production system, mainly characteristics of the dairy farms and herd structure. Evaluation of the prevailing production system would assist us in designing appropriate improvement strategies. To this effect, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and its partners have embarked on a study on market oriented urban and peri-urban dairy production system and developed conceptual framework for research (ILRI, 1996). Evaluation of the general farm characteristics and herd structure is part of this study and believed to furnish baseline information on the existing production system. The objective of this study was, therefore, to assess the existing farm characteristics and dairy herd structure in urban and peri-urban dairy production system in the Addis Ababa milk shed. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 139 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Materials and methods Description of the study site The study was conducted on private urban and peri-urban dairy farms in and around Addis Ababa between August-December, 1999. Urban and peri-urban dairy production system has been characterized into seven sub-systems (clusters) of which intra-urban, large peri-urban and secondary town dairy production sub-systems represented by Addis Ababa, Sebeta and Kaliti and Debre-Zeit town respectively were the concern of this study. Addis Ababa is situated in an altitude of 2400 m.a.s.l. The average minimum and maximum annual temperature is 9.4 and 23.2 0C, respectively and the annual mean rainfall is 1201.5 mm (ILCA, 1993). Kaliti and Sebeta are located at about 20-25 kms south and west of Addis Ababa on the way to Debre Ziet and Jimma roads respectively. Debre Ziet is located 45 kms south east of Addis Ababa at an altitude of 1850 m a.s.l. The mean annual rainfall is 864.6 mm and mean minimum and maximum temperatures are 10.6 and 25 0C, respectively (Astatike et al., 1995). Study population and sampling Study population and sampling of the target groups has been described in the previous work of ILCA/ILRI under the project Development of tools for peri-urban dairy production systems in sub-Saharan Africa and Market distribution and Consumption dynamics of regulated and unregulated smallholder system (ILCA, 1994). Three production sub-systems, viz., Intra-urban, urban of secondary town and large peri-urban dairy farms were considered for this study. A proportional and representative sample of farms was drawn from the three production sub-systems. Accordingly, 17 farms from intra-urban (Addis Ababa), 6 farms from large peri-urban (Sebeta and Kaliti) and 20 farms from secondary town (Debre Zeit) were selected randomly. Data collection procedures Following identification of the dairy farms, structured questionnaire was developed and used for the survey work. Cross-sectional survey was implemented across the selected dairy farms and information was gathered on the general farm characteristics and dairy herd structure. Statistical analysis Descriptive statistics was employed to analyze the data using SAS statistical package (SAS, 1989). Results and discussion General farm characteristics The general farm characteristics of the urban and peri-urban dairy production system in the Addis Ababa milk shed is presented in Table 1. The result indicated that male gender owned about 76% of the dairy farms. It was only 24% of the dairy farms, which were owned by females. The largest proportion for female headed dairy farms was observed in intra-urban production sub-system (40%). This implies that femaleheaded dairy farms are becoming an important component in the urban and peri-urban dairy production system. Considering occupation of the dairy farm owners, about 39% of the dairy farm owners were engaged in various activities. The proportion of dairy farm owners being farmer was only 34%, followed by household wives (14.6%). Possession of the dairy farms by the household wives was the highest in intra-urban (33%) production sub-system followed by large peri-urban farms (17%). This is due to the higher proportion of female-headed dairy farms in the same production sub-system, where most of them are household wives. In this study, most of the dairy farm owners (83%) in large peri-urban were farmers. This is due to the fact that dairy farms in large peri-urban production sub-system are large sized (Table 2) and thus, owners are fully engaged with the farming. In contrast to this, most dairy farms in intra-urban and secondary town are small sized and management of such farms needs less time than large sized farms. Besides, the expected income from small sized farms is less to fully satisfy the owners and as result owners look for other job to be fully engaged. The small sized farms in intra-urban and secondary town may also prevent the owners not to increase herd size and fully engaged in the business. 140 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction Assessment of the educational level of the farm owners indicated that about 39% of the owners were possessing above secondary education. The largest proportion was observed in large peri-urban production sub-system (67%) followed by secondary town (45%). Establishment of large sized farm demand knowledge besides capital, land and other resources. It has been recommended that dairyman should have all rounded knowledge in the production, processing and marketing of dairy products (Foley et al., 1983). The highest proportion of farm owners possessing above secondary education in large sized farms may partly be attributed to this fact. In secondary town, most of the farms were established after the downfall of Derg regime mainly by ex-military staff (Air force) since they were jobless at the moment. Furthermore, the town is endowed by agricultural professionals due to the various agricultural organizations located there and part of them run backyard smallholder dairy farming. These may be the reasons for possession of higher educational status following large peri-urban. Out of the dairy farm owners considered across all the production system, about 22% were found to be illiterate. The highest proportion of illiteracy in dairy farm owners was observed in intra-urban dairy farms (46%). Smallholder urban dairying was run mostly by resource poor peoples living in urban centers, whom are illiterate. Most of the time it is backyard farming as land is being the major infrastructural constraint in this sub-production system (Yoseph et al., 1999). The object of this farm is to generate income to supplement household expenses for the family. Table 1. General Farm Characteristics of the Urban and Peri-urban Dairy Production System in the Addis Ababa Milk Shed Production Sub-Systems Variables Intra-urban (%) N=15 Large Peri-Urban (%) N=6 Secondary town (%) N=20 Total (%) N=41 Sex of the farm owner Female Male 40 60 33 67 10 90 24.4 75.6 Occupation of the farm owner Farmer Civil servant Household wives Others 13 7 33 47 83 17 - 35 20 45 34.2 12.2 14.6 39.0 Education of the farm owner Illiterate Elementary Junior secondary Secondary Above secondary 46 7 20 7 20 33 67 10 15 15 15 45 22.0 10.0 15.0 14.0 39.0 Manager of the farm Owner Hired 93 7 17 83 75 25 73.2 26.8 100 17 83 100 2.6 97.4 Record Keeping Yes No 7 93 83 17 15 85 22.0 78 Farm animals kept other than cattle Sheep Horse Donkey Poultry Dog Cat 40 7 27 73 60 17 17 17 17 50 5 15 35 70 41.5 2.4 2.4 19.5 46.3 58.5 Type of Cattle Production Dairy only Dairy and beef 100 - 83 17 85 15 90.2 9.8 Type of Exotic Cattle Breeds Holstein-Friesian Jersey 100 - 100 17 100 - 100.0 2.4 Dairy Cattle Management System Intensive Extensive 100 - 83 17 100 - 97.6 2.4 Type of Farming Crop-livestock Livestock only Attempt was also made to investigate whether dairy farms in urban and peri-urban production system are managed by the farm owners or hired labor. The result indicated that majority of the dairy farms (73%) 10th ESAP-Proceedings 141 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production considered were managed by the owners themselves. However, the largest proportion (83%) of the farms in large peri-urban production sub-system was managed by hired labor. Peoples owning large sized herd are resource rich people in contrast to smallholders. Yoseph et al. (1999) demonstrated that inadequate capital is the major characteristics that distinguish smallholders in urban and peri-urban dairy production system in contrast to large sized farms. Thus, resource poor dairy farm owners are unable to hire labor and thus manage by themselves in the way they have experienced. Nevertheless, large sized farms prefer their farms to be managed by hired labor with an attempt to diversify their business. As herd size increases profitability of the farm increases provided that all the farm requirements and market is optimum. However, this could not be achieved without optimum management, and hiring professionals to this end is imperative. The major type of agricultural farming in the production system is livestock farming (97%). The only farm running crop/livestock type of farming was observed in large peri-urban production sub-system. The mere reason for this is availability of land. It was only 22% of the farms in the urban and peri-urban production system, which keep records of the dairy farm; and the largest proportion was observed in large peri-urban production sub-system. Most smallholders dominating intra-urban dairy farms are less educated. The largest proportion of dairy farm owners possessing above secondary school and hiring trained labor to manage the farm could be the reason for practicing record keeping. Urban and peri-urban dairy farms do also keep farm animals other than dairy cattle. The most common ones include cats, dog, sheep, poultry, donkey and horses in that order. Cats and dogs are the most common pet animals through out the production system. Cats are commonly kept to guard mice and other rodents from attacking concentrates and milking equipment. Dogs are also kept to guard intruders (theft). Small ruminants mainly sheep is raised to generate extra profit through the utilization of whatever feed leftover at the farm. Donkeys and horses are kept by urban and peri-urban dairy farms for the purpose of racing (intra-urban) and transporting animal feeds, respectively. Pet animals are important to serve the purpose they are kept for inline with the farmers objective. However, they could also be a potential transmitter of zoonotic diseases if appropriate controlling mechanism is not devised. Dairy farming is the major type of cattle production (90%) as compared to fattening, and Holstein Friesian are the major exotic cattle genotypes used as dairy stock in the farming systems. Dairy production system is an intensive type as evidenced by being practiced by all the production sub-systems. The findings were in agreement with the earlier reports (Azage and Alemu, 1997; ILRI, 1996). Dairy herd structure Dairy herd structure at different physiological stages in the urban and peri-urban dairy production system is presented in Table 2. The overall mean herd size across all the production sub-systems was 26.5, where large peri-urban dairy production sub-system had the largest (128.0). The proportion of cows out of the entire dairy herd considered was 50%. The figure is higher compared to the reported value for national average (42%) (Azage and Alemu, 1997. al., 1995). The reason for the higher proportion of cows in this study compared to the national average is that urban and peri-urban dairy production system is market oriented and targeted to produce more milk by keeping more cows since sale of the milk is the major income for the farm. Furthermore, the largest proportion of dairy genotypes kept for milk production is exotic Holstein Friesian, while the proportion of indigenous Zebu cattle in the herd was found to be only 2.5% (Table 2). Within the production system, the largest proportion of cows in the herd was found in intra-urban (58%) followed by large peri-urban (49%) and secondary town dairy farms (46%). This could be attributed to reduced land size to keep more replacement stock than cows (most farms are back yard) in intra-urban farms, but large farm size to keep relatively more replacement stock in case of large peri-urban and secondary town dairy farms. The proportion of milking cows was found to be 35.8% out of the total herd and 72.2% out of the total number of cows. The largest proportion of milking cows out of the total herd (40.6%) and out of the total number of cows (89.1%) was observed in secondary town dairy production sub-system. This could be attributed to the longer lactation length in secondary town farms, which is in agreement with Yoseph et al. (2000) who reported extended lactation length in secondary town dairy farms. The proportion of heifers in the 142 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Breeding / Reproduction production system was 25.6%, where 11.7% were young aged between 1 to 2 years and the remaining 13.9% were at breeding age (2 to 3 years old). Relatively higher proportion of heifers was observed in secondary town production sub-system (26.3%) followed by large peri-urban (25.8%) and intra-urban (23.9%) dairy farms. It has been suggested that raising adequate number of replacement stock is one of the characteristics of successful dairy farm (Foley et. Al., 1983). However, the merit and demerit of this system should be weighed, both from economic as well as genotypic point of view. Usually it is economical to raise replacement stock at home since the cost incurred to raise them at home is lower than the cost spent to purchase. In terms of genotype, however, it would be advantageous to raise at home provided that the parents of the heifers are superior and they possess superior dairy character. Thus, it would be advisable to raise small number of heifers of superior genotype and cull the ones, which are inferior, rather than keeping large number of mixed stock. The extra demand of the farm in this case could be met by purchasing heifers from other sources based on their parents record and their physical condition. The largest proportion of replacement stock found in this study should therefore be interpreted with caution. The proportion of calves in the production system was found to be 21.6%, where 19 % was females and only 2.6% was male. The justification behind unequal distribution of sex is that most dairy farms in the production system sell male calves in the form of veal to urban consumers. The location of urban and peri-urban dairy production system is in high demand area for producers to sell their male calves. Table 2. Herd structure in Urban and Peri-urban dairy production system in the Addis Ababa milk shed Cows Production Sub-system Heifers Milking Pregnant Dry Nonpregnant Pregnant Nonpregnant Pregnant Nonpregnant Bulls Calves 2 to 3 years 1-2 yrs Male Young Female Breeding 1-4 yrs Total herd size Intra-Urban (N=15) Zebu 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 9 Crossbred 7 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 4 0 1 18 High-grade 13 28 21 5 3 9 18 2 9 2 1 111 Total 22 31 22 5 5 9 19 5 15 2 3 138 Mean Percent (%) 1.5 2.1 1.5 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.1 0.2 9.2 15.9 22.5 15.9 3.6 3.6 6.5 13.8 3.6 10.9 1.4 2.2 100.0 Secondary town (N=20) Zebu 0 8 0 0 0 6 0 0 1 0 3 Crossbred 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 High-grade 34 32 8 1 11 20 11 21 17 5 4 164 Total 34 40 11 26 11 21 18 182 18 8 1 5 7 1.7 2.0 0.4 0.1 0.6 1.3 0.6 1.1 0.9 0.3 0.4 9.1 18.7 22.0 4.4 0.5 6.0 14.3 6.0 11.5 9.9 2.7 3.8 100.0 Zebu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Crossbred 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 High grade 85 178 82 32 43 58 97 2 174 11 6 768 Total 85 178 82 32 43 58 97 2 174 11 6 768 Mean 14.2 29.7 13.7 5.3 7.2 9.7 16.2 0.3 29.0 1.8 1.0 128.0 Percent (%) 11.1 23.2 10.7 4.2 5.6 7.6 12.6 0.3 22.7 1.4 0.8 100.0 141.0 249.0 112.0 38.0 59.0 93.0 127.0 28.0 207.0 18.0 16.0 1088.0 13.0 22.9 10.3 3.5 5.4 8.5 11.7 2.6 19.0 1.7 1.5 100.0 Mean Percent (%) Large PU (N=6) Total Mean Percent (%) 0 26.5 Conclusion Urban and peri-urban dairy production system is an important component of livestock production system in Ethiopia. In this study, it was found that female-headed dairy farming is becoming an important component of dairying in the Addis Ababa milk shed. Dairy farming offered job opportunities as indicated by higher proportion of owners became farmers, and generate income to supplement household expenses. However, the proportion of illiterate farm owners is substantially high which would have an adverse effect on the management of improved dairy stock. Beside, care should be taken to inspect pet animals, as they are 10th ESAP-Proceedings 143 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production economically important to transmit zoonotic diseases. The largest herd size should be compromised with the carrying capacity of the farm and the higher proportion of replacement stock needs to be evaluated both economically and genetically in order to have a profitable dairy farm. References Astatike A., Mohammed Saleem, A.M. and El Wakeel, A. 1995. Soil water dynamics under cereal and forage legume mixtures on drained vertisols in the Ethiopian highlands. Agric. Water Management., 27:17-24. Azage Tegegne and Alemu G/Wold. 1997. Prospects for peri-urban dairy development in Ethiopia. ESAP Proceedings. Fifth National Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production. 15-17 May 1997. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Foley, R., Bath, D.L., Dickinson, F.N. and Tucker, H.A. 1972. Dairy cattle. Principles, Practices, Problems, Profits. Lea and Febiger. P693. ILCA (International Livestock Center for Africa). 1994. Annual Program Report. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ILCA (International Livestock Center for Africa). 1993 Climatic records for ILCA research sites. ILCA, P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute). 1996. Annual Project Report. ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Rey, B., Thorpe, W., Smith, J., Shapiro, B., Osuji, P., Mullins, G. and Agyemang, K. 1993. Improvement of dairy production to satisfy the growing consumer demand in Sub Saharan Africa: A conceptual framework for research. International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. SAS (Statistical Analysis System Institute). 1989. SAS/STAT users guide. Version 6.0, fourth edition. Vol. 2., Cary, NC, USA. Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and N.N. Umunna. 1999. Feed resources and Nutritional management of dairy herd in the urban and peri-urban dairy production system in the Addis Ababa milk shed. Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and N.N. Umunna. 2000. Reproductive management and reproductive performance of the dairy herd in the urban and peri-urban dairy production system in the Addis Ababa milk shed. Proceedings of the Eight Annual Conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 144 10th ESAP-Proceedings PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Managing Risk in Pastoral Systems: Research and Outreach Experiences of the Pastoral Risk management (PARIMA) Project in Southern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya Getachew Gebru1,3, Solomon Desta2,3, and D. Layne Coppock3 1PARIMA Project, c/o International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2PARIMA Project, c/o International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya. 3PARIMA Project, c/o Department of Environment & Society, College of Natural Resources, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA 84322-5215 Abstract In the context of East African pastoralism, improved risk management is proposed to offer ways to promote wealth conservation, reduce poverty, mitigate conflicts, and enhance food security at the household level. The Pastoral Risk Management (PARIMA) project is a multi-disciplinary effort funded by USAID from 1997 to 2006. The two main components of the project include research and outreach. The study area extends from Hagremariam in southern Ethiopia to Isiolo and Baringo Districts in north-central Kenya. The study area represents an intact eco-marketing region, hosts 10 major ethnic groups, and is beset by pervasive poverty, violence, food insecurity, poor infrastructure, and inadequate public services. Research has focused on risk mapping, household survey, and community-level case studies to identify prominent risks for pastoralists, clarify pastoral coping strategies, and reveal possible development interventions. Outreach disseminates research information among researchers, development agents, policy makers, and communities. Outreach has also engaged in efforts to build awareness and capacity of pastoral communities and development agents to implement risk-management interventions using pilot projects. Degree training has focused on master’s and doctoral students, both in East Africa and the United States. Non-degree training includes workshops and interactive field tours for communities, development facilitators, and policy makers. One development vision of the PARIMA project is based on how to promote household wealth accumulation and conservation via asset and income diversification. The process could involve encouraging households to become involved in more timely livestock sales before crises occur, putting some revenue in drought-proof alternative investments, and then focusing on how to achieve a degree of sustainable livelihood diversification. This paper reviews some general findings and experiences from the PARIMA project over the period 1997 to 2002, with a focus on work conducted in southern Ethiopia. Background Risk management is a broad term that includes various methods and strategies that people use when they try to protect themselves against misfortune or systemic shocks. Such phenomena can include things like drought or a sudden down-turn in a local cash economy. Elements of risk management include asset and income diversification, enhanced use of information, and enhanced use of internal and external resources (Dr. C. Barrett, personal communication). In general, it is thought that increased economic diversification can reduce vulnerability of people to any one type of problem or shock. When people have access to more information, they are more aware of strategic choices and can plan more effectively. When key resources are rehabilitated, or external assistance is provided, the ability of people to sustain themselves during difficult times can be enhanced. Pastoralists the world over are exposed to many risk factors such as drought, thievery, or epidemic disease that can decimate their livestock holdings and thus potentially destroy their livelihoods. Local pastoral systems in East Africa are under increasing stress, and some have become more unstable in response to drought. This can lead to marked declines in human welfare. One vision of the PARIMA project is to affect positive change in the welfare of pastoral and agro-pastoral peoples through identification and facilitation of risk management interventions that promote food security, improve prospects for economic growth, and reduce the likelihood of resource-based conflicts 10th ESAP-Proceedings 147 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (Coppock et al., 1997). This vision could be accomplished through interventions that help diversify pastoral economies and encourage some complementary forms of non-livestock investment, improve marketing efficiency, enhance availability and use of marketing and climate forecast information, and improve access to external resources. The latter aspect can also include resource rehabilitation and conservation. The purpose of this paper is to present some aspects of PARIMA’s preliminary research and outreach experiences. The PARIMA project conducts social, economic, and ecological research on various risks faced by pastoralists and their responses to such risks. This research has been funded from 1997 through 2006 by the Global Bureau of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington, D.C. The study area is 124,000 km2 in size and covers the region from Hagremariam in southern Ethiopia to Isiolo and Baringo Districts in north-central Kenya. It represents an intact eco-marketing region and hosts 10 major ethnic groups. Populations are subjected to a variety of cross-border problems and related issues that include poverty, violence, food insecurity, poor infrastructure, and inadequate delivery of public services. Research has been conducted using survey methods and case study approaches. The survey methods have primarily relied on a quarterly repeated survey across 11 study sites, with five in southern Ethiopia and six in northern Kenya (McPeak et al., in preparation). Case studies have been prepared by graduate students investigating local circumstances among the Borana (Desta, 1999; Shibru, 2001) or Guji (Asfaw and Saaristo, 1999). Outreach has largely been focused on the Borana Plateau, with some activity in the Kenyan borderlands adjacent to Ethiopian territory. Outreach support has been provided on an annual basis by the USAID Mission to Ethiopia since 2000. Pastoralists have traditionally used a variety of strategies to reduce their risk exposure (Coppock, 1994). These include a reliance on livestock accumulation, use of herd mobility to exploit widely scattered forage and water resources, flexible social systems of resource use that promote reciprocal sharing, and creation of social safety nets whereby wealthier households can help poorer households restock after livestock losses have occurred. Human population growth, in particular, is an important factor that appears to limit the use of these traditional strategies in contemporary times (Coppock, 1994). Overcrowding on the landscape reduces livestock mobility, compromises reciprocal patterns of resource sharing among communities, and increases the chance for localized, environmental degradation (bush encroachment). Increasingly regular losses of livestock can limit the utility of herd accumulation. High demand for redistribution of livestock by a growing poorer segment of pastoral society puts unsustainable pressure on wealthier households—as one consequence social safety nets seem less apparent today than they used to be (Doss, 2001). Modern forms of risk management, which may or may not be used by (or accessible to) traditional people include opportunistic use of markets to buy and sell livestock (McPeak, 2001), activity diversification (Little et al., 2001), and asset diversification via formal and informal savings institutions (Desta, 1999; Osterloh, 2001).Synopsis of Some Preliminary Research Findings: Focus on Southern Ethiopia In the absence of accessible markets and rural financial systems, the value of livestock wastage losses to drought and heavy stocking rates is very high. Working among the Borana pastoralists, Desta (1999) found a steady decline in cattle numbers per household between 1980 and 1997; roughly a net drop of 37% from 92 to 58 head per household. The vast majority of cattle losses have been from drought-related mortality, and not sales. We have estimated the value of cattle losses to be on the order of USD 45 million when extrapolated to a target population of 7,000 households over the 17 years. When extrapolated over the pastoral population for the entire Borana Plateau, the figure could be as high as USD 300 million. If “safe” alternative banking options and improved cattle marketing were added to this system to reduce cattle wastage losses and provide an alternative means to cycle and store money, it has been estimated that loss of capital wealth could be significantly reduced (Desta, 1999). Cattle crashes are caused by high stocking rates in conjunction with dry or drought years, not simply by drought alone. Climatic factors, coupled with higher stocking rates, appear to be the underlying causes of herd crashes, which seem to occur at a regular frequency of once every 5 to 6 years. 148 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Cattle crashes have been well-documented for 1983-5 and 1991-3 (Desta and Coppock, 2002a) as well as for 1998-9 (Shibru, 2001). In some cases it appears that stocking rates may provide a locally based, long-range predictor of drought-induced livestock crashes. When stocking rates exceed 20 head per square kilometer, the system appears more vulnerable to crash in a dry year. It is highly unlikely that the next major crash will occur in the area before 2005—this is fundamentally dictated by population dynamics (Desta and Coppock, 2002a). We suspect that the cyclic nature of cattle crashes is also due to loss of drought grazing reserves. Loss of grazing reserves in turn may be due to overpopulation of people (who now reside in reserves) and resource degradation (bush encroachment), which reduces forage production. Pastoralists in southern Ethiopia exhibit a very low level of activity diversification, with few, strong economic links to settlements or towns. Other PARIMA research by Little et al. (2001) and Smith et al. (2000) shows that levels of activity diversification, access to formal schools, and general rural development are considerably higher in northern Kenya than southern Ethiopia. Regional patterns for income diversification suggest that about 16 options exist that help pastoralists generate income outside of livestock production. The closer people live to towns and villages the larger the number of options. The threshold appears to occur within a radius to town of around 40 km (Little et al., 2001). Poorer women tend to diversify more to supply firewood and charcoal to town dwellers, middle-class women tend to focus more on dairy sales, and wealthier males engage in retail or wholesale business ventures (Little et al., 2001). Compared to northern Kenya, in southern Ethiopia only very few pastoralists have access to wage employment, use banking facilities, or are engaged in sustainable forms of petty trade (Desta, 1999). The rate of illiteracy among the Boran is over 90% (Desta, 1999). A similar situation exists for the agro-pastoral Gugi—namely a low level of activity diversification, high rates of illiteracy, etc. (Asfaw and Saaristo, 1999). Cattle-keeping pastoralists in southern Ethiopia appear to respond to increased population pressure by increasing their involvement in maize cultivation and camel husbandry, and through land annexation for use as fodder banks. In previous work, Coppock (1994) estimated that the semi-arid region of the Borana Plateau could support 2-3 persons per square kilometer by subsisting soley on milk and meat production from their cattle herds. Today, however, the human population is probably closer to 6 or 7 persons per square kilometer, which means that people have to expand or diversify their food sources. We believe that an increased emphasis on small plot production of maize is an aspect of change that has been pushed by an increased human population. In addition, there is evidence that the cattle-keeping Boran in some areas are trying to diversify their animal holdings to include more camels (Desta, 1999). Camels complement cattle in that camels feed on the browse layer, while cattle are grazers. Camels can give more milk than cattle, but camels have a slower rate of reproduction, and camel milk only yields a very poor quality butter (Coppock, 1994). We expect that if given better access to markets, the Boran would diversify their herds to include more sheep and goats. This trend has been observed in other cattle-dominated pastoral systems such as Kajiado Maasailand (Evangelou, 1984). As in other increasingly crowded pastoral systems, valuable land plots are often annexed for use by individuals and communities for cultivation and fodder banks. This removes land from traditional common use systems, and the resulting parcelization and fragmentation limits herd mobility and opportunistic resource use (Coppock, 1994). Lack of food and water are commonly mentioned risks for people on the Borana Plateau. Smith et al. (2000) found considerable local variation in the prominent risks that people face in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. Lack of food and water were seen as the most common problem, however. One interpretation of this pattern is that the human population exceeds their carrying capacity. When this happens, lack of food and water would always be the issues of greatest concern. Public service delivery is extremely limited. In terms of public service delivery, pastoralists have been marginalized in both Ethiopia and Kenya. This is despite growth in pastoral populations, increased size and numbers of settlements, and increased incidence of poverty (Moris, 1999). Large policy gaps exist for pastoralists, although Ethiopia appears committed to bringing more services to the local level in rural communities as a result of the new federal system (Moris, 1999). 10th ESAP-Proceedings 149 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Livestock marketing is risky for pastoralists. When they have ready access to viable livestock markets, however, they use them more. Conventional wisdom suggests that pastoralists tend to avoid market involvement, but increased population pressure may tend to force pastoralists to sell more stock to buy grain (Coppock, 1994). Preliminary findings related to pastoral marketing systems (McPeak, 2001) show that annualized off-take rates for livestock vary from 4 to 7% in northern Kenya from 1 to 3% in southern Ethiopia. These rates are low in relation to the natural fluctuation of animal numbers due to births and deaths (Desta, 1999). Pastoralists, however, tend to use markets when they have more access (McPeak, 2001). Price risk for producers and livestock traders can be high. Sharp seasonal price swings also vary with location and livestock species (Barrett et al., 1998). Livestock prices rise when range conditions are favorable, and quarantine measures may negatively contribute to marketing risks for pastoralists (Barrett et al., 1998). Some practical development implications. Coppock (1994) concluded that given population pressures, the main way the situation could improve for people like the Boran is to develop human capital via education and diversify the production system. He felt that investment opportunities that provided some complementary opportunities to livestock could be important to help conserve wealth that is otherwise periodically lost as massive livestock mortality. Insights from more recent work are summarized by Barrett et al. (2001), and include the following perspectives: (1) Technical interventions and policies should support, and not undermine, pastoralists’ traditional means of managing risk, namely maintaining herd mobility, allowing people to accumulate livestock were possible, and providing opportunities for opportunistic marketing; (2) restocking of herds from viable base sizes can be a useful thing to do—if base herds are very small, however, restocking efforts could be wasted; (3) investment in more security could also help reduce risks associated with resource access and hence favour some restoration of herd mobility; (4) investment in primary education is important because it can lead to skills that enable people to augment pastoral livelihoods with salaried incomes; (5) investment in marketing infrastructure and institutions is important, and particularly so for populations residing in remote locations with poor market access; (6) interventions that could be detrimental to pastoral welfare include de-stocking programs for moderate-sized herds and food aid distribution that is non-responsive to variations in need for food among households and communities; and (7) potential for sustainable financial institutions need to be re-evaluated once market activities and income opportunities expand; and (8) promotion of investment in non-pastoral economic activities, to widen the range of desirable employment and investment opportunities, could also have some favourable results. Synopsis of Some Preliminary Outreach Activities: Focus on Southern Ethiopia Major objectives of the Ethiopian outreach program. Objectives include: (1) Building awareness and capacity among local communities, development agents, and policy makers concerning pastoral risk management; and (2) document felt needs of communities in terms of priority risk-management interventions and identify implementation problems through action research on intervention processes. The approach involves awareness raising and capacity building through non-degree training (cross-border workshops, cross-border tours, training courses), information dissemination, and policy liaison efforts. We have also embarked on a series of community-led pilot intervention projects. In this domain PARIMA serves a multipurpose role as facilitator, donor, and monitoring partner. The project structure includes an Outreach Coordinator, Outreach Field Assistant, Outreach Counterparts (such as the Oromia Agricultural Development Bureau or OADB), pilot project implementing partners [local development agents such as Action for Development (AFD) or Save the Children USA], and an Outreach Review Panel (ORP) consisting of 10 elected, and well-experienced African professionals from Kenya and Ethiopia. Outreach accomplishments. Since 2000, the Outreach Program has made numerous accomplishments. All started with a preliminary reconnaissance of northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia that revealed the following: (1) People echoed problems of population pressure, poor marketing, lack of financial institutions, 150 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems limited economic diversification, and lack of education; (2) people are becoming more outward looking as to possible solutions to their problems; and (3) there exists a surprising degree of economic development and diversification among certain pastoral women’s groups throughout northern Kenya. Following the reconnaissance, a network of outreach partners was established in both Kenya and Ethiopia. The outreach network in Ethiopia was established with the OADB as the main counterpart. Local governmental and non-governmental organizations would serve as implementing partners. As part of the awareness and capacity building programs PARIMA conducts workshops, non-degree training, and tours. These are targeted at different groups of people including development agents, pastoral communities, local government officials, and policy makers. Some of the workshops and training have included: (1) Initial implementation strategy workshops for local development agents (held at Yabello and Negelle) during October 2000 with a total of 60 participants; (2) three cross-border meetings focused on information sharing and activity harmonization for pastoralists, traders, development agents, and administrators [co-hosted by PARIMA and the Community Initiatives Facilitation and Assistance (CIFA)] with a total of some 240 participants. These meetings have been held in Moyale (Kenya) in May 2001, Yabello (Ethiopia) in September 2001, and Yabello again in December 2002. These meetings have served to markedly reduce cross-border tensions and have stimulated grass-roots plans for enhanced trade (Dr. S. Desta and Mr. C. Tadecha, personal observations); (3) training courses in participatory rural appraisal (PRA; Lelo et al., 2000) for 65 development agents, policy makers, and students, both in southern Ethiopia and at Njoro, Kenya; (4) some 40 development agents and local pastoralists have been trained in microfinance, small-scale business development, and project planning and proposal writing by staff of the Furra Institute of Development Studies in 2001 (Yirgalem) and 2002 (Yabello); (5) some 15 Ethiopian pastoral women and four development agents participated in a cross-border tour to northern Kenya in December 2001 to obtain lessons learned from successful pastoral women’s groups; (6) field tours for some 10 Oromia policy makers to visit communities and see problems and issues first hand; and (7) five Kenyan women’s group leaders traveled to southern Ethiopia for one month in December 2002 to mentor Ethiopians across the Borana Plateau. The exchanges involving Ethiopian and Kenyan women have great extension value as the Kenyan women impart considerable knowledge regarding self-help development schemes to the Ethiopians (Desta and Coppock 2002b). We refer to this process as “peer-to-peer” learning (Mr. S. Tezera, personal communication). Approach for community-led pilot intervention projects. A few communities were studied using the full PRA method (Lelo et al., 2000). This is an approach that requires investigators (researchers and a development agent) to work hand-in-hand with community members to identify and rank priority problems and potential, community-led solutions. The PRA results in a Community Action Plan (CAP). The CAP is then reviewed by the ORP and suggestions for change are made. Once approved by the ORP, the CAP can be forwarded to a donor for funding. Once funds are secured, implementation can only proceed once a local development agent has been found that is willing and able to help the community implement the activity. The on-going pilot projects (five in number) are focused on creation of saving and credit groups, provision of non-formal education, micro-enterprise development (dairy sales, petty trade, etc.). The projects range across ethnic groups (Boran, Arsi, Guji) and locations (Negelle, Yabello, and Moyale areas). The PARIMA project has facilitated the establishment of five savings and credit groups among the Boran in Dida Hara (total membership of 175 men and women) and two non-formal education centers among the same Boran in Dida Hara (total enrollment of 187 children and adults). These activities have been implemented in partnership with AFD, a local NGO. Two women’s groups have been formed among the Arsi and Boran near the town of Negelle, and they are involved in micro-enterprise development (dairy sales) and savings and credit schemes. The total membership is 180 women. The implementing partner is Save the Children USA and the Liben Woreda office of OADB). Another women’s group (mainly Boran) in the Moyale area has become involved in micro-enterprise development (petty trade) and a savings and credit scheme. The total membership is 44 women and the implementing partner is the Moyale Woreda office of OADB. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 151 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production It is important to note that the priority choices made by communities reflect the fact they are taking the “long view” for problem-solving. Namely, problems of underdevelopment, in part, are viewed by the people as due to a lack of human capital and a low capacity for self-reliance to solve new kinds of problems. The interventions chosen are integrated. The non-formal education feeds into both the rural finance and microenterprise development components. We perceive that demand is high in the area to implement similar approaches at the community level. PARIMA also collaborates with implementation partners on monitoring and evaluation of pilot project activities. This entails: (1) Baseline data collection; and (2) monitoring the implementation progress via sample households. Finally, dissemination of PARIMA’s research and outreach information is made through a variety of publications. These include a newsletter called PARIMA UPDATE (in English, Kiswahili and Oromifa), PARIMA Research Briefs, the GL-CRSP newsletter called Ruminations, and proceedings of workshops. Summary The PARIMA project is looking for long-term and sustainable solutions to the problems of pastoral systems in East Africa. We believe that more attention to risk management processes will reveal viable intervention concepts. One fundamental vision of PARIMA is to find ways to better create and conserve pastoral wealth. We believe that one means to approach this problem is to encourage more timely sales of animals and investment of proceeds in endeavors that enhance human capital and diversify local economies where possible. Such strategies will only be possible if marketing channels can be improved and rural financial services are made more accessible. Where conditions allow, we also strongly advocate efforts to promote the mobility of pastoral herds, restore key ecological resources, and support traditional systems of land use and social security. Our dual reliance on top-down, survey-based research and bottom-up forms of community participation is unconventional, but we want to maximize our efforts based on the relative strengths of each approach. We still need to continue to improve our efforts to link with Ethiopian policy makers. Acknowledgements Core research for the PARIMA project has been conducted under the auspices of the Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program (GL-CRSP) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the terms of grant no. PCE-G-98-00036-00. The PARIMA project is one of several projects managed under the auspices of the GL-CRSP in East Africa. The USAID Mission to Ethiopia funds the outreach component of the PARIMA project. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa is also a collaborator in our efforts. References Asfaw, T., and K. Saaristo. 1999. Risk Management Strategies of Pastoral Households: A Case Study of Guji-Oromo Communities in Southern Ethiopia. Master’s Thesis. Dept. of Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural University of Norway, Tivoli. 109 pp. Barrett, C.B., Little, P., Bailey, D., Chabari, F., and K. Smith. 1998. How might infrastructure improvements mitigate the risks faced by pastoralists in arid and semi-arid lands? Pages 1, 10, 12-13 in Johnson, S., (ed.) Ruminations— Newsletter of the SR/GL-CRSP. University of California, Davis. Fall Issue. 16 pp. Barrett, C.B., Little, P., Mcpeak, J., and G. Gebru. 2001. Highlights from current PARIMA research findings, 2000-01. Pages 38-44 in Coppock, D.L., (ed.). Summary of Proceedings—Second Biennial Research and Outreach Workshop for Kenya and Ethiopia: Improving Pastoral Risk Management on East African Rangelands. Held June 24 to July 3, 2001, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya. 156 pp. Coppock, D.L. 1994. The Borana Plateau of Southern Ethiopia: Synthesis of Pastoral Research, Development, and Change, 1980-91. Systems Study Number 5. International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 374 pp. 152 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Coppock, D.L., Barrett, C.B., Little, P., and A. Aboud. 1997. Improving Pastoral Risk Management on East African Rangelands. Funding Proposal for the SR/GL-CRSP. Utah State University, Logan. 209 pp. Desta, S. 1999. Diversification of Livestock Assets for Risk Management in the Borana Pastoral System of Southern Ethiopia. PhD Dissertation. Dept. of Rangeland Resources, Utah State University, Logan. 189 pp. Desta, S., and D.L. Coppock. 2002a. Cattle population dynamics in the southern Ethiopian rangelands, 1980-97. Journal of Range Management 55: 439-451. Desta, S., and D.L. Coppock. 2002b. Linking Ethiopian and Kenyan pastoralists and strengthening cross-border collaboration. Pages 4-7 in Johnson, S., (ed.) Ruminations—Newsletter of the SR/GL-CRSP. University of California, Davis. Winter Issue. 16 pp. Evangelou, P. 1984. Livestock Development in Kenya’s Maasailand: Pastoralists Transition to a Market Economy. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado. 309 pp. Lelo, F., Ayieko, J., Muhia, R., Muthoka, S., Muiruri, H., Makenzi, P., Njeremani, D., and J. Omollo. 2000. Egerton PRA Field Handbook for Participatory Rural Appraisal Practitioners. Third Edition. The PRA Programme, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya. 89 pp. Little, P.D., Smith, K., Cellarius, B., Coppock, D.L., and C. Barrett. 2001. Avoiding disaster: Diversification and risk management among East African herders. Development and Change 32: 401-433. McPeak, J. 2001. Pastoralists’ use of markets. GL-CRSP Research Brief 01-04-PARIMA. Global Livestock CRSP. University of California, Davis. 2 pp. Moris, J. 1999. Under Three Flags: The Policy Environment for Pastoralists in Ethiopia and Kenya. SR/GL-CRSP PARIMA Technical Report No. 04/99. Utah State University, Logan. 119 pp. Osterloh, S. 2001. Micro-finance in northern Kenya: The experience of K-REP Development Agency (KDA). GL-CRSP Research Brief 01-09-PARIMA. Global Livestock CRSP. University of California, Davis. 4 pp. Shibru, M. 2001. Pastoralism and Cattle Marketing: A Case Study of the Borana of Southern Ethiopia. Master’s Thesis. Dept. of Natural Resources, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya. 115 pp. Smith, K., Barrett, C., and P. Box. 2000. Participatory risk mapping for targeting research and assistance: With an example from east African pastoralists. World Development 28(11): 1945-59. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 153 The declining pastoral environment, vulnerability status and adaptation strategy Bruke Yemane National Pastoral Programme Coordinator, Oxfam GB, Ethiopia, Pobox 23688 code 1000, Addis Ababa, Email [email protected] Summary The lowlands (rangelands) of Ethiopia are found below 1500mts elevation and cover about 61-65% of the total area. They are home for about 12% of the human and 26% of the livestock population. They also provide livelihood, employment and investment opportunities for over 5 million people and residents of approximately 24 major towns and cities. They are also rich in natural resources, including flora and fauna biodiversity. Other forms of natural resources in the area include, aquatic (rivers and lakes), minerals (metallic and non-metallic) as well as energy (solar, wind and natural gas). Further more, the presence of cultural heritage has made the low land areas more valuable and attractive. How ever, there are constraints affecting the people and the resources. Major constraints are associated to socioeconomic, environment, structural and policy. Lack of policy support and little or no attention given to the indigenous knowledge and resource management has aggravated the situation. The compounded effect on the resources aggravated the vulnerability of the pastoral communities. These can be explained in terms of contraction and degradation of the over all size of the pastoral territory. This is mainly due to expansion of sedentary agriculture, large-scale agricultural projects, wild life parks and sanctuaries as well as unwanted plant species in the traditional pastoral territories. Climatic variability coupled with disease (human and animal) and conflict has exacerbated the situation. The constraints prevailed in the area for decades have affected the resources and made people vulnerable to the extent of making them dependent on relief assistance. Cognizant of the fact, the government of Ethiopia through its relevant institutions is attempting to overcome the crises. Like wise, NGOs, operating in the area are providing relief and development assistance to alleviate the problem. Above all, the pastoral communities for generation have developed and adapted coping strategies to survive during disasters. The strategies practiced and adapted were based on indigenous knowledge, skill and resource management The strategies focused on three major phases namely: i. Attempt to improve survival and productivity of livestock ii. Engage in obtaining food/feed from other sources and income generating activities and; iii. Scaling down family members and migration for survival. The purpose of this paper is by way of highlighting the resource potential of the pastoral areas and vulnerability status, focus more on the adaptation strategy employed pastoralists to cope up with the situation. The resource base The lowlands (rangelands) of Ethiopia cover about 78 million ha of land area (61%) of the country. They cover areas below 1500 mts and are classified into arid, semi arid and sub-humid agro ecological zones (EPA, 1998). Based on recent estimate, about 12% (5 million) of the human population composed of 29 Nilotic and Cushitic ethnic groups are found in the lowland areas of the country. Out of the total, about 93% are considered pastoralists and agro- pastoralists; while the rest are either hunter cultivator or pure cultivators. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 155 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production In terms of livestock, the rangelands carry about 28% of the cattle, 60% of the goats, 26% of the sheep and almost all the camels representing about 26% of the livestock population of the country (NRLDS, 1995). Lowland breeds of livestock play significant role to the national economy. The rangelands are rich in flora and fauna biodiversity. The presence of a number of national parks and sanctuaries in the lowland is also a clear indication for the remaining rich biodiversity in the country. Other types of natural resources rich in the area can be manifested in the form of water (rivers, lakes and ground water), minerals both metallic and non-metallic as well as energy in the form of solar, wind and natural gas, which are not properly tapped. The cultural heritages, pre history and archeological findings have made the pastoral areas more valuable. These being the realities of the pastoral areas, the resources are being constantly affected by a number of factors related to natural, structural, policy and demand driven socio-economic constraints. Some of the major underlining causes include the imbalance between population growth and the ongoing shrinkage and degradation of the rangeland resources, coupled with recurrent drought and conflict. The resultant effect has aggravated the food insecurity situation among the pastoral communities to the extent of threatening their livelihood, making them more dependable on relief assaitance. There fore, the purpose of this paper is to: Assess the degree of vulnerability situation of the pastoral communities and the resources and; Highlight some of the major coping strategies employed by the pastoral communities. Methodology The methodology employed to undertake this study is primarily based on: • Primary data source from observation, discussion with pastoral community representatives. In addition, questionnaire results administered in the pastoral weredas of Gewane and Tellalak (Afar region), Filtu, Doloado and Dolby (Somali region), Yabello, Moyale (Oromia region), Jikawo (Gambela region) between September1999 to February 2000. • Secondary data source from literature and relevant documents of the pastoral areas as well as discussion with development and research personnel involved in pastoral development in Ethiopia. Vulnerability status At present, the pastoral community and the resources they command are vulnerable more than ever because of the following major factors: Contraction of the traditional pastoral territory The rangelands of the country, which are home for the pastoral communities and estimated to cover about 78 million ha of land (EPA, 1998), are declining in size from time to time. Major reasons for the reduction in the size of the rangeland resources include i) expansion of sedentary agriculture ii) expansion of large scale agricultural projects iii) expansion of national parks iv) encroachment of unwanted plant species v) emergence and expansion of agropastoralism vi) drought and vii) conflict. Expansion of sedentary agriculture The lower limit for sedentary agriculture and the upper limit for the rangelands are the escarpments receiving 500-700 mm of annual rainfall. Areas found in this range are considered marginal for rain fed agriculture. How ever, due to population pressure and over utilization of croplands in the adjacent highland areas, the rangelands are encroached by sedentary crop cultivators. This has been the case in the pastoral areas of Afar, Somali, and lowlands of Oromia, Southern Omo of SNNPR and Gambela regions. Even though, there are no statistics on the total area of rangeland converted to sedentary farming, large part considered to be prime grazing land has been under constant pressure and threat from the neighboring agriculturists. The situation looks more serious in marginal adjacent areas bordering zones 5 and 4 of Afar, Jigjiga zone of, Somali and Borena zone of Oromia. 156 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Expansion of large-scale agricultural projects Constant expansion of large-scale agricultural projects has threatened the traditional pastoral territory. Since the last 50 years, the Afar pastoralists have lost close to 60 thousand ha of dry season grazing area along the Awash River. The kereyu pastoralists lost about 22 thousand ha for Metehara sugar state. At present, with the advent of free market economy and water development for irrigation purpose, the situation has become more pronounced. Specific examples could be, the Gode irrigation project in Somali region with a potential of 27 thousand ha of irrigable land; Chinagsen, Segeg, Elbaye and Biye dams that can irrigate 1000ha. In zone 4 of Afar, additional study has been conducted to use the rivers of Ewa andAwra for irrigation purpose. In South Omo of SNNPR large scale commercial agriculture using the Rivers of Woito and Omo could have the same effect. The construction of Alwero dam in Gambela region with a potential of irrigation 10 thousand ha (MOWRD, 1999) and similar study using the rivers of Bonga and Itang will have a sizable impact on the rangeland resources. Expansion of sedentary agriculture and large scale agricultural irrigated projects besides minimizing the existing traditional pastoral territories can have significant impact on down stream users in areas where dam construction is practiced. According to recent land use/cover of the pastoral regions, areas categorized or converted to crop cultivation has shown drastic change. These include, 178,000 ha (CEDEP, 1999), in the Afar region, 390,000 ha (Regional BOA), in Somali region1, 332,000 (Zonal DOA) in the Borena zone of Oromia region, 58,803 ha (SNNPRS, 2000) in south Omo, 32,452 ha (Socio-Economic Study of Gambela Region, 1996) Gambela region and38, 717ha (WARDIS, 1998) Benshangul Gumz Region. Using this crude estimate, the total area of the rangelands that will be converted into crop agriculture could be in the range of 1.9 million ha. Expansion of wildlife parks and sanctuaries Establishment and expansion of national parks and sanctuaries with out the consent and full participation of the pastoralist communities has greatly affected the rangeland resources. After the establishment of parks and sanctuaries, the pastoralists are not allowed to utilize the range resources for livestock even at times of drought when there is better feed resources in the parks. The pastoralists who are the traditional owners of the respective rangelands do not get any share or benefit from the income generated from the parks. According to the former Ethiopian Wild life Conservation Organization (EWCO), the national parks and sanctuaries established in the rangelands of the country is shown in table 1. As shown in table 1 about 353,730 ha in Afar, 62,300 ha in SNNPR and 50,610 ha in Gambela with a total of 466,640 ha of rangeland have been converted to wild life parks and sanctuaries. Emergence and expansion of agro-pastoralism The emergence and spread of agro-pastoralism into pure pastoral rangelands of Ethiopia was recorded particularly in the last 100 years as people are increasingly adapted to farming (Halt, 1989) and as a response to food insecurity (Oba, 1998). Expansion of agro-pastoralism could be partly associated with the decline in range resources as well as decrease in per capita livestock holding and productivity. Though, the area put under cultivation looks relatively small, the trend and impact is alarming. According to ILCA (1984) study, there was little cultivation in Eastern Hararge until the 1940s. In the 1970s, about 10% of the area was converted to crop cultivation. Study conducted by CEDEP (1999) indicated that in both Kebri Beyah and Tefriber (Awbere) weredas, the area converted to crop farming range between 36-38% of the total available land. Similar survey conducted by Save the Children-UK NGO indicated similar result in that about 32% of the rural people in the area have become agro-pastoralists. In Borena zone, expansion of agro-pastoralism reached its peak between1993-1995 where most of the Boran lost their livestock. Different estimates indicated that the area under cultivation ranges between 23.4% (Oba, 1998) and14% (Zonal Department of Agriculture, 2000). In Afar region, with the assistance from the former North East Rangeland Development Unit (NERDU) and the current crop extension package coordinated by the Regional Bureau of Agriculture over 3,700 ha of land has been converted to crop agriculture using both rain fed and irrigation (Regional BOA, 1999). 10th ESAP-Proceedings 157 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Agro pastoralism is gradually expanding in the regions of Gambela and Benshangul Gumz.Estimate indicated that in Gambela about 32,452 ha (BOA, 1999) and in particular in Jikaw, which is primarily pastoral wereda, crop cultivation has reached about 1400 ha. Like wise, in the regions of Benshangul Gumz and SNNPR, area taken by crop cultivation is estimated at 38,718 ha (BOA, 1999) and 58,503 ha (2.54%) of the total area (South Omo Department of Agriculture, 2000) respectively. Table 1. Wild life parks and sanctuaries found in the rangelands of the country. Region I Afar 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Awash National Park Yangudirassa national Park Alaidege Wildlife Reserve West Awash Wildlife Reserve Gewane Wildlife Reserve Mille Serdo wildlife Reserve Gewane Controlled Hunting Area West Awash Controlled Hunting Area Sub-total II Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region 2.1 2.2 Omo National park Mago National park Sub-total II Gambella 3.1 Gambella National Park Sub-total Total Region Area (ha) 7560 47310 18320 17810 24390 87660 59320 91360 353,730 40680 21620 62,300 Area in ha 50610 50610 466,640 ha Source: EWCO, 1993 In all the above cases, with the exception of irrigated agriculture, cultivation takes place either in bottomlands, riverbanks or in areas where moisture is available. The current trend is to move into more marginal areas and as a result crop yield is considered to be a failure. Encroachment of unwanted plant species Encroachment of unwanted plant species is a menace to the deterioration of the rangelands. Though the degree may vary, the evidence can be observed in most of the pastoral areas. In Borena, encroachment of unwanted woody plant species increased after the 1960s and worsened following a ban on the use of fire (Oba, 1998). Coppock (1994) reported that about 15 woody plant species are considered to be encroachers in the Borena rangeland. Estimate by ILCA (1993) put the area under bush at about 40%; while about 10% of the remaining area to be in good condition and reserved for calves (Oba, 1998). Among the different species, rapid expansion of Acacia drepanolobium is the most alarming. Even though there is no accurate information on the types and area coverage of unwanted plant species, rapid expansion of Prosopis juliflora in zones 3 and 1 of Afar region is a prime concern. Besides aggressively claiming prime irrigable and pastureland, its use as livestock feed is almost negligible. In the Somali region, the rapid expansion of parthenium commonly known as congress grass into the rangelands and crop farms is also alarming. This plant species, besides reducing the size of the rangelands has got a negative effect on the composition and consumption of milk producing a bitter taste on the milk produced. In South Omo of SNNPR, local sources have indicated that range areas, which once were covered with good grassland, have been replaced with unpalatable hardy and woody species. In all the above cases, change in vegetation composition from grass land to woody and unpalatable plant species, has forced pastoralists to alter their livestock composition from grazing to browsing species. Conflict over rangeland resources Intra and enter clan conflict over the rangeland resources mainly grazing and water has contributed to a decline and use of the resources. Conflict, not only denies resource usage but also cost human and livestock loses as well as destruction of properties. Intra clan conflict usually stays for shorter period of time and is 158 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems often solved using traditional social organization. On the contrary, inter tribal (clan) conflict between two major pastoral communities has far greater consequences in that the resultant effect could be observed on human lives, property and resources. To cite a typical example, the long time conflict between the Afars and Isas on the Halidege plain of zone 3 of Afar region has precluded the use of over 75,000 ha of good grazing area for both clans. Though the degree and magnitude vary, conflict occurs in the pastoral areas of Somali, Borena, South Omo and Gambela. The resultant effects of conflict is that human and livestock lives will be lost and consequently, the use of the resources will be denied to both clans or benefit the victor at the expense of the looser. In all the above cases, range land resource degradation and shrinkage, has its own negative impact and consequences in that it affects a number of resources including declining in percapita livestock holding, increase in livestock health risk as well as reduction in percapita livestock production and productivity. Adaptation strategy of the pastoral community Ethiopia’s history has been closely associated with drought and famine. Crises linked to famine has been traced as far as back 250 B.C and a total of at least 35 periods of food shortage with high human and livestock mortality have been recorded (Patrick et al., 1992). According to Oba (1998), drought in Boran tradition is recurrent and can be expressed in terms of failure of rains, failure of forage growth, deprivation of livestock feed, declining in livestock production and productivity. Oba further indicated that, using Boran oral history, drought in the area started about 1600 AD associated with the earliest famine. Similar droughts have caused tremendous looses in the different parts of pastoral areas and at different times in the country. How ever, the extent and effect become more pronounced in the last 4-5 decades. In response to the degree of calamity, pastoralists have developed different coping strategies, which have been tasted for generation. Some of the major coping strategies are highlighted here after. Diversification of livestock One of the coping strategies employed is diversification of livestock. The change in vegetation composition coupled with climatic variability has forced pastoralists to spread the risk they are facing by raising different but easily adaptable species. In Afar, patoralists in the past preferred to raise cattle, how ever, currently, they prefer to raise camels followed by small ruminants and cattle. In Somali region, pastoralists prefer to keep camels followed by small ruminants and cattle. In Borena, camel rearing next to cattle has become popular. Among pastoralists of South Omo and the Nuers, cattle are still the preferred type of livestock followed by small ruminants. As the change in vegetation composition is inevitable, rearing of livestock species adaptable to the situation, relatively better producing and reproducing types is eminent. Conservation of dry season grazing reserves and use of crop by products One adaptation mechanism to cope up with the feed and water shortages is the use of dry season grazing reserves. This is primarily based on the resource tenure and adherence to the traditional norms and values. During the rainy season when grazing and water is available, livestock are kept around villages or settlements. As pasture and water is depleted and the dry period advances, livestock are taken to dry season reserve areas. Movement to dry season areas has got its own procedures using traditional norms and resource management. In most instances, duration of stay in dry season areas ranges from3-7 months depending on the onset of the rains and severity of the drought. Movement to dry season areas is restricted because of various reasons including rangeland resource shrinkage and degradation. As a result, some pastoralists have started fencing grazing areas to conserve fodder produced in land for their own stock. This is a common feature among the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in Somali region. Among agro-pastoral communities, since crop production in marginal areas is not promising, if crops do well, the residues are fed to livestock. If crops fail, stalks of maize and sorghum are collected, conserved and fed to livestock. According to CEDEP (1999) household survey, among the local agro pastoral communities and the refugees in TeferiBer (Awbere), Derwenaji and Hartisheik of Jigjiga zone, Somali 10th ESAP-Proceedings 159 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production region about 83% of the maize, 78 % of the sorghum and 37 % of the barley residues is used as livestock feed. Similarly, the results from the questionnaire survey showed that the use of crop residue and by products as livestock feed during the dry period for milking animals has increased in almost all pastoral/ agro-pastoral areas of the country. Minimizing watering frequency Livestock watering frequency primarily depends on the season, type of livestock and distance from watering points. The common practice of watering livestock in areas where watering points are far from settlement villages is, cattle every 3 days, sheep and goats every 5-7 days and camels every 10-12 days. Pastoralists who are residing close to permanent rivers and water points water their animals every day. According to the questionnaire result, among pastoralists of Gewane and Tellalk, Afar region, Liben and Moyale, Oromia region, Doloado and Doloby, Somali region watering of animals during the dry season follow the following pattern. Watering of cattle is between 2-3 days, while small ruminants, donkeys and camels are watered 3-5 days and 7-10 days respectively. Attempt to increase the survival rate of livestock Among the pastoralists of Ethiopia, the preferred types of livestock species are cattle (Nuer, Boran, pastoralists of South Omo, Afar and Somali), small ruminants (all pastoralists) and camels (Somali, Afar and recently the Boran). Pastoralists do all they can to ensure survival, productivity and well being of their livestock. At times of extended dry periods or drought, household members gather branches and fruits of indigenous trees, vines, roots, grasses, any available browse material including mineral soils to feed their livestock. In areas where water is available, they try to increase watering frequency for their animals. Some allow their animals to rest for some time and forage on every available feed source while traveling for long distance. Engagement in other types of food production and income generating activities When the pastoarlist way of life and mode of production is endangered, one of the coping strategy employed by pastoralists include, honey and incense collection, hunting for wild animals, gathering of wild fruits and more engagement in cross border trade. The results from our questionnaire survey indicated that with the exception of Nuer pastoralists the rest collect honey and incense for market. The preferred months for collection are from May to July and from October to December. Wild animal hunting is also common in the pastoralist area. Animals that are often hunted are gazelles, antelopes, dik diks and heart beasts. Even though, there are no specific seasons for hunting, the dry season is preferred because of food scarcity; Engagement in cross-border trade is common among the pastoral communities. This is mainly because of their proximity and inter-clan relationship in the neighboring countries. Sale of livestock The primary interest of a pastoral family is herd maximization for insurance and security purpose rather than generating cash. In good years, a pastoral household residing close to towns would like to sell livestock products such as milk and butter. In addition, male sheep and goats are sold for the purchase of cereals and household items. Medical care, payment of debt, taxes and social obligations are usually met from the sale of the above. In addition, during post drought, male stocks are sold for the purchase of female breeding stock from the adjacent highland. In pastoral area, marketing of livestock is by enlarge a response coping strategy to climatic stress, feed and water shortages as well as ill health situation of livestock. This being the reality, sale of livestock in particular young and productive cattle is the most undesirable situation. If situation forces a household, productive animals are sold to with in the clan members first. When circumstances force sale of livestock, sale of small ruminants is the decision of the family head, while sale of cattle requires decision of the family. Sale of cattle is in the order of cull cows (>10 yrs of age), mature males (5-10 yrs), young males (1- 160 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems 4yrs) and young females (1-4 yrs). In general, if the need is only limited to cash, small ruminants are sold and if the need is greater and the stress on the animals is higher, sale of cattle is given due consideration. Mutual support and assistance in sharing resources There is a strong tradition and value among pastoral communities to support each other. If there is a surplus stored grain, they share with relatives and friends in times of crises. Although there are some restrictions on the use of specific water and grazing areas during drought, it is common among pastoralists to support not only relatives, but also members of the clan who are in need of assistance. Traditionally, there are strong social security networks and net works of friends, kin and descent groups who will play a key role in resource sharing in times of crises. Resource sharing can be in kind such as transfer of milking cows as food sharing mechanism, or transfer of milking herds between relatives and friends and sharing continues until food security situation of the household improves. Repayment is well arranged through the traditional organizations either in kind or labor form. Food reduction and adaptation to new food habits As food availability declines one way of coping with the situation is to reduce in the amount and frequency of food consumed. In pastoral community priority is given to pregnant and lactating women. Pastoralist household resort to cereal based diets of milk and meat as the source from livestock dwindles. At times of crises, young people and mature men reduce their feeding frequency and amount and in extreme cases go on fasting for ritual purpose. If common types of food sources were not available, pastoralists would resort to new food habits. Among the Nuer pastoralists hunting for lungfish and terrestrial turtle is common during the dry season. The other option will be adaptation to new food including wild plants. Some of the most commonly consumed plant species depending in the area include, quegga (Rosa abyssinica), Agam (Clarissa eduli), Qulqual (Euphorbia condelabrum), prickly pear (Opontia vulgaris), Gurdo (Portuaca quadrifida) and Garssa (Dobra glabra) (Desalegne Rahmeto, 1987). Labor disposition, scaling down of family size and migration for survival When food shortage is at its precarious stage, the pastoral household will attempt the remaining last option for survival. These include, sale of labor, minimizing family size and migration to nearby towns in search of food and work to generate income. During drought labor exchange is practiced among the pastoral community. Labor is exchanged for food or compensation, where payment in the form of cash is seldom practiced. The other coping mechanism is reduction in the number of dependent members of the family. Older and handicapped member of the family move to near by newly married couples or relatives who can provide food and shelter. When food shortage is critical and all other options are exhausted the only means of coping would be to migrate to nearby towns in search of food and means of earning. Men will be forced to migrate longer distance while women with children are staying in the village. Even though, sale of labor is uncommon in normal years, during crises pastoralists will be forced to engage themselves in activities such as sale of fuel wood and charcoal making which is disastrous to their environment. Conclusion and recommendations Conclusion The rangeland resources were supporting the pastoral communities for centuries with out significant impact both on the communities and the resources. How ever, in the last 4-5 decades the situation has been different in that, the rangeland resources have been in the state of shrinkage and degradation. Major causes include, increase in human population, encroachment of crop cultivators from adjacent highland to marginal rain fed agriculture areas, expansion of irrigated agricultural projects and national parks, un wanted plant species, emergence of agro-pastoralism, recurrent drought and conflict. As a result, pastoralists may have lost about 3 million ha of their traditional pastoral territory, have become food insecure and moreover, their livelihood is threatened to the extent of depending on relief assistance. Cognizant of these facts, the pastoralists have developed coping strategies using traditional knowledge and resource management. Some of the major coping strategies employed by the pastoral 10th ESAP-Proceedings 161 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production communities include, diversification of livestock, conservation of dry season grazing reserve and use of crop byproducts, minimizing watering frequency, ensuring productivity and productivity of livestock and sale of livestock. When the crises is aggravated, pastoralists will strengthen their mutual assistance to share resources, reduction in food consumption and adaptation to new food habits and ultimately, if the situation is worsened, they will scale down family size and migrate to nearby towns in search of food and income. These being the realities of the pastoral communities and the resources, in order to improve the rangeland resources as well as the livelihood of the pastoralist communities the following major recommendation points should be well considered. Recommendations • Recognition of the pastoral production system: The government, international agencies and NGOs should recognize the pastoral production system and support it with friendly development policies, strategies, programmes and action oriented development interventions. • Full participation of the pastoral communities: The pastoralists through their representatives should participate in all phases/stages of pastoral development interventions. This primarily includes starting from the designing to implementation, monitoring, evaluation and through empowering process in order to let pastoralists mind their own affairs and manage their resources as well as ensure sustainable development. • Policy support for pastoral land tenure: The only resource the pastoralists are depending is the rangeland resource. At present, the resources are declining and degraded due to man made and natural risks. In order to avoid further degradation and improve the livelihood of the pastoralists, the land tenure, security and communal ownership rights should be clearly supported with policy. • Ensure accrued benefits for the pastoral community: Improving the livelihood of the pastoral communities through utilization of the resource potentials should be encouraged. This approach would be viable, provided that full participation coupled with benefits is guaranteed for the pastoralists in large-scale agricultural development, national parks and related investment sectors. • Support for agro-pastoralists: Expansion of agro-pastoralism is eminent and this calls for agricultural extension support in both rain fed and irrigated areas. Formation of cooperatives and provision of saving and credit facilities is also of paramount importance. • Strengthening of disaster management system: Since drought and conflict are shareholders of the pastoral production system, minimizing their effect will have a direct impact on the livelihood of the pastoral communities. As a result, strengthening the early warning, coping and response to disaster using both the indigenous and modern mechanisms is a matter of priority. • Control of unwanted plant species: Control and elimination of plant species that are rapidly encroaching prime rangelands and crop areas need due attention. Un wanted plant species, besides occupying prime areas are not consumed by animals, hence contribute to land shrinkage. This situation calls for proper research in the bio- ecology of the plants and the environment. • Strengthening working partnership: Close working partnership among community, government and NGOs engaged in pastoral development is a prime concern. This approach will facilitate the empowerment of the community and sustainable development in the pastoral areas in relatively short period of time. • Ensure gender equity: Though pastoralists are marginalized, women are more marginalized in the pastoral community and this calls for gender equity in the pastoral areas. Any pastoral development should look for means and ways to improve the gender balance situation. References A study of nomadic areas for settlement (1984). Part I. Introduction-Major Findings. Project No Eth/81/001. Study Report. UNDP/RRC 162 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Baro-Akobo Basin Integrated Development Master Plan Study. (1997). Final Report, Annex 2. Part 2. Natural Resources, TAMS and ULG Consultants Ltd. Beruk Yemane and Tafesse Mesfin (1998). Traditional resource management and proposed intervention with particular emphasis to the livestock sub-sector of the Nuer community, Jikow Wereda, Gambella Region. Consultant on Economic Development and Environmental Protection (CEDEP, 1999). Sustainable Resources Management Western Refugee and Settlements. UNHCR/ ARRA. Coppock D. Layne (1994). The Borana Plateau of Southern Ethiopia. Synthesis of Pastoral Research, Development and Change 1980-91. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Desalegn Rahmato (1987). Famine and survival strategies. A case study from North-west Ethiopia. Food Famine Monograph Series No 1. Institute of Development Research (IDR), Addis Ababa University. Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), 1998. National Action Plan to combat Desertification. Volume1 The state of Natural Resources in Arid, Semi-Arid and dry Sub-Humid Areas. Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Organization (1993). Compendium of wildlife conservation information. Gufu Oba (1998). Assessment of Indigenous Range management knowledge of the Boran pastoralists of Southern Ethiopia. GTZ, Borana low land pastoral Development programme. Holt. R and Duke Richards (1993). Emerging agro pastoral practices and their relevance for the viability of pastoralism. South East Rangeland Project. Kahsay Berhe, Berhanu G/Medhin, Siemen and Mohammed Salem (unpublished). Development needs of pastoral and agro pastoral production systems in Ethiopia. Kefyalew Abate (1997). Poverty, desertification and the impact of drought in Ethiopia. National Guidelines for vulnerability profile (VP) Development. Second Draft, policy, planning and programme development (PPPD). Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC). Addis Ababa. National Ruminant livestock development strategy (NRLDS), 1995 Draft Document. Pastoral Oriented Development and Extension concept (PODEC) for Borana zone (1998). Proceedings and major results of the PODEC workshop 25-30 May, Negelle. Patrick W., Joachin Bon Braun and Yishac Yohanes (1992). Famine in Ethiopia. Policy implications of coping failure at national and household levels. International Food Policy Research Institute. Washington D.C. Socio-Economic study of the Gambella Region (1996). Vol. I. Gambella, 1996. Study on Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Refugee Impacted Areas of eastern Ethiopia (1999) Vol. II. Technical Report. ARRA/CEDEP. Wondwossen Assfaw and Abaye Tedla (1996). Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation measures for Ethiopian Grassland/livestock Sector Ministry of Agriculture. PP1-17. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 163 Assessment of the Livestock Production System, Available Feed Resources and Marketing Situation in Belesa Woreda: A Case Study in Drought Prone Areas of Amhara Region Tessema Zewdu1, Aklilu Agidie1 and Ameha Sebsibe2 1Adet Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box 1084, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia 2Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Abstract Belesa is one of the drought-affected Woreda in the Amhara region so the contribution of the livestock subsector to food security and food self-sufficiency to the local community as well as for the national GDP is highly significant. Understanding of the natural and socio-economic situations of the farming system of the area is the first and crucial step to develop environmentally sound and socially acceptable livestock technologies. Therefore, Adet Agricultural Research Center conducted diagnostic survey in the farming system of Belesa Woreda in November 2001 to assess the traditional livestock production system, to identify and prioritize livestock production constraints and to suggest possible research, development and policy intervention in livestock production. A crop/livestock mixed farming system is the predominant agriculture and livestock in the area are life insurance and bank assets during drought periods. Various species of livestock are present and reared by the local community but the distribution and size of the herd per household varies due to many factors. The development of livestock sub-sector is affected by shortage of animal fodder and nutrition, inadequate health services and facilities, absence of good management of livestock resources and poor livestock marketing infrastructure as well as the absence of high producting animal breeds. An estimated total of 975378 quintals feed DM per year is available from crop residues. Grazing land and aftermath grazing provide an estimated 1867400 and 276780 quintals of DM per year, respectively. Uncultivated and forestlands, bush and shrub lands put together and contribute 1027845.0 quintals of DM per year. The total consumable feed DM obtained from crop residue and different land use types is estimated as 40498665.2 quintal. The livestock population in Belesa Woreda is estimated to be 204773.4 tropical livestock units. The existing feed supply on a year round basis satisfies only 72.7% of the maintenance DM requirement of livestock in the Woreda. The common livestock diseases and parasites are also identified and prioritized. Introduction The Amhara National Regional State has 105 Woredas, of which 48 Woredas are drought-prone. About 2.5 million people living in this drought prone Woreda is food insecure or requires food aid at least some time in the year. It accounts about 17.3% of the region and 36% of the population, respectively. Belesa Woreda is one of the drought-affected areas in the region. The generation of appropriate technologies, however, demands careful, strategic, and integrated research activity planning. Understanding of the natural, socio-economic and farming system of the area is the first and crucial step to develop environmentally sound and socially acceptable livestock technologies (Amir and Knipscheer, 1997; Mlay, 1986). Therefore, a diagnostic survey was conducted in the farming system of Belesa Woreda by Adet Agricultural Research Center in November 2001 to assess the traditional livestock production system, identify and prioritize livestock production constraints and to suggest possible research, development and policy intervention in livestock production in the area. Materials and Methods The diagnostic survey was conducted in a sequential fashion and participatory approach techniques (PRA) using the following steps. Secondary data collection and analysis Collection of secondary data was carried out by reviewing several reports and interviews of representatives of the Woreda office of agriculture, Woreda administrative council, Woreda cooperative office and NGOs. Secondary data collection and analysis was focused on land use pattern, animal production systems, available 10th ESAP-Proceedings 165 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production feed resources, diseases and parasites, marketing situations, stakeholders and their relationships, socioeconomic status of the Woreda and trend of the drought. After analyzing the secondary data, the survey readjusted previously designed survey checklists by incorporating new findings. Site selection To study the agro-ecology and physical characteristics of the area, and to select a representative site for each agro-ecological zone, the survey identified Kola and Woinadega in Belesa Woreda. Nine representative peasant associations (PAs) were selected. The team has observed and drived in all feeder roads and visited all topographies and farming systems of the Woreda. Problem prioritization and interview Problem identification and prioritization were made in each agro-ecological zone by using pair-wise ranking. Farmers identified and prioritized their problems logically and systematically without any interference. Individual and group interview The survey identified small group of farmers; elders including women and men as well as key informants and made discussion in order to generate basic data and cross-checked the already available information obtained from individual interview and secondary sources. Study Area Belesa Woreda is located in North Gondar Administrative Zone of the Amhara National Regional State. It is bordered by Wogera and Janamora Woredas in the North, Kemkem and Ebinat Woreda in the south, Gonder zuria Woreda in the west and Dahina and Ziquala Woreda of Waghemra in the east (Figure 1). Previously Belesa area was categorized in one administrative Woreda. However, in 2001 the Woreda was subdivided in to two administrative Woredas; namely Western and Eastern Belesa. The agro-ecologies of Belesa Woreda as a whole are Woina Dega (40-45 %), which comprises the Western Belesa part and the Kola agro ecological zone (55%) that includes the Eastern Belasa Woreda. The total area of the Woreda is 318,259 hectares. The altitude of the Woreda ranges from 2000-1500 masl, which extends upto Tekezie basin. Guhala for the Eastern Belesa and Arbaya for the Western Belesa are the capital of the Woredas. The population of the Woreda is estimated to be 236,372. Of this, 96.4% are living in rural areas and the remaining 3.6% are urban dwellers. The Woreda is characterized by erratic rainfall, late-on-set and early finish, drought, soil erosion, poor soil fertility, shortage of arable land, crop disease and pest, and feed shortage. These and other related production constraints have led to food insecurity in the Woreda. The Woreda has good water potential for irrigation and several earth dams and diversions has been built but farmers don’t use properly due to lack of awareness and absence of irrigation experts. Topography The Kola and Woina Dega topography is characterized by rugged and flat/plain features. The slope of the land does not exceed 7-8 and the average slope being 3-5%, which is favorable for agricultural practice. Topographic proportion of Belesa Woreda as a whole includes Mountain (40%) and plain/flat (55%) and rugged (5%). The soil types of Belesa Woreda as a whole includes black (45%), red (38.5%) and Serebolla (16.5%) (BWDOA, 2001). Climate The Woreda mean annual rainfall and temperature ranges from 600-900mm and 25-35oC. The local rainfall seasonal variability happen in various parts of the Woreda and especially this problem is serious in the Kolla zone as expressed by the farmers. It starts lately and finishes early. Its variability is disturbing the crop physiology and crop production in general. Even, the mean annual rainfall is not sufficient to crop production. The effective rainy season extends from mid-June to the last August. Generally, the rainfall is erratic in distribution and the amount and duration is not dependable for food crop production. Late onset, uneven distribution and early cessation are some of its features. In the area early finish (in last August) occurs every two to three years, mostly affecting tef crop. Farmers reported that now a day this occurrence 166 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems becomes more frequent than in the past. As a risk aversion farmers should shift the planting time to escape the effect of early finish of rain. Results and Discussions The Farming Systems A crop/livestock mixed farming system is the predominant agriculture in Belesa Woreda. The major crops grown are sorghum, tef, chick pea, barely, wheat, maize, field pea, finger millet and potato. Every farmer grows all possible crops to fulfill his grain demand and to avoid risk of crop failure. In the Woreda livestock is one of the major livelihood of the farming community. It is an integral part of crop production and used for draught power to undertake cultivation, threshing, transportation and trampling during the final seed bed preparation. Meat and milk productions are used for home consumption. The sale of livestock and livestock products serve as a source of cash income to buy household needs and agricultural inputs. The Woreda is particularly drought-affected area so that livestock are sold and serve for the purchase of grains and other food items. Manure is also used for fuel and to fertilize homestead crops. However, the development of livestock sub-sector as the other agricultural enterprises in the Woreda has been hindered by the absence of high productive animal breeds, inadequate health services and facilities, shortage of animal fodder and nutrition and absence of good management of livestock resources. Livestock Population and their Distribution All types of livestock species including cattle, sheep, goat, donkey, mule, horse, poultry and honey bee are present and reared by the local community. However, the distribution of livestock species and the size of the herd per household varies from agro-ecology to agro-ecology depending on the availability of water and grazing lands, prevalence of diseases and parasites as well as the management of the livestock owner. Because of the presence of plenty feed in forests, protected hills and mountain areas for dry season grazing and fodder banks in Kolla agro-ecology, cattle and goat population is higher compared to Woina Dega agroecology. In addition, due to the presence of forests and shrubs, apiculture is predominant in Kolla agroecology compared to Woina Dega agro-ecology. Hence average livestock holding per household in Kolla agroecology is higher than Woina Dega agro-ecology. The total livestock population in Belesa Woreda as a whole is presented in Table 1. The trend of livestock population is increasing from 1997 to 2001. This seems unrealistic trend because of the current shortage of feed, expansion of arable land for crop production, disease and parasite condition. But the increase in livestock population could be due to the human population growth in rural community that each member of the household might have each classes of animal so that the total livestock population could be increased. However, the number of livestock species per household is very low. Among the small ruminants in Belesa Woreda, goat contributes the larger number as compared to sheep production. The same is true for mule compared to horse population. This is mainly associated with the availability of trees and shrubs for browsing and the Kolla agro-ecology is purely suitable for cattle, goat and apiculture production while in Woina Dega agro-ecology sheep is more popular. The livestock holding per household in Belesa Woreda as a whole is indicated in Table 2. However, the figure could vary depending on feed availability or grazing land. For instance, in Kolla agro-ecology, there is good amount of feed from grazing lands, forest areas and protected mountain and hills. Therefore, the number of different classes of animals per household may exceed the figure indicated in Table 2. In the boarder of Tekeze basin, in Kolla agro-ecology of the Woreda, more number of livestock per household are expected because of good range lands compared to other part of the Woreda and cultivation of food crops in this area is minimum except some annual low land crops in some pocket areas. As indicated in Table 3, farmers’ having no ox is higher than those farmers having one or above oxen. This clearly shows that the production and productivity of food crops in the Woreda is highly affected by shortage of draught oxen. The reason could be feed shortage, disease and parasite as well as at the time of drought/famine, farmers usually sell their own oxen for the purchase of food grains and household items. This is because of the fact that the other classes of animals could not be sold in good price in drought 10th ESAP-Proceedings 167 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production periods. Therefore, unless and otherwise different mechanisms of increasing the number of draught power (oxen) is designed in the Woreda by governmental or non-governmental organizations, the production and productivity of crop production in particular and agriculture in general will be under question in the area in the near future. This is a big challenge for the local farming community. On the other hand, farmers having one and above oxen shows on increasing trend from 997 to 2001crop seasons but the reason of oxen number increment is not well defined during the survey period. Livestock Production and Management Farmers in Belesa Woreda do not have fixed period of time for breeding their livestock. The breeding system is uncontrolled and traditional. No selected bull kept for breeding of indigenous animals in the Woreda. Mating usually occurs every where at the time of feed plenty during grazing or browsing in the field. Cows usually show a sign of heat during the months of June and end of August up to November/December. In these months there is no relatively feed problem in the area and the temperature is not too high and rainfall is very low that is suitable for initiation of sexual desire by animals. This delayed and uncontrolled mating of animals in the area makes in reducing the reproductive performance of the local animals. There is no experience of using artificial insemination (AI) or pure/cross bred bulls for genetic improvement of indigenious cattle in Belesa Woreda. The use AI in Belesa Woreda is impossible by now due to the remoteness of the area and lack of good road, transportation of semen and liquid nitrogen is found to be difficult and challenging. Rather the use of properly selected local bulls is advantageous with proper health, feeding and other management practices. The age at first mating of heifers and calving interval of cows ranged from 3-6 and 2-4 years, respectively in the Woreda. The high incidence of disease and parasite coupled with inadequate veterinary support, scarcity of feed and water during the dry season in addition to the the low genetic potential of the local animals makes a prolonged calving interval and age at first mating of heifers in the area. These holds true for small ruminants whose reproductive kidding or lambing rate is very low. There is no attention and management given to small ruminants particularly goats until they reached market age. The number of calves born per life time of a cow ranges from 4-8 calves. This is related to the poor management and reproductive performance of the local animal. Actually in the earlier days the number of calves born was higher but now it reduced drastically due to feed shortage, disease and parasite effects and draught. Milk yield in Belesa Woreda ranges from 1-4 litters even though the yield varies from season to season depending on the availability of feed and farmers management practices, from cow to cow and from location to location. There is twice milking, morning and evening per day in the area. Milking usually performed by male and on the absence of the male, females perform the task. This is because cows are mostly aggressive to be handled by females during milking time and there is no clear cultural influence but milking of cows by females is not common compared to male. As that of milk yield, lactation length differs from location to location and individual animal in Belsesa Woreda. This is also due to feed and water availability, disease and parasite problem and the prevalence of recurrent drought in Belesa Woreda. Weanig age of calves starts in the early age of 6 months up to two years. Introduction of improved livestock extension package in the Woreda is not undertaken except distributing of Rhode Island Red poultry birds. The performance and survival of Rhode Island Red (RIR) birds in the area was poor and low, respectively due to improper feeding, housing and high temperature of the area as well as long distance travel of birds with out transportation facility. There is no also improved poultry feed for the birds during transportation and for adaptation of a certain period of time. The price of genetically improved RIR birds was high (7 birr) compared to local birds so the farmers are not willing to purchase. The important thing before disseminating any livestock improved technology to the rural community, the extension system should be aware of the advantage of the technology over the local and facilities that can be prepared by the farmer himself. The market options, the management of the new technology by the farmer and the cost and benefit as a whole. Therefore, the choice of the improved technology should be visualized by the farmers theme selves and at the end the technology will be sustained and/or rejected immediately. The lack of improved livestock technological package is due to poor infrastructure like road, 168 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems absence of power and water supply in the capital of Eastern and Western Belesa Woredas; Guhala and Arbaya, respectively. Priority in feeding is given to lactating/pregnant dairy cows and draught oxen at the time of feed scarcity. However, if feed is not a problem, all groups of animals are able to get equal chance for feeding. Animal Feeds and Feeding Management Livestock Feed Distribution and Seasonality Among the many factors that contribute to the low production and productivity of livestock in Belesa Woreda is feed shortage. Feed is a major factor responsible for livestock production. Seasonal variations in feed quality and quantity is the main limitation to animal production and cause fluctuation in productivity through out the year, particularly in the dry seasons during which feed is scant and poor in nutritive value. Relatively the feed available in Kolla agro-ecology is good compared to Woina Dega agro-ecology. The critical feed shortage season in Belesa Woreda is from January to the end of June. This also depends on the onset of rainfall. If rain stars early in the season (May), all the private and communal grazing lands as well as forest and shrub areas are a good source of feed so that livestock will not face feed shortage. However, during drought years and delayed start of rainfall, feed and water shortage is a major problem and high livestock mortality is common. During the rainy season (from June to September) the main source of livestock feeds are natural pasture on private and communal grazing lands and leaves of trees and shrubs. Hay is given in addition to grazing natural pasture for draught oxen and lactating cows during this period. From end of September to January livestock depends on grazing on natural pasture and aftermath grazing on most food crops. From February to May livestock are given crop residues and conserved hay. The feeding calender of Belesa Woreda is given in Table 4. Livestock Feed Resources The main feed resources to livestock in Belesa Woreda are natural pasture, fallow lands, stubble grazing, forest and shrub areas. Among the feed resources, the natural pasture consists of a wide range of grasses and to some extent legumes and other herbaceous species. Small trees and shrubs also contribute a good source of feed for goats and cattle during the dry season where there is no other sources of feed. Natural Pasture and Browse Trees There is enough grazing (communal as well as individual) land that is not utilized by food crops in Kolla agro-ecology of Belesa Woreda. If this grazing land is properly managed, it could be a good source of good quality feed. Forest areas (closure) mountains and hills are also good sources of natural pasture and browse trees (indigenous) for animal feeding. Farmers usually in these areas collect the natural pasture with in the forest and shrubs and feed as green and/or conserve for drought time and dry seasons in the area. The local NGO, ORDA (Organization for rehabilitation and development in Amhara) is sharing a good experience of managing very degraded lands, hill sides and mountain areas by afforestation using different perennial plants that could serve as a source of livestock feed in the area. Farmers actively participated with ORDA in rehabilitating degraded areas by vegetation cover and allowed taking the grasses grown free of charge as they can. If farmers collect natural pasture at the right stages of maturity, they could solve their feed shortage problem properly in the area. Farmers usually practiced communal grazing together (about 10 households) by trekking their animals to the low land areas near Tekeze basin when the first rain shower starts. This is because there is plenty communal grazing land in the lowlands and as soon as the rain start, the annual grasses and vegetation rejuvenate very fast and animals can easily get enough green feed. Then they stayed there from June to end of October and bring their livestock to their residential areas to avoid critical insect/flies problem. This procedure is locally called “Kirat”. Livestock feed on aftermath grazing and go back to the low land areas from end of October to January. This is one of the mechanisms to escaping feed shortage problems of livestock in Kolla agro-ecology of Belesa Woreda. The common natural pasture feed sources are Hypernia sppecies, Cynodon dactylon and others. Among the indigenous browse/shrub species used as a source of 10th ESAP-Proceedings 169 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production livestock feed are Gava (Ziziphur mauritina), Girar (Acacia abyssinica), Wanza (Cordia africana), Warka (Ficur vasta), Enkoye (Ximenia americana), and Agam (Carisa edulis). Crop By-Products The other source of livestock feed in Belesa Woreda is crop residues and after math grazing. The proportion of crop production is very high in Woina Dega compared to Kolla agro-ecology. The livestock in Woina Dega agro-ecology are highly dependent on crop residues while natural pasture and browse trees are the major feed source in Kolla agro-ecology. Among the crops grown in Belesa, tef straw contribute a good sources of livestock feed followed by sorghum and maize stover. Other like barley, finger millet and wheat straw can also serves as a source of feed among food cereals. Chickpea is a major pulse crop grown in Belesa Woreda as a whole followed by field pea and other pulse crops and the residue of these pulse crops in a good source of feed during the dry seasons of the year. Livestock Feed Supplements Improved cultivated forage crops and concentrates supplementation for livestock is not known in the area. Previously when cows and oxen became weak during the critical feed shortage periods, farmers provide them with boiled sorghum grains but drought prevalence in the area obliged the farmers to stop this practice. As we have interviewed a number of farmers in the Woreda, even though cultivated forage crops are not introduced so far, farmers are responding to grow cultivated forage if they get good quality and adaptable species. Moreover, ORDA through the integrated food security project (IFSP) tried to establish nursery sites for some forage species like Rhodes, lablab, Napier grass, cow pea, Pigeon pea and Sesbania to be used for livestock feeding and other natural resource conservation activities. This is a good start and should be strengthened together with the utilization of improved forage crops. In addition, identification and characterization of indigenous natural pasture and browse species should be conducted before widely introducing exotic forage crops in the area. The water points like earth dam construction and river water diversion projects established by SAERAR and other NGOS in the Woreda should benefit the farming community to grow perennial cultivated forage crops that could be serve as a good source of livestock feed. Improved forage crops or indigenous plants that serve for feed in catchment areas of the earth dams and irrigated areas could be easily established in an interdisciplinary approach so as to provide maximum benefit for the farmers in the area. Balance between Feed Availability and Requirements The quantity of feed DM obtainable from crop residues is estimated from crop yields (MOA, 1984) using FAO (1987) established conversion factors and it is assumed that about 10% of the crop residues would either be wasted during utilization or used for other purposes. The quantity of feed DM obtainable from natural pastures and other land use types is determined by multiplying the hectarage under each land use category by their respective estimated annual DM yield per hectare (FAO, 1984 and 1987). The annual availability of feed DM is compared with the annual requirements of the livestock population. Livestock population is converted in to tropical livestock units (TLU) using Jahnke (1982) accepted conversion factors. The DM requirements is calculated based on daily DM requirements of a 250 kg dual purpose tropical cattle (an equivalent of one TLU) for maintenance. An estimated total of 975378 quintals DM per year is available from crop residues. Considering a utilization factor of 90% (10% wastage and other uses such as household fuel etc). The quantity that is available for actual animal consumption is estimated to be 877840.2 quintals. Grazing land and after math grazing provide an estimated 1867400 and 276780 quintals of DM per year respectively. Uncultivated and forestlands, bush and shrublands put together and contribute 1027845.0 quintal of dry matter per year. The total feed DM obtained from crop residue and different land use types is estimated as 40498665.2 quintals (Tables 5 and 6). The live stock population of Belesa Woreda is estimated to be 204773.4 tropical livestock units (TLU). The maintenance DM requirement of one TLU (an equivalent of a bovine of 250 kg live weight) is estimated to be 3 % of the body weight or 27 quintals of DM per year or 7.5 kg of DM per day. 170 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems This is equivalent to availability per TLU per day of 5.4 kg DM or 19.8 quintal per year. The existing feed supply on a year round basis satisfies only 72.7 % of the maintenance DM requirement of livestock of the Woreda. This deficit of feed supply could also coupled with low quality of crop residue, over matured and improperly conserved natural pasture and browse leaves. Therefore, the severity of feed scarcity in Belesa Woreda is very serious so that other means of feed development technological interventions should be undertaken by the farming community, office of agriculture and other governmental and non governmental organizations involved in livestock development in particular and agriculture sector in general. Livestock Sources of Water Stream and rivers are the major sources of water for livestock in Belesa Woreda. Shortage of water is more common in Kolla agro-ecology area compared to Woina Dega agro-ecology. Animals travel longer distance to watering points (5-10 kms) per day and they waste their energy there during the dry season. Animals usually drink once per day. Leech lis also a common problem in most watering sources in Belesa Woreda. A number of animals use the water sources commonly so that the transmission of contagious diseases and parasites are expected in the area. There are more than 8 irrigation schemes constructed by SAERAR either from river diversion or surface water harvesting using earth dams in Belesa Woreda. They could definitely reduce the shortage of water and leech problem for livestock. Farmers trek their animals to the place where Bole (mineral) water is available in the Woreda twice a year, end of August and September/October months. Animal Health and Veterinary Services Diseases and parasites are one of the major constraints that contributes to the low production and productivity of indigenous animals in Belesa Woreda. The disease and parasite infection is highly damaging the animals during drought seasons and at the time of feed shortage. Animals starved and under nutrition are not able to tolerate the effects of diseases and parasites so that easily damaged and died during drought periods. The prevalence of diseases and parasites usually reduce the milking yield, Caracas weight, growth and productive and reproductive performances of animals in general and finally lead to death of animals. Relatively high disease and parasite infestation of animals is common in Kolla agro-ecology compared to Woina Dega agro-ecology. This seems to be due to the presence of more forest and fallow-grazing lands and unsuitable and rugged topography in Kolla agro-ecology, which makes difficult for veterinary services and movement of animals is also common from place to place in this areas. Sudden disease outbreaks are prevalent in Kolla agro-ecology compared to Woina Dega agro-ecology. However, in all Belesa Woreda areas vaccination, treatment and other veterinary services are given to the animals by the Woreda department of veterinary unit. The veterinary service given to the local community is not satisfactory in relation to the total number of animals in the Woreda. Availability of medicine is not enough for all diseased animals. The shortage of medicine for livestock in the Woreda is due to lack of transport and communication facilities. There is a shortage of manpower in veterinary profession like technician and assistant veterinarian. Budget for perdiem, purchase of veterinary medicine and chemicals are also limiting factors in the Woreda. The common livestock diseases and parasites in the Woreda is presented in Table 7. Animal Disposal and Marketing The local price of livestock and livestok products is indicated in Table 8. Framers usually dispose their animals through selling in the local market. The price of live animals fluctuates with on set of drought. During drought years the price of animals is very low while during normal years the price is high. We can say that livestock in Belesa Woreda are life insurance and bank assets. Market infrastructure is a problem in the Woreda. Farmers usually sell their animals to local traders coming from Wagehemra and Tigray region in Eastern Belesa Woreda. The farmers in western Belesa also sell animals to traders from Addis Zemen and Gondar. Farmers are not usually sell cows and draught oxen unless and other wise they face a big problem in the family. They usually sell chicken, sheep, goats and donkeys. The price of livestock in Belesa Woreda is not encouraging for livestock producers due to poor infrastructure for transporting fattened animals to other central markets (Table 9). Marketing of row milk is not common in Belesa Woreda except butter. Females 10th ESAP-Proceedings 171 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production usually sell butter and chicken while males sell ruminant and other small ruminant animals. The money obtained from livestock selling is for household use and purchase of clothes, food items and medication. Suggested Livestock Technological Interventions in Belesa Woreda Livestock production in Belesa Woreda is constrained by feed shortage, disease and parasites and poor market infrastructure as well as drought. Therefore, from the diagnostic survey conducted, the following interventions should be undertaken to improve the production and productivity of livestock in the area so that food security and self sufficiency at household level could be achieved with in a short period of time with the involvement of the local community. Policy Interventions • Proper land use planing and implementation policy should be undertaken in the Woreda so that farmers properly utilize their land and get enough livestock feed and grazing in the Woreda. • Establish transportation, communication and marketing infrastructures in the Woreda and with the other neighboring Woreda and central livestock markets. • Provision of credit for the purchase of draught power and other farm implements. Development Interventions • Establishment of enough veterinary clinics with manpower and medicines • Introduction and implementations of livestock technologies available in the country and abroad • Construction of new water resources and river diversions, and maintain and properly utilise the already available water resources for livestock and crop production Research interventions • Assessment of the indigenous knowledge of the farming community about livestock production and management • Survey, identification and characterization of the local species of animals with their merits and suggest possible technological interventions and management activities • Survey, identification and characterization of the local feed resources and suggest their potential management options • Introduction of adaptable and high yielding varieties of forage crops in to the farming community • On-farm evaluation of available livestock technologies in the area of feed resources, veterinary management and production • Upgrade the knowledge of farmers about livestock management, productivity, feeding and others Acknowledgement We are grateful to the support of USAID Food Security Project and the Adet Agricultural Research Centre, Ethiopia, for financing the research. References WDOA (Woreda Department of Agriculture). 2001. Belesa Woreda Department of Agriculture Annual Report for the year 1997-1993. Aduhala, Ethiopia. Amir, P. and H.C. Knipscheer, 1997. Conducting On-Farm Animal Research: Procedures and Economic Analysis. Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development and International Development Research Centre. Singapore National Printers Ltd., Singapore. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 1987. Master Land use Plan, Ethiopia Range/Livestock Consultancy Report prepared for the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Technical Report. AG/ETH/82/010 FAO, Rome. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 1987. Land use, production regions, and farming systems inventory. Technical report 3 vol. 1. FAO project ETH/78/003, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. 172 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Jahnke, H. E. 1982. Livestock Production Systems and Livestock Development in Tropical Africa. Kieler Wissenshaftsverlag Vauk, Kiel, FRG. MOA (Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia). 1984. General Agricultural Survey. Preliminary Report 1983/84 (1976E.C.) Vol. II. Sidamo. Planning and Programming Department, MOA, Addis Ababa. Mlay, G.I. 1986. The use of diagnostic surveys in directing on-farm research: the experience of the small- holder dairy farming systems project in Tanzania. In: ARNAB (African Research Network for Agricultural By-Products). Towards Optimal Feeding of Agricultural By Products to Livestock in Africa. Proceedings of a workshop held at the University of Alexandria, Egypt. October, 1985. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Table 1. Livestock Population in Belesa Woreda Years Livestock species 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 209700 232625 258055 290274 307939 Ox 48887 54231 60160 71213 78442 46978.2 Cow 70422 78121 86661 976778 99974 262375.4 Cattle Others Small ruminants Mean 259718.6 90391 100273 111234 121383 129603 90556.8 171662 199428 211239 214383 218838 203110.0 Sheep 44954 49868 55319 54255 55617 51930.6 Goat 126708 140560 155920 159970 163221 149275.8 21443 23795 26398 28511 30248 26079.0 40 52 60 71 86 61.8 1290 1431 1597 1610 1700 1524.0 Equines Horse Mule Donkey 20113 22312 24751 26830 28462 24493.6 Poultry 163036 180860 200662 218509 229638 198541.0 1150 1860 2232 5818 5996 3411.2 Donkey Beehive Honey bee (cultural beehives with bees) Source: BWDOA (Woreda Department of Agriculture). 2001 Table 2. Livestock per household in Belesa Woreda Class of animal Ox Cow 1-4 1-5 Heifer 1-4 Bull Goat 1-2 5-8 Sheep 2-5 1 3-5 Source: BWDOA (Woreda Department of Agriculture). 2001 Table 3. Ox ownership in Belesa Woreda Ownership type No ox Year Unit No 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 14886 14594 15661 14053 14471 One ox “ 12859 13755 14211 14972 15376 Two oxen “ 10570 10770 10990 12351 12850 Three oxen “ 3926 4626 4218 4574 4817 Four and above “ 2409 2601 3121 3486 3929 Source: BWDOA (Woreda Department of Agriculture). 2001 Table 4. Feeding calender of livestock in Belesa Woreda Months Feed Sources F Grazing on natural pasture, browsing on trees and shrubs M A M J J A S O N D J xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Grazing on natural pasture and aftermath grazing **************** Crop residues, conserved hay and browsing on leaves of trees and shrubs ###################### Source: BWDOA (Woreda Department of Agriculture). 2001 10th ESAP-Proceedings 173 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 5. Estimated quantity of feed DM obtainable from crop residues in Belesa Woreda (Average of four years, 1997-2000) Type of crops Crop yield (Quintal) Tef Conversion factors Crop residue yield (Quintal) 133367.5 1.5 200051.3 Barley 29793.0 1.5 44697.5 Wheat 5985.2 1.5 9777.8 Finger Millet 5348.7 1.5 8023.1 47331.5 2.0 94663.0 Maize Sorghum 163794.0 2.5 409485.0 Fababean 2717.8 1.2 3261.4 Field pea 5717.3 1.2 6860.8 Chick pea 80114.9 1.2 96137.9 Haricot bean 1542.8 1.2 1851.4 Lentil 1661.2 1.2 1993.4 Potatoes 3934.3 0.3 4721.2 Sub total 975378.8 Source: BWDOA (Woreda Department of Agriculture). 2001 Table 6. Estimated quantity of feed DM obtainable from different land use types in Belesa Woreda Land use type Area per hectare Annual DM Production (Quintal) Total DM Production (Quintal) Grazing land 93370 20 1867400 Aftermath grazing 55356 5 276780 Bush and Shrubland 20300 12 243600 112035 7 7842450 Uncultivated and forest land Sub total 3,172,025 Source: BWDOA (Woreda Department of Agriculture). 2001 Table 7. The common livestock diseases and parasites in Belesa Woreda Livestock species Type of disease/parasites Cattle Trypanosomiasis Black leg Lumpskin desease Anthrax LSD Pastrolosis Internal parasites Fascioliasis Theliosis Ringworm/Ascaris Streptotricosis Menge Ectoparasites Tick bone disease and tick Babesiosis Lice Leech Small ruminants Internal parasites Pastrolosis Anthrax Ectoparasites Theliosia Poultry Coccidiosis Newcastle disease Equirnes Plasmosis Trypanosomiasis Anthrax Internal parasite (Santrogile) Remark As an out break As an out break Major Source: BWDOA (Belesa Woreda Department of Agriculture). 2001 174 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Table 8. Local market prices of livestock and livestock products in Belesa Woreda Livestock type Price range (ETB) Remark Cattle Ox Cow Bull Heifer Small ruminants Sheep Goat Donkey Livestock products Goat skin Sheep skin Hide Butter 400-700 400-500 300-400 300-400 80-160 40-120 150-200 7-12 17-30 20 21-30 Per liter Source: BWDOA (Woreda Department of Agriculture). 2001 and Personal Communication with farmers 10th ESAP-Proceedings 175 Variations in nutrient intake of dairy cows and feed balance in urban and peri-urban dairy production systems in Ethiopia Yoseph Mekasha1*, Azage Tegegne2, Alemu Yami3 and N.N. Ummuna2 1Department of Animal Sciences, Alemaya University, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2International 3Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO), P.O.Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia Abstract An on-farm monitoring study was carried out in the urban and peri-urban dairy production systems in the Addis Ababa milk shed to assess variations in on-farm nutrient intake of dairy cows (Holstein Frisian X Zebu) and feed balance. Ninety-seven cows, with parities above two and at the beginning of lactation, representing three production sub-systems (intra-urban, large peri-urban and secondary town) were considered for the study. Mean basal and supplement (P<0.001) and total (P<0.01) DM intake, mean CP intake (P<0.001) from basal, supplement and total diet, and mean energy intake from basal (P<0.001) and supplement (P<0.01) varied among the production subsystems. Basal and supplemental dry matter, crude protein and energy intakes varied (P<0.001) among herd size groups (i.e. small, medium and large), where medium sized farms had higher (P<0.001) supplemental dry matter, crude protein and energy intakes, while small farms had higher (P<0.001) basal dry matter, crude protein and energy intakes. Basal and total (P<0.001) crude protein intakes were greatest in the long rainy season. Annual dry matter and crude protein intakes close to calculated requirements for intra-urban and secondary town, but 1.5% lower than requirement for large peri-urban farms. Annual energy intake, however, was 36.3% lower than the requirement for the entire production sub-systems. Thus, the level of feeding management should be improved in order to exploit the genetic potential of crossbred dairy cows in intensively managed urban and peri-urban dairy system. Keywords: Basal feed, Supplement, feed balance, dairy cows, Urban/peri-urban Introduction Ruminant livestock are the major source of milk in tropics and sub-tropics. However, their production potential is seriously limited due to genetic and environmental (mainly inadequate nutrient supply) factors. Consequently, the supply of milk is lagging behind the demand of ever increasing human population. The situation is exacerbated for urban centers where human population is growing at alarming rate. Genetic improvement through crossbreeding of indigenous stock with exotic dairy genotypes, reputable in dairy characteristics, has been recommended as an alternative to increase milk production under average farm situation in many tropical countries (McDowell, 1985). Today crossbred and high-grade animals varying in their exotic gene level are found in many agricultural institutions, cooperatives, small scale and large-scale commercial dairy farms in urban and peri-urban areas. Urban and peri-urban dairy production system is among the different forms of dairy production systems prevalent in tropics and sub-tropics. It is an intensive type mainly relies on improved crossbred and highgrade animals (Yoseph et al., 2001). The increasing human population, increasing income strata, increasing price of milk and milk products in abroad coupled with inadequate foreign reserve encouraged establishment of this production system. However, nutrient requirement for this genotype is higher than indigenous breeds. As the production system intensifying the type of available feed resources and nutrient supply to support them produce and reproduce becomes a challenge to the system. Besides, tropical feed resources have low nutritive characteristics (Nsahlai et al., 1996) and are dictated by seasonal dynamics of rainfall (Zinash and Seyoum, 1989). In spite of these, information is meager and almost non-existent to indicate on-farm nutrient supply and nutrient intake (utilization) of the dairy herd in such intensively managed farms. Exploring the knowledge base on variations in nutrient supply and intake, and feed * Corresponding address: e-mail: [email protected]; Fax: 251-05-114008; Telephone: 251-05-111399 10th ESAP-Proceedings 177 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production balance and the influence of production sub-system, herd size and season on it, would enable to understand complexity of the system and assist in designing appropriate feeding system and eventually boost milk production from improved genotypes. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate on-farm nutrient supply and intake and feed balance of dairy cows in market oriented urban and peri-urban dairy production system in the Addis Ababa milk shed. Materials and methods Study site The study was conducted on private urban and peri-urban dairy farms in and around Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, between December 1997 and November 1998. Study population and sampling procedures The urban and peri-urban dairy production system has been characterized and categorized in to seven production sub-systems by the previous work of the International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA) using factorial correspondence and cluster analysis (ILCA, 1994). Accordingly, districts within and outside the city (Addis Ababa) were clustered using data from the Addis Ababa Dairy Producers Association and the Ministry of Agriculture. In each cluster, farmers were selected randomly using multi-stage random sampling. Out of seven production sub-systems identified, three were considered for the present study: intra-urban, secondary town and large peri-urban production sub-systems. A proportional and representative sample of farms was drawn from the three production sub-systems (376 intra-urban, 36 large peri-urban and 368 in urban areas of secondary towns with a total of 2735 dairy animals). Accordingly, 20 farms from intraurban, 6 from large peri-urban and 20 from secondary town production sub-systems were initially selected. However, data obtained from five farms belonging to intra-urban production sub-system were dropped out of the study leaving a total of 41 farms; out of which seventeen dairy farms were strategically selected (from three production sub-systems) for monitoring based on genotype, parity and stage of pregnancy. Farms owning high-grade dairy cows, with parity above two and in last trimester of pregnancy (between months 8 and 9 of gestation) were considered for the present study. Accordingly, five farms from intraurban, six from large peri-urban and six from secondary town sub-systems met the criteria and were included in the study. In each selected farm cows were put in the experiment after parturition. There were a total of 97 cows in the experiment from 17 dairy farms. Herd size Dairy farms considered for the study from the three production sub-systems varied considerably in herd size and/or number of cows. Therefore, selected farms were further stratified into three farm clusters based on number of cows as described by ILRI (1996), where in clusters 1 to 3, corresponding to small, medium and large, the number of cows was 1, 3 and 14 respectively. Thus, this study considered dairy farms owning less than 3 cows to be small, 3 to 10 as medium and greater than 10 as large sized farms. Accordingly, there were 5, 4 and 8 farms in small, medium and large categories. Classification of seasons Based on meteorological data (rainfall) of the region, three conspicuous seasons were identified. These were heavy and long rainy season (June through September), dry (October through January and May) and short rainy season (February, March and April). Data collection procedures Monitoring of feed utilization was carried out once weekly at a fixed day for a period of one year. No interference was made to alter the practice of farmers. Rather, efforts were made to monitor the existent management system. Feed intake: The quantity of feed offered to dairy cows in a day was weighed using a portable spring balance and recorded every week. It was observed that dairy farmers offer concentrate after wetting it with water or mixing it with either brewery spent grain (in case of large peri-urban farms) or atella, a 178 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems traditional brewery or traditional liquor residue (in the case of small holders). Therefore, the quantity of feed to be mixed was weighed prior to wetting and divided by the number of dairy cows it was offered. For some farms mixing concentrates for the whole herd in bulk, the weight of air-dry ingredients was recorded separately before wetting. Along with this, the amount of wetted material provided to each cow or group of cows was weighed and recorded. Wetted concentrate was sampled every month for DM determination. There was no concentrate refusal during the monitoring period. Refusal of the roughage was collected, weighed and recorded the next morning before feed was offered. Feed intake was summed up for a period of one year. Total consumption of feedstuffs multiplied by nutrient concentrations facilitated estimation of annual intake of metabolizable energy (ME) and nitrogen. Annual feed balance was estimated using nutrient supply, body weight, milk production and nutrient requirements of dairy cows according to Kearl (1989). The mean (±SEM) body weight of dairy cows (HF X Zebu) was 403±11 (Intra-urban=360, Large peri-urban=404, Secondary town=428). The mean (±SEM) daily and lactation milk yield were 8.63±0.35 (Intra-urban=5.91, Large peri-urban=8.92,Secondary town=9.96) and 2612±135 (Intra-urban=1578, Large peri-urban=2528.6, Secondary town=3544). Laboratory analysis Chemical composition of the commonly used feed resources were estimated from literature (Kearl, 1982; McDonald et al., 1988; Seyoum and Zinash, 1989; Annindo et al., 1995). However, for those feeds where data were not available, chemical analysis was performed. In this case, representative feed materials were sampled monthly. Upon arrival at the laboratory, part of the feed was dried overnight at 105 0C in a forced draft oven for DM determination (AOAC, 1980). The remaining samples were dried at 60 0C to a constant weight for chemical analysis. Samples dried in an oven at the latter temperature were ground to pass through a 1 mm sieve pending analysis. Nitrogen content of the feed was determined using the Kjeldhal procedure and gross energy (GE) was estimated by bomb calorimeter. Chemical composition of feeds is presented in Table 1. Statistical analysis Data were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS (SAS, 1989). The model considered fixed effects of production subsystem, herd size and, season with calving date used as a covariate. Means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test. Results Feed intake Basal and supplement (P<0.01) and total DM (P<0.001) intakes differed among production sub-systems (Table 2). Secondary town dairy farms had highest total and supplement dry matter intakes, while intraurban farms had highest basal DM intake. Basal, supplement and total crude protein intakes also varied (P<0.001) among production sub-systems. Secondary town dairy farms had highest total and supplemental crude protein intakes, while cows in intra-urban farms had highest crude protein intake from the basal feed. Differences among production sub-systems in energy intake existed for basal feed (P<0.001) and supplement (P<0.01). Total and supplemental energy intakes were highest for farms in secondary town, but basal energy intake was highest for intra-urban farms. The mean ratio of supplement to basal feed DM intake was 0.60 to 0.40. Total DM intake was similar among herd size groups (P>0.05), however, basal and supplemental DM intakes differed (P<0.001) (Table 3). Cows in medium sized farms had highest supplement DM intake, whereas those in small sized farms had highest basal DM intake. The proportion of supplement to roughage offered was also highest in medium sized dairy farms. Crude protein intakes varied (P<0.001) among the herd size groups for basal, supplemental and total intake. Cows in medium sized farms had highest total and supplemental crude protein intakes. Nevertheless, crude protein intake from the basal diet was highest for small sized dairy farms. Energy intake from the basal diet and supplement differed (P<0.001) among the production sub-systems. Medium sized farms had greater intake of supplement and total DM, total crude protein and supplement and total energy. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 179 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production There were no seasonal differences (P>0.05) in feed DM or energy intakes (Table 4). However, total (P<0.01) and basal (P<0.001) crude protein intakes varied among seasons, with basal and total intakes being maximum in season I (long rainy season). Feed balance Mean annual nutrient intake, nutrient requirement and feed balance for lactating crossbred dairy cows are presented in Table 5. Mean annual DM intake was 7% higher than the requirement for secondary town and intra-urban farms, but 1.5% lower than the requirement for large peri-urban. Mean annual protein intake was according to their requirement except for large peri-urban production sub-system, in which it was 1.5% lower than the requirement. However, mean annual energy intake was 36.3% less than the requirement for the entire production sub-systems, with the largest deficit observed in large peri-urban production subsystem. Discussion Feed dry matter and nutrient intake The mean feed DM intake obtained in the present study was similar to the value (9.75 kg/day) reported for crossbred dairy cows kept on maize-Lab lab stover or oats-vetch hay diet in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia, but lower than 10.8 kg/day reported for crossbred cows supplemented with Lab lab hay (Mpwaire, 1998). Zerbini et al. (1996) obtained 10.6±0.4 kg/day dry matter intake for non-pregnant early lactating crossbred dairy cows and the proportion of basal diet was 8.3 kg/day (78% of the total intake). Eventhough feed intake of high-grade dairy cows is expected to be higher than crossbred animals data is scanty to substantiate the findings. Thus discrepancy between the present findings and the reported values could be attributed to inadequate nutrient supply in the former and variation in nutrient composition of the feeds considered in the latter. Low feed DM intake in the present study could also be related to the higher proportion of supplement (60%) in the total diet. Concomitantly, much of total crude protein and energy intakes were contributed by the supplement, in part because of relatively high protein and energy concentrations in supplement. The use of high proportion of supplements in these production system could possibly be attributable to the shortage and relatively high cost of the basal diet (per kg as-fed dry matter basis) compared to concentrates and the perception of farmers that relying heavily on concentrate supplements will boost milk production (personal communication). Higher feed intake in secondary town farms compared to other sub-systems could have resulted from the high ratio of supplement to roughage (0.64: 0.36) in the total diet. It has been reported that increasing the proportion of supplements (concentrates) from 45% to 65% increased total feed intake (Istasse et al., 1986). This implies that supplementation improves rumen fermentation through supplying fermentable organic matter and nitrogen to rumen microorganisms and thereby increases rate of passage and further intake of the basal diet. Nonetheless, the present study did not show any effect of increased concentrate intake on intake from the basal diet. Secondary town production sub-system had higher concentrate intake than intra-urban sub-system, but intake of the basal diet was lower. Major components of the basal diet of cows in secondary town production sub-system were crop residues, which are low in crude protein and energy compared to hay utilized in intra-urban and large peri-urban dairy farms. Thus, the practice of supplementation with larger quantities of concentrates relative to the basal diet in the secondary town farms may have corrected the crude protein and energy deficiencies of crop residues and thereby increased overall crude protein and energy intakes. High income from milk sales seems to have encouraged medium sized farms to purchase more feed compared with small sized farms. Capital was the most limiting factor for small sized farms, where farms rely on the use of a diverse assortment of feed resources. Both small sized and medium sized dairy farms had limited resources to optimize feeding compared to large peri-urban dairy farms. They did not have the luxury of being able to select the basal diet but rather used whatever was available at no or low cost (Leng, 1991). In contrast, large peri-urban dairy farms acquired feed once yearly (hay), every quarter or monthly (concentrates), and the quantity supplied to dairy cows more or less remained relatively constant, except during the rainy season when green feeds were included. 180 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems The higher basal and total crude protein intakes observed in season I (long rainy season) were due to the availability of a large quantity of green feeds offered indoors to replace or complement hay and crop residues, which is in agreement with earlier reports (Zinash and Seyoum, 1989). However, market oriented urban and peri-urban dairy production is a landless system except in 7% of the intra-urban and 33% of the large peri-urban dairy farms, which complement grazing (Yoseph et al., 1999). Urban and peri-urban dairy farms rely mainly on the use of purchased conserved feeds (hay and crop residues) and agro-industrial byproducts and purchase them once or twice a year. This is in agreement with Staal and Shapiro (1996) who reported that urban and peri-urban dairy producers depend primarily on purchased feeds than on-farm produce. Lack of significant variation in feed dry matter and energy intakes over time could, therefore, be attributed to the preceding justification. Feed balance The lower energy intake and optimum protein intake compared to the calculated requirements might be due to the low energy density to protein content of the supplements. The most important ingredients of the concentrates were oilseed cakes, brewery spent grain, wheat bran and poultry waste (Yoseph et al., 1999), which have high ratios of crude protein to energy. Oilseed cakes such as cotton seed cake for example have 41.7% CP, but 9.49 MJ/kg DM energy, while noug cake (Guizotia abyssinica), the most common oilseed cake used throughout the production system, has 33.2% CP but only 8.28 MJ ME/kg DM (Table 1). The basal diets, on the other hand, were composed mainly of hay and crop residues, which are deficient in both protein (less than 7%) and energy (less than 7.5 MJ ME/Kg DM) (Siyoum and Zinash, 1989). However, mean annual dry matter and CP intakes were different for large peri-urban production sub-system in comparison to others, and showed deficit for both. Farms in large peri-urban production sub-system usually purchase (produce) feeds once or twice a year with an expectation to feed the animals for the period considered. Consequently, fixed quantities of hay and concentrate were offered daily irrespective of the production response, which is in accordance with earlier report (Yoseph et al., 1999). This implies that level of feeding management is the critical factor limiting milk production in large peri-urban production sub-system. Conclusion Nutrient intake of high-grade dairy cows and the ratio of concentrate to roughage have shown variation among the production sub-systems and herd size groups. Cows in secondary town and medium sized dairy farms had higher feed intake compared to cows in intra-urban farms, and CP intake through the utilization of green feeds increased during the long rainy season. The mean annual dry matter and protein intakes of dairy cows were in accordance to their requirements except in large peri-urban farms, which showed deficit for CP. The mean annual energy intake was, however, in shortfall by 36.5%. It is, therefore, concluded that dairy farms should improve feeding management through better ration formulation to ameliorate milk production from crossbred dairy cows in urban and peri-urban dairy production system. References Anindo, D.O., Said, A.N., and Lahlou-Kassi, A. 1994. Chemical composition and nutritive value of feed stuffs for ruminant livestock in Sub-Saharan Africa. P 537. AOAC (Association of Agricultural Chemists). 1980. Official methods of Analysis, Washington, D.C., USA. ILCA (International Livestock Center for Africa). 1994. Annual Program Report. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute). 1996. Annual Project Report. ILRI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Istasse, L., Reid, G.W., Tait, C.A.G. and Orskov, E.R. 1986. Concentrates for Dairy cows: Effects of feeding method proportion in diet and type. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 15:167-182. Kearl, L.C. 1982. Nutrient requirements of ruminants in developing countries. International feedstuffs institute, Utah Agricultural Experiment station, Utah state University, Logan, Utah 84322, USA. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 181 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Leng, R.A. 1991. Feeding strategies for improving milk production of dairy animals managed by small-farmers in the tropics. In: Speedy, A. and Sansoucy, R. (Eds.). Feeding dairy cows in the tropics: proceedings of the FAO expert consultation held in Bangkok, Thailand. 7-11 July 1989. FAO animal production and health paper 86. McDonald, P.M., Edwards, R.A. and Greenhalgh, J.F.D. 1988. Voluntary intake of Food. Animal Nutrition. 4th edition. Longman Scientific and Technical, England. McDowell, R.E. 1985. Crossbreeding in tropical areas with emphasis on milk, health and fitness. J. Dairy Sci. 68:24182435. Mpairwe, D.R. 1998. Integration of forage legumes with cereal crops for improved grain yield, forage production and utilization for smallholder dairy production systems. Ph.D. Thesis. Makerere University, Uganda. Pp238. Nsahlai, I.V., Zinash Sileshi, Seyoum Bediye and Umunna, N.N. 1996. Nutritional characteristics and strategies to enhance utilization of tropical feeds for low resource livestock producers. ESAP Proceedings. Fourth National Conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP). 18-19 April 1996, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. SAS (Statistical Analysis Systems Institute). 1989. SAS/STAT user’s guide. Version 6.0, fourth edition. Vol. 2, Cary, NC,USA. Seyoum Bediye and Zinash Sileshi. 1989. The composition of Ethiopian Feeds. Research Report No. 6. Institute of Agricultural Research, Ethiopia. Staal, S. J. and Shapiro, B.I., 1996. The Economic impacts of public policy on smallholder peri-urban dairy producers in and around Addis Ababa. ESAP publication No. 2. Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and Umunna, N.N. 2001. Herd structure and farm evaluation of the urban and peri-urban dairy farms in Addis Ababa milk shed. ESAP proceedings. Ninth National Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal production (ESAP). August 2001. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and Umunna, N.N. 2000. Reproductive management and reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows in the Addis Ababa milk shed. ESAP proceedings. Eight National Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal production (ESAP). August 2000. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and Umunna, N.N. 1999. Feed resources and nutritional management of dairy herds in urban and peri-Urban dairy production systems in Ethiopia. ESAP proceedings. Seventh National Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal production (ESAP). 26-27 May 1999. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Zerbini, E., Wold, A.G. and Gemeda, T. 1996. Effect of dietary repletion on reproductive activity in cows after a long anoestrous period. Animal Science.62: 217-223. Zinash Sileshi and Seyoum Bediye. 1989. Utilization of feed resources and feeding systems in the central zone of Ethiopia. In: IAR proceedings. Third national livestock improvement conference, 24-26 May 1989, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 182 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Table 1. Chemical composition of the various feed types used by dairy farms in the Addis Ababa milk shed Feed types DM (%) Maize, grain Noug cake Cotton seed cake Linseed cake Cotton seed Commercial dairy ration Molasses Wheat bran/middling blend Brewery spent grain Atella (Local brewery residue) Lentil hull Faba beans hull Field peas hull Poultry litter Hay Wheat straw Barley straw Teff straw Field pea straw Maize stover Green grass Silage (maize) Maize (green chopped) Oats green feed Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (%) of DM Metabolizable Crude protein (%) Energy (MJ/kg M) 10.0* 33.2* 41.7* 26.7* 19.1* 21.4 3.5 16.4 31 21 16 10 10 30.3 5.5 2.35* 3.03* 4.4* 10.5* 3.96* 16.5* 9.0* 8.9* 10.0 18.7 12.00* 8.28* 9.49* 10.29* 5.69 11.50 12.67 11.75 13.43 13.17 10.16 11.71 11.08 10.62 11.21* 7.90* 6.10* 5.98* 6.48* 7.61* 10.46* 9.87 8.78 9.46 9.24 92.8* 92.3* 91.8* 91.3* 93.1* 90.3 74 87.7 93.9 13.2 87.9 89.6 89.5 90.1 89.6 91.0* 90.5* 91.7* 86.0* 90.4* 22.2 25.0 19.0 20.5 30.0 * = Estimated from literature (Annindo et al., 1995; Kearl, 1982; McDonald et al., 1988; Siyoum and Zinash, 1989). Table 2. Daily dry matter and nutrient intake by crossbred dairy cows in the Addis Ababa Milk Shed by production sub-system Production sub-systems1 Variables Intra-urban (n=5) Large peri-urban (n=6) Secondary town (n=6) Mean SEM Significance3 Dry matter intake (kg/day) Basal feed Supplement Total 4.69a 4.69c 9.38ab 3.37b 5.45b 8.82b 3.72b 6.48a 10.20a 3.91 5.59 9.50 0.37 0.44 0.59 * ** *** ** Crude protein intake (kg/day) Basal feed Supplement Total intake 0.33a 0.90c 1.23b 0.22b 1.20b 1.42a 0.18b 1.39a 1.57a 0.24 1.18 1.42 0.03 0.10 0.11 *** *** *** 38.57a 42.8 b 81.37 27.65 b 52.00 a 79.65 26.40 b 57.15 a 83.55 30.66 50.96 81.62 3.04 5.27 6.29 *** ** NS Energy intake (MJ/day) Basal feed Supplement Total intake 1Production sub-systems: Intra-urban = Addis Ababa; Secondary town = Debre Zeit; Large Peri-urban = Kaliti and Sebeta 2 Within each row means followed by the same letter do not differ from each other significantly (P>0.05). 3* * * = P<0.001, * * = P<0.01 NS = Not significant Table 3. Daily dry matter and nutrient intake by crossbred dairy cows in the Addis Ababa milk shed by herd size Herd size1 Variables Small (n=5) Medium (n=4) Large (n=8) Mean SEM Significance3 Dry matter intake (kg/day) Basal intake Supplement Total 5.01a 4.49c 9.50 3.25b 6.72a 9.97 3.52b 5.73b 9.24 3.91 5.59 9.50 0.35 0.43 0.60 * ** *** Ns Crude protein intake (kg/day) Basal intake Supplement intake Total intake 0.34a 0.81c 1.14c 0.15c 1.55a 1.70a 0.22b 1.23b 1.45b 0.24 1.18 1.42 0.03 0.09 0.10 *** *** *** 40.12 a 41.38 c 81.50 24.35 b 60.08 a 84.47 27.94 b 51.50 b 79.45 30.66 50.96 81.62 2.94 5.21 6.30 *** *** NS Energy intake (MJ/day) Basal intake Supplement intake Total intake 1Herd size: Small= Farms owning less than 3 milking cows; Medium = Farms owning between 3 and 10; Large = Farms owning above 10; 2Within each row means followed by the same letter do not differ from each other significantly (P>0.05). 3* * * = P<0.001, * * = P<0.01 NS = Not significant 10th ESAP-Proceedings 183 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 4. Daily dry matter and nutrient intake by crossbred dairy cows in the Addis Ababa milk shed by season Seasons1 Variables 1. Long Rains Mean 2. Dry SEM Significance3 3. Short Rains Dry matter intake (kg/day) Basal feed Supplement Total 4.00 5.87 9.87 4.02 5.53 9.55 3.42 5.22 8.64 3.91 5.59 9.50 0.39 0.47 0.60 NS NS NS Crude protein intake (kg/day) Basal feed Supplement Total 0.30a 1.25 1.55 a 0.23b 1.16 1.38b 0.16c 1.08 1.24c 0.24 1.18 1.42 0.03 0.11 0.11 *** NS ** 30.66 50.96 81.62 3.27 5.49 6.22 NS NS NS Energy intake (MJ/day) Basal feed Supplement Total 30.20 52.71 82.92 31.21 51.33 82.55 25.89 46.60 72.50 Seasons1: 1 = Main rainy season (June – September); 2 =Dry period (October – February + May); 3 = Small rainy season (March-April) 2 Within each row means followed by the same letter do not differ from each other significantly (P>0.05). 3* * * = P<0.001, * * = P<0.01 NS = Not significant Table 5. Annual dry matter and nutrient balance of crossbred dairy cows in the Addis Ababa milk shed Annual nutrient intake per cow Variables Production sub-sys. Intra-urban (n=5) Secondary town (n =6) Large peri-urban (n=6) Mean TDMI* (kg) TCPI (kg) TEI (MJ) 3423 3723 3219 449 573 518 29702 30497 29078 3467 518 29794 Estimated annual nutrient requirements per cow1 TDMI (kg) Balance TCPI (kg) TEI (MJ) TDMI (kg) TCPI (kg) TEI (MJ) 2989 3401 3270 449 544 526 36145 43630 41978 +434 +327 - 51 0 +29 -8 - 6443 -13133 -12900 3220 506 40584 +247 +12 -10825 1 Nutrient requirement was calculated based on the mean body weight, fat percentage and milk yield according to Kearl (1982). *IDMI = Total Dry Matter Intake; TCPI = Total Crude Protein Intake; TEI = Total Energy Intake 184 10th ESAP-Proceedings Milk Production, milk composition and body weight change of crossbred dairy cows in urban and peri-urban dairy production systems in Ethiopia Yoseph Mekasha1*, Azage Tegegne2, Alemu Yami3 and N.N. Ummuna2 1Department of Animal Sciences, Alemaya University, P.O.Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P.O.Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2International 3Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO), P.O.Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia Abstract Milk yield, milk composition and body weight change of crossbred dairy cows (Holstein Frisian X Zebu) were studied in the urban and peri-urban dairy production systems in the Addis Ababa milk shed between December 1997 and November 1998. Ninety-seven cows, with parities above two and at the beginning of lactation, representing three production sub-systems (intra-urban, large peri-urban and secondary town) were considered for the study. Daily milk production, milk yield in a 305-day lactation and fat corrected milk production varied (P<0.001) among subproduction systems. Dairy cows in secondary town farms had 13.4, 26.3 and 20.2% greater mean daily, 305- day and lactation milk yield compared with intra and peri-urban farms respectively. Concentrations of milk fat and total solids differed (P<0.001) among the production sub-systems. Lactation yield (P<0.05), lactation length (P<0.01) and concentrations of milk fat (P<0.01), protein and total solids (P<0.001) differed among herd sizes groups. Body weight varied (P<0.001) among production sub-systems, with cows in secondary town farms being heavier and cows in intra-urban farms lighter. It is therefore concluded that the various environmental factors, mainly nutrition, and genetic factors, possibly inbreeding depression, should be improved in order to improve milk production from intensively managed urban and peri-urban dairy farms Keywords: Milk yield, milk composition, body weight, dairy cows, Urban/Peri-urban Introduction Market oriented urban and peri-urban dairy production is an emerging type of dairy production system in the tropics and sub-tropics. It is based on crossbred dairy stock, mainly Friesian X Zebu and purchased conserved feeds (Staal and Shapiro, 1996); land is the major constraint (Abaye et al., 1989; Azage and Alemu, 1997). The increasing human population and purchasing power in urban centers, inadequate foreign reserves and the increasing price of milk and milk products have given impetus to the flourishing of urban and periurban dairy production systems in this region. The sector contributes immensely to overall development of the country through income and employment generation, asset accumulation and poverty alleviation. Almost all of the fluid milk supplied to major urban centers in Ethiopia, for example, comes from urban and periurban smallholder and commercial dairy producers (Azage and Alemu, 1997). However, as the production system intensifies, the level of management that directly influences the performance of dairy cows becomes a challenge to the system. Low total milk output, reduced milk production per cow and reduced reproductive performance are among the consequences of inadequate management. An insufficient and unbalanced nutrient supply and disease intensification could be among the major contributing factors. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and its partners had embarked on a study on market oriented urban and peri-urban dairying, which developed a conceptual framework for research in dairying that provides a common basis for characterizing and understanding the dairy system (Rey et al., 1993). Since then, studies have been carried out with focus on disease intensification (Alec, 1998; Yilkal, 1998). However, information on productive performance of dairy cows is lacking. This study, therefore, assessed variations in milk yield, milk composition and body weight change of crossbred dairy cows in intensively managed urban and peri-urban dairy production systems in Ethiopia. * Corresponding address: e-mail: [email protected]; Fax: 251-05-114008; Telephone: 251-05-111399 10th ESAP-Proceedings 185 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Materials and methods Study site The study was conducted on private urban and peri-urban dairy farms in and around Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, between December 1997 and November 1998. Addis Ababa is situated at latitude of 903’ North and 38043’ East and an altitude of 2400 meters above sea level. The average minimum and maximum annual temperatures are 9.4 and 23.2 0C respectively. The annual mean rainfall is 1201.5 mm. The pattern of rainfall is bimodal, in which the long and heavy rainfall is received during the months June through September while short and small showers are received during February and March (ILCA, 1993). Study population and sampling procedures The urban and peri-urban dairy production system has been characterized and categorized in to seven production sub-systems by the previous work of the International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA) using factorial correspondence and cluster analysis (ILCA, 1994). Accordingly, districts within and outside the city (Addis Ababa) were clustered using data from the Addis Ababa Dairy Producers Association and the Ministry of Agriculture. In each cluster, farmers were selected randomly using multi-stage random sampling. Out of seven production sub-systems identified, three were considered for the present study: intra-urban, secondary town and large peri-urban production sub-systems. A proportional and representative sample of farms was drawn from the three production sub-systems (376 intra-urban, 36 large peri-urban and 368 in urban areas of secondary towns with a total of 2735 dairy animals). Accordingly, 20 farms from intraurban, 6 from large peri-urban and 20 from secondary town production sub-systems were initially selected. However, five farms from intra-urban production sub-system data were dropped out of the study leaving a total of 41 farms; out of which seventeen dairy farms were strategically selected (from three production sub-systems) for monitoring based on genotype, parity and stage of pregnancy. Farms owning crossbred dairy cows, with parity above two and in last trimester of pregnancy (between months 8 and 9 of gestation) were considered for the present study. Accordingly, five farms from intra-urban six from large peri-urban and six from secondary town sub-systems met the criteria and were included in the study. In each selected farms cows were put in the experiment after parturition. There was a total of 97 cows in the experiment from 17 dairy farms. Herd size Dairy farms considered for the study from the three production sub-systems varied considerably in herd size and/or number of cows. Therefore, selected farms were further stratified into three farm clusters based on number of cows as described by ILRI (1996), where in clusters 1 to 3, corresponding to small, medium and large, the number of cows was 1, 3 and 14 respectively. Thus, this study considered dairy farms owning less than 3 cows to be small, 3 to 10 as medium and greater than 10 as large sized farms. Accordingly, there were 5, 4 and 8 farms in small, medium and large categories. Data collection procedures Milk yield: Milk yield recording commenced 7 days postpartum until the cow was dried. Milk yield of dairy cows was determined at both AM and PM milkings on individual cows with a portable spring balance. Daily and, 305-days milk yields, uncorrected and corrected for fat concentrations were computed. Milk composition: Milk was sampled monthly for milk composition analysis from the bulk tank. After thoroughly mixing, 50 ml of each morning and evening milking was placed in a labeled container with potassium dichromate (lactab). Milk samples were kept in a portable refrigerator and transported to ILRI Debre Zeit Research station for analysis. Heart girth measurement: Heart girth of the cows was measured in the morning before offering feed. Measurement was done on monthly basis using a plastic measuring band. Before measuring, dairy cows were restrained to stand squarely on all of the four legs. The measuring band was not tightly pulled so that folding of the skin was avoided. Body weight of the cows was estimated from the heart girth measurements using the regression equation: 186 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Y= -423.405235 + 4.833697X (R2=0.86; CV=10%; for weight range 200-500 kg). The equation was developed at ILRI-Debre Zeit station using body measurements (heart girth) and actual body weight of crossbred dairy cows (unpublished). Laboratory and statistical analysis Chemical analysis of milk composition was performed for milk fat using the Gerber method, for milk protein using formaldehyde titration and, for milk total solids and ash according to O’Mahoney (1988). Data were analyzed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS (SAS, 1989). The model considered fixed effects of production subsystem, herd size and, season with calving date used as a covariate. Means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test. Results Milk yield and milk composition The mean daily milk yields, daily whole lactation, 305-day and fat corrected varied (P<0.001) among the production sub-systems (Table 1). Cows in secondary town farms had 15.4, 35.6, 25.3 and 24.4% greater daily, lactation yield, 305-day and fat corrected milk yield, respectively, than the population mean. Mean yields of fat (P<0.01), protein and total solids varied (P<0.001) among production sub-systems. The mean lactation length was 296±67 days and ranged from 260.4 days in intra-urban farms to 358.5 days in farms in secondary town, and the difference was significant (P<0.001). The daily milk and peak lactation yield of cows in intraurban farms was low compared to the overall mean (Table 3; Fig 1). The mean fat and total solids contents of milk varied (P<0.001) among production sub-systems (Table 1). Cows in intra-urban dairy farms produced milk that had higher butter fat (44.9 g/kg) than those in secondary town (36 g/kg) and large peri-urban farms (39.4 g/kg). However, no differences (P>0.05) in protein content were observed. Herd size did not influence (P>0.05) milk yield parameters except lactation yield (P<0.05) and length (P<0.01) (Table 2). However, milk concentrations of fat (P<0.01), protein and total solids (P<0.001) differed among herd size groups. Intra-urban dairy farms produced the least amount of milk throughout the lactation period (Fig 2). Cows in the secondary town farms maintained the highest milk yield throughout the lactation period, and peak lactation yield was also higher compared to the other production subsystems. Body weight change The mean body weight of dairy cows was varied (P<0.001) among production sub-systems (Table 1). Cows in secondary town farms had higher body weight than cows in large-peri-urban and intra-urban farms. The pattern of body weight change after calving for the study period is indicated in Figure 2. Dairy cows across all the production sub-systems exhibited body weight loss during the first stage of lactation and regained weight thereafter. However, dairy cows in intra-urban farms had the lowest body weight throughout the study period and progressively lost body weight up to 5 months postpartum. Cows in secondary town and large peri-urban farms had minimal body weight loss. Discussion Milk yield and milk composition The overall mean (± SD) daily and lactation milk yields obtained in this study were higher compared to 5.0±6.06 kg and 1775±26 kg reported for crossbred dairy cows at Assela, Ethiopia (Kiwuwa et al., 1983), but were similar to 8.7±0.3 kg and 2,609±102 kg, respectively reported for crossbred dairy cows (Sahiwal x Friesian) under smallholder management conditions in India (Wan Hassen et al., 1989). The mean daily yield was also comparable to the 8.33 kg reported by Mpairwe (1998) at the ILRI Debre Zeit Research Center. The inclusion of higher proportion of concentrate in the total diet (Yosseph et al., 1999) might have contributed to the higher milk yields in the present study. The higher milk yield obtained for cows in secondary town dairy farms compared to the other production sub-systems could possibly be attributed to the higher nutrient intake. The findings were in agreement with Istasse et al. (1986) who reported a higher milk yield of 2.4 kg per day for dairy cows fed high concentrate (65% of the total diet) over the animals that received a lower 10th ESAP-Proceedings 187 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production proportion (45%) of concentrates. Wan Hassen et al. (1989) also reported an 18% higher milk yield by raising the level of concentrate supplement from 4 to 6 kg/day. Sutton et al. (1996) also indicated that with increasing crude protein concentrations, milk yield increased by 4.0 kg/day at the same concentrate intake but tended to fall at reduced concentrate intake. It has also been shown that improving the nutrition of crossbred dairy cows through supplementation with wheat bran on maize stover-lab lab based diet increased the daily milk yield from 8.69 to 11.89 liters (Mpairwe, 1998). The mean lactation length across the sub-systems was shorter than the 364±4 days reported for crossbred dairy cows in Arsi (Kiwuwa et al., 1983) and 403.8 days for crossbred dairy cows in the Selale highlands of Ethiopia (Solomon, 1996), but comparable to the ideal lactation length of 305 days (Foley et al., 1985). However, cows in secondary town farms had a longer lactation length of 358 days compared to the 260 days of cows in intra-urban dairy farms, which could possibly be due to the higher nutrient intake. This indicates that dairy cows managed under optimum feeding management have long days in milk. Improvements in feed quality and quantity could prolong lactation length, which is in agreement with Azage et al. (1994) who reported that supplementing Boran cows with 5 kg wheat middlings extended lactation length by 32 days. The overall mean fat content of the milk was low compared to the reported results for other crossbred dairy cows (Mpairwe, 1998), which could be attributed to the higher proportion of concentrate (60%) in the total diet (Yoseph et al., 1999). Besides, the proportion of proteinaceous materials in the concentrate portion of the diet might be higher to depress milk fat content. It has been reported that increasing crude protein concentration in the diet tended to decrease fat content (Sutton et al., 1996). The higher milk fat production by cows in intra-urban dairy farms could be due to the higher fiber intake in contrast to those in the other production sub-systems. Besides, the inclusion of certain oilseed cakes such as cotton seed cake in the concentrate diet may have a positive effect in increasing the milk fat content. Yoseph et al. (1999) indicated the increasing reliance on the use of cotton seed cake in the intra-urban dairy farms. The absence of a significant difference in milk protein concentration irrespective of the proportion of concentrate in the total diet is in accordance with Istasse et al. (1986). However, the rise in milk protein content as a consequence of increasing crude protein concentrations in the diet was reported (Sutton et al., 1996). In general, a depression in milk fat percent due to increased concentrate feeding is associated with an increased supply of glycogenic precursors in the form of propionic acid or starch in the duodenum and a decreased supply of lipo-genic precursors, namely acetic and butyric acids (Jenny et al., 1974). The increase in milk protein content as a result of increased proportion of dietary concentrates could be attributed to increased production of propionic acid, a glucose precursor, in the rumen. Reynolds et al. (1988) demonstrated that 58% of the glucose produced by the liver in lactating Holstein dairy cows was derived from propionate, implying that with the higher supply of propionate from the rumen the load on amino acid utilization for gluconeogenesis could be reduced, allowing more amino acids to be incorporated into milk protein. The lactation curve for secondary town and large peri-urban dairy farms followed the normal curve of the gamma rays as described by Mpairwe (1998). However, cows in the intra-urban dairy production subsystem had a weaker lactation curve. The low peak lactation yield in this sub-system leads to a rapid decrease in daily milk yield thereafter and, thus, farmers terminate milking due to the low daily yield. This could possibly associated to the lower nutrient intake in the production system. Inbreeding depression and under-nutrition during the early young age could also be another reasons for the event. The practice of supplementing milking cows in early lactation compared to the latter lactation phases was another justification for maintenance of higher lactation curve in cows in secondary town and large peri-urban dairy farms. Body weight The mean body weight obtained in the present study was similar with 414 kg reported for crossbred dairy cows in Ethiopia (Mpairwe, 1998). The higher body weight observed in secondary town dairy farms might be attributed to greater feed intake. Dairy cows in the different sub-systems lost body weight after calving at 188 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems different rates, which could be affected mainly by milk yield and nutritional status. Postpartum body weight loss due to high lactation demand is well documented (Entwistle, 1983). Chamberlain (1989) indicated that up to 80% of the available nutrients in the blood could be used by milk secretory cells, and this accounts for the loss in body weight by most milk-producing cows after calving. The situation is exacerbated for dairy cows under nutritional stress. Azage et al. (1994) obtained 15 and 24 kg body weight losses during the first two months postpartum in supplemented and un-supplemented Boran cows (Bos indicus). Progressive body weight loss observed for intra-urban farms relative to other sub-systems might be resulted from the lower nutrient intake of cows in that particular production sub-system. Also, since cows in secondary town farms produced more milk compared to the other sub-systems, greater feed intake could have counterbalanced the energy demand for lactation. The comparatively low body weight of cows in intra-urban farms might be associated with inadequate nutrient intake and inbreeding depression. Inbreeding depression is the major problem in herds of closed population. This has been supported by the work of Yoseph et al. (2000) who reported that more than 53% of farms in the intra-urban sub-system depended on rented bull service (any bull they could find in their vicinity within a closed population), implying the existence of risk of inbreeding depression. Azage et al. (1994) supplemented primiparous Boran cows with 5 kg/day of wheat middlings and observed body weight loss during the first two months postpartum for both supplemented and un-supplemented cows, but at different rates. The fact that dairy cows were under lactation stress during the first stage of lactation could be the reason for body weight loss. Weaver (1987) demonstrated that in early lactation, cows must mobilize body fat and protein to supply energy and amino acids for maximum milk production, as feed intake is low during this time. Conclusion Urban and peri-urban dairy production is an important system buffering the large milk demand-supply variance in Ethiopia. However, the mean milk yield, milk composition and body weight of the dairy cows have varied among the sub-production systems. Secondary town dairy farms were superior in milk yield, lactation persistency, and body weight compared to the rest production sub-systems. The different environmental factors, possibly better nutrition have favored dairy cows in secondary town to produce more milk. Contrary to this, inadequate nutrient supply and possibly genetic factors including the occurrence of inbreeding depression might have disfavored dairy cows in urban farms to produce low milk yield and become light compared to the other production systems. 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Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and Umunna, N.N. 2000. Reproductive management and reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows in the Addis Ababa milk shed. ESAP proceedings. Eight National Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal production (ESAP). August 2000. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 190 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Yoseph Mekasha, Azage Tegegne, Alemu Yami and Umunna, N.N. 1999. Feed resources and nutritional management of dairy herds in urban and peri-Urban dairy production systems in Ethiopia. ESAP proceedings. Seventh National Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal production (ESAP). 26-27 May 1999. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Table 1. Body weight, milk yield and milk composition of crossbred dairy cows in the Addis Ababa milk shed by production sub-system Production sub-systems1 Variables Intra-urban Body weight Large peri-urban 360 404 Secondary town 428 Milk yield (kg) . Mean daily yield . Lactation yield . 305-days yield . 305 days fat yield . 305 days protein yield . 305 days total solids yield . FC lactation yield 5.91 1578 1496.7 67.20 43.70 185.59 1125.90 8.92 2528.6 2377.9 93.68 68.72 282.97 1595.80 9.96 3544.1 2965.8 106.76 86.30 344.03 2055.5 . Lactation length (days) 260.4 279.9 358.5 44.9 29.2 124 39.4 28.9 119 36 29.1 116 Milk composition (g/kg) Fat Protein Total solids Mean 403 8.63 2612.0 2365.6 93.44 68.83 281.50 1652 SD 36 Significance2 *** 2.3 869 734 6.38 2.34 7.92 556.00 *** *** *** ** *** *** *** 296 67.8 *** 39.5 29.1 119 8.7 3.2 10.8 *** NS *** 1Production sub-systems: Intra-urban = Addis Ababa; Secondary town = Debre Zeit; Large Peri-urban = Kaliti and Sebeta 2* * * = P<0.001; * * = P<0.01; NS = Not significant Table 2. Mean body weight, milk yield and milk composition of crossbred dairy cows in the Addis Ababa dairy shed by herd size Groups Herd size 1 Variables Small Body weight Milk yield (kg) . Mean daily yield . Lactation yield . 305 days yield . FC lact. Yield . Lact. Length (days) Milk composition (g/kg) Fat Protein Total solids Medium Mean Large 368.8 425.8 399.0 403.7 6.9 1941.8 1822 2088.5 287.3 9.38 3374.45 2781.1 3239.2 371.9 8.73 2572.6 2366.8 2573.2 285.0 8.63 2612.09 2365.64 2609.8 296.0 3.70 2.94 11.72 3.93 2.86 11.56 3.95 2.91 11.88 4.22 3.04 12.39 SD Significance2 38.7 *** 2.6 1028 847 1035 67.2 NS * NS NS * * 0.92 0.32 1.08 ** *** *** 1 Herd size: Small = Farms with less than 3 milking cows; Medium= Farms with 3 and 10; Large=Farms with more than 10 2 Average daily milk yield (kg * * * = P<0.001; * * * = P<0.01; NS = Not significant 15 10 5 0 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 41 Months after calving Intra-urban Large peri-urban Secondary town Figure 1. Patterns of lactation curves in dairy cows in urban and peri-urban dairy production systems 10th ESAP-Proceedings 191 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Body weight (kg) 440 420 400 380 360 340 320 1 2 3 Intra-urban 4 5 6 Months after calving Secondary town 7 8 9 10 Large peri-urban Figure 2. Patterns of changes in body weight during the postpartum period in dairy cows in urban and peri-urban dairy production systems 192 10th ESAP-Proceedings Major Animal Health Problems based on the Opinion of Pastoralists, Agropastoralist, and Sedentary Farmers and Condition of Animal Health Services in Shinille Zone of Somali National Regional State Bekele Tafese 1, Eshetu Yimer 2 and A. Yohanus3 1Alemaya University, Department of Animal Sciences, PO.Box 138, Dire Dawa 2Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, PO.Box 1242, Addis Ababa 3Hararghe Catholic Secretariat, PO.Box Dire Dawa Abstract This study was initiated with an objective to summarize the prevalent disease of domestic animals based on the opinion of the herd owners and to examine the condition of animal health services in Shinille. The method used to collect information was interviews and focus group discussion. In cattle black leg was one of the major reported cattle diseases with the morbidity and mortality of 30.7% and 21.8% respectively. Foot and mouth disease was reported with morbidity and mortality of 53.9% and 13% respectively. Botulism was reported to be one of the most important diseases with the morbidity of 31.6% and a mortality of 30.5%. Contagious bovine pleuro pneumonia was also reported with a morbidity of 52.9% and a mortality of 35.7%. Other diseases of cattle reported were anthrax, pneumonia, gastrointestinal tract parasite, and Jaundice. Among the major diseases of camel reported by herd owners, respiratory disease complex and trypanosomiasis were reported with 50.4 and 24.5%, and 70.5 and 42% morbidity and mortality respectively. Other diseases reported were sarcoptic mange, gastrointestinal tract parasite, and contagious ecthyma, corynabacteriosis and tick infestations. In the small ruminants ticks infestation and ticks borne diseases followed by mange mites identified by herd owners as a major health problem with a morbidity and mortality of 28.7% and 11.6% and 58.4% and 38.7% respectively. The other important diseases reported by herd owners was contagious caprine pleuro pneumonia with a morbidity of 91.4% and mortality of 47.9%. The herd owners also reported diseases and syndromes like gastrointestinal parasite, diarrhea, jaundice and ‘Hulumbo’. Donkeys are also one of the important livestock unit in Shinille zone. Disease ranked first and reported from all livestock production system in the area was ‘Bocho’ a disease that results in swelling of reproductive organs and ventral abdomen, the morbidity and mortality of this disease is 75 and 57.6% respectively. Other disease identified and reported by the respondents includes pneumonia, jaundice and anthrax. The epidemiology of these diseases which affects different species of domestic animals is not well studied. This should be given due consideration together with the improvement productivity of animal. The present veterinary infrastructure in Shinille zone can be considered as non-existing therefore; establishing an efficient, sustainable and effective animal health service is an immediate need. Introduction Shinille zone is blessed with huge livestock population but prone to drought and food insecurity. Thus faces chronic food shortage and frequent famines. In drought years there is a scarcity of forage throughout the pastoral and agropastoral livestock production and as a result livestock number declines through massive deaths and sales at lowest price. These results in an overall imbalance between the population of domestic stock and available pasture as well as forage. Further, as drought hits harder, the condition becomes more severe and the livestock are forced to undergo wild migration. Stress due to high temperature for most part of the year coupled with chronic feed shortage and water scarcity enhance the risk of infectious and parasitic diseases Infectious diseases are rampant and causes huge morbidity and mortality. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 193 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production The objectives of this paper is to summarize the prevalent diseases of domestic animals based on the opinion of pastoralists and to recommend measures to reduce morbidity and mortality of major diseases of animal by the regional government and NGO’s operating in the area. Materials and methods Livestock management Pastoralism (nomadism and transhumance) livestock husbandry is mainly practiced in Aysha and Afdem, and also in most part of Denmbel and Shinille and some part of Errer (Asbuli and Idora). In Shinille, nomadism and transhumances are part and parcel of the pure pastoralism. The Shinille nomads migrate their entire group of animals and all members of the family in search of grazing land and water and only rely on animal husbandry practices with no crop farming. Comparing with other types of livestock agriculture system nomadism is the dominant type of livestock keeping in Shinille zone. In the very dry lands of Shinille, pastoralism takes typical form of nomadism where the pastoralists and their animals follow the erratic and unpredictable rains but they have fixed bases which mainly depend on ethnic basis. In transhumance livestock husbandry practice the herds and part of the family are migrating, whereas the remaining part of the family remains in their ethnic territory or their village. Agropastoralism is the dominant type of livestock production in Denmbel, Miesso and Errer and some part of Shinille district. This system of husbandry is practiced in the nearby highland areas of Harerghe and in the valleys where the moisture is sufficient for crop farming. They are cultivating mainly sorghum and maize in limited area, vegetables are also cultivated in some places. Sedentary livestock and crop farming is mainly practiced in Errer and Miesso districts and also in part of Shinille district specifically in valley areas. They are practicing mixed livestock farming and share most of their traditional systems with the sedentary farming communities in the Shinille ecosystem (Doba, Jarso, Meta, Dire Dawa and Gorugutu). They are planting mainly sorghum and maize but in Errer areas they are also involved in fruits (orange, banana and lemon) and vegetables (tomato cabbage, potato) farming. In addition to that, side by side they are keeping cattle, sheep, goats and few numbers of camels. Shinille zone is characterized by shortage of water and high temperature. The water sources are intermittent rivers and riverbeds in the large part of Shinille. Watering frequencies of livestock are largely dependent upon the availability of water and season of the year in different husbandry practices. Scarcity of water during dry season of normal year is one of the constraints of livestock production. Sampling For the survey, stratified random sampling has been chosen. There are six districts in Shinille Zone. Population of each district was stratified into sedentary, agro -pastoralists and pastoralists groups. From each stratum 30 households were randomly selected. This means the total sample size of each district was 90. In cases where there were only two of the three strata in a district, the sample size was increased to 45 households. The total sample size for the Zone was 540 households. The methods used to collect data were interviewing by trained enumerators and focused group discussion with leaders on key issues. For the interview proper time and condition were set, question asking for figures/numbers were given with a thick mark, which makes the analysis non-exhaustive. The data was entered to Microsoft Excel 97 and analyzed with the same program by descriptive statistics. Result and discussion Pastoral animal husbandry is the best form of utilisation of the hardly available resources in the dry land of Somali National Regional State zones in general and in Shinille in particular. It is an effective way of obtaining required outputs, which does not need high level of input usage. This system of movement allows the pastoralists to utilize the available resources in cyclical manner and allows the grazing lands to rest periodically and reduce the risk of disease outbreak. Moreover, avoids overgrazing because of the seasonal migration and concentration of livestock in a fixed pastureland for a longer period. 194 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Infectious and parasitic diseases are major threats to livestock production every where in the country and in Shinille zone as well. Hereunder, a number of diseases of domestic animals have been discussed on the basis of the opinion of respondents. Cattle Among the diseases listed according to the livestock owners of different production systems, pneumonia or diseases of respiratory system attained the highest rank and the next rank was given to black leg by pastoralists and anthrax by agropstoralists whereas FMD ranked third by respondents from both husbandry systems. However, in sedentary farming of both Shinille and the ecosystem respondents Black leg was the first ranked disease followed by FMD and gastrointestinal parasitism. The occurrence of cattle diseases in Shinille zone in the last six months and their morbidity and mortality have been presented in Table 1. Black leg was reported from Shinille, Errer, Denmbel, Aysha, and Miesso and Afdem respondents, from sedentary, agropastoral and pastoral husbandry practices. It is locally called ‘Wanegurate’ by sedentary farmers. All respondents disclosed that it affects young animals up to the age of three years, and also animals in good body condition. The major clinical symptoms mentioned were swelling of one side of the animal, lameness, rough coat, dried muzzle, complete loss of appetite and death. The morbidity and mortality of this disease was recorded to be 30.7% and of 21.8% respectively, on the basis of the data generated during survey (Table 1). Anthrax was reported from Errer, Shinille and Afdem district by three, one and eight households respectively, from sedentary (Errer) and pastoral (Shinille and Afdem) group respondents. They disclosed that it occurs mainly during the beginning of the rainy season and usually if not treated may lead to death of animals. The major identification point of this disease by respondents was sudden death of animal without typical clinical symptoms and afterwards blood oozes from all natural orifices. If an animal is died due to anthrax in some places they bury the dead immediately. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) was reported from Miesso, Afdem, Errer, Denmbel and Shinille from eighteen, eight, two, four and two households respectively. Locally this disease is known as ‘Massa’ by the sedentary farmers and ‘Habebe’ by pastoralists. The typical identification symptoms were mouth, feet lesion, and large volume of saliva secretions from mouth and in some case lesions on the teats and udder. Respondents informed that it kills calves due to starvation, because the dam did not allow suckling. The morbidity and mortality of this disease was 53.9 and 13 % respectively based on the data generated from the survey. In eastern Ethiopia, FMD type O was reported by Abel and his colleagues in 1991. In their report 60.5% of the cattle examined were attacked by the disease and a mortality in calves were found to be 6%. Botulism was reported to be one of the diseases observed by pastoralists in Denmbel and Aysha districts. The typical clinical symptom observed were that the affected cattle became recumbent and unable to rise again and die after some time. They call this disease as ‘Deber jebeya’. Further pastoralists said that it was a result of licking or eating of the bone of tortoise mostly and some time bone of other animals. From 116 affected animals 112 died and only four survived from the attack. In Beletu district in Legehide area tortoise associated clostridial toxicity were reported by Bisrat et al., (1990) and also in south Africa (Fourie, 1946) Pneumonia was one of the disease syndromes reported in Shinille zone in all districts and production systems. Out of 319 affected animals 276 were died. The major symptoms observed by the respondents were coughing which is non-productive at the beginning, waterish nasal discharge which letter becomes thick, decreased appetite, and death in most cases. Jaundice ‘Sogudued’ (local name) was one of the diseases that occurred in Shinille zone with 43.5 and 27.8 % of morbidity and mortality. They reported that ‘sogudued’ occurs in wet and in the beginning of dry season of the year, when animals are infested by ticks. The clinical symptoms described were dry muzzle, yellowish mucous membrane of eye, rough hair coat, depression and red urine and they suggested that this 10th ESAP-Proceedings 195 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production disease is associated with an increase in tick’s population. Except Meisso ‘Sogudued’ was reported from all districts. This disease was also reported in camel and small ruminants. ‘ Sogudued’ is considered as babesiosis by animal health workers in Shinille zone, by taking into account the clinical symptoms and associated ticks and treatment response. Respondents from Miesso, Shinille, Afdem and Errer reported the occurrence of ‘Bottle Jaw’, locally it is called as ‘Silise’ and according to their opinion caused by worms in the gastrointestinal tracts. They reported that there was accumulation of fluid in the lower Jaw. This may occurs mainly due to Haemonchus placei infection in low land areas and due to fasciolasis in highland areas and lowland areas where suitable snails are found (Soulsby, 1982). This may also be because of poor nutrition. In this case in Shinille and Afdem districts it seems mainly due to haemoncosis and in Miesso and Errer it may by due to Haemonchus or Fasciola. This needs further investigation. The morbidity and mortality were 59.1 and 30.2 % respectively. In addition to this, GIT parasites, other diseases like mange mites, ticks infestation, diarrhoea were also reported in Shinille zone. Table 1. Diseases of cattle occurred from beginning of September 2000 - end of February 2001, in Shinille zone and their morbidity and mortality based on opinion of respondents Total number of animals Sick Died Black leg 833 256 182 Anthrax 382 199 164 FMD 577 311 Botulism 367 116 Type of disease Recovered Morbidity Mortality 74 30.7 21.8 24 52.1 42.9 75 236 53.9 13.0 112 4 31.6 30.5 Mange mite (Skin disease) 33 12 6 6 36.4 18.2 CBPP 70 37 25 12 52.9 35.7 Pneumonia 513 319 276 43 62.2 53.8 GIT parasite 218 86 8 78 39.5 3.7 Bottle Jaw 298 176 90 86 59.1 30.2 1291 561 359 202 43.5 27.8 229 116 89 27 50.7 38.9 10 5 1 50.0 10.0 Soguded Diarrhoea Related Ticks infestation and TBD 4.0 Camel The productivity of camel is affected by a number of rampant and pathogenic diseases. These diseases which are distributed in Shinille zone ware identified and ranked by respondents from different husbandry systems. In all husbandry practices Respiratory Disease Complex (RDC) was ranked first, followed by ‘Bergerier’ (local name) in pastoral and agropastoral system and GIT parasite in sedentary farming and Sarcoptic mange in Shinille ecosystem. The third rank was given for paralytic syndrome by pastoralists, trypanosomiasis by agropastoralists and pneumonia by sedentary farmers. The camel diseases and disease syndromes occurred in Shinille zone is presented in table 2. Respiratory disease complex which they call it ‘Dugotto’ was reported from all districts and husbandry practices from Shinille and its ecosystem. The morbidity and mortality of this disease based on the data collected from the respondents were 50.4 and 24.5 % respectively. They disclosed that this disease affect both sexes and all age groups. The major clinical symptoms observed by the respondents were nasal discharge, which was watery at the beginning and later became mucopurullent, cough that was nonproductive at the beginning and later becomes productive, depression, abortion in some cases and death of animals within few days. In consistent with this, Bekele (1999) reported prevalence of respiratory disease of camel in Shinille zone. Respondents reported liver disease ‘Bergerier’ from Afdem, Shinille and Miesso districts. Tezera (1998) first reported the occurrence of this disease in Shinille zone. In the first two districts it was reported from pastoral husbandry practice whereas in Miesso district from Agropastoral husbandry practice. Respondent from these districts described the disease on the basis of the lesions observed in liver after the death of the affected camel. They disclosed that the liver of an animal died due to ‘Bergerier’ is swollen and some times the lung were also found to be involved. The morbidity and mortality of this disease was 66.7 and 57.7 % 196 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems respectively. From the reported 194 sick animals 168 died due to this disease from 20 households. Research is required to elucidate the etiology and epidemiology of this disease. Trypanosomiasis is one of the killer diseases of camel, which is transmitted by heamtophagus flies. Locally this disease is called ‘Dukan’ or ‘Kinin’, which they said to be transmitted by ‘Adele’ flies. These are in agreement with the report of Bekele and Tezera (1998), and Melaku and Feseha (2001). The morbidity and mortality of trypanosomiasis was 70.5 and 42 % respectively. Respondents also disclosed that during the end of wet season the infestation rate increases in camels and because of this they prefer to migrate to fly free areas. ‘Adele’ flies are identified as Tabanus and there are also different types of flies like Hypobsca and Stomoxys, which may be involved in transmission of this disease. Table 2. Diseases of camel occurred from beginning of September 2000 - end of February 2001, in Shinille zone and their morbidity and mortality based on opinion of respondents Type of disease Total number of animal Sick Died Recovered Morbidity Mortality RDC 383 193 94 103 50.4 Trypanosomiasis 224 158 94 64 70.5 42.0 Sogudued 147 32 16 16 21.8 10.88 GIT parasite 22 12 6 6 54.5 27.3 Corynabacteriosis 30 7 0 7 23.3 131 63 29 74 48.1 22.13 38.7 38.7 Ticks infestation and TBD 24.5 0 Shimber 31 12 12 0 Sarcoptic mange 20 20 0 20 Contagious ecthyma/pox 12 5 2 3 41.7 16.7 100 0 Paralysis 129 88 63 25 68.2 48.8 Bergerier 291 194 168 26 66.7 57.7 Small ruminants Diseases are root causes of lower productivity in small ruminants in Shinille zone. The respondents from pastoralists, agropstoralists and sedentary production systems ranked ticks infestations and Tick Born Disease (TBD) to be first followed by mange mites/skin disease and ‘Sogudued’ reported to be second and third by pastoralists and agropstoralists, and FMD ranked third by sedentary farmers. In the Shinille ecosystem the first rank was given to mange/ skin diseases, followed by diarrhoea, ticks infestation and TBD. The diseases of small ruminants are detailed in Table 3. ‘Hulumbo’ was reported for the first time in Shinille and in this country. The major clinical symptoms disclosed by the respondents were depressed appearance, reduced feed intake, difficulty in breathing, discharge from the nostril and eye, sever diarrhoea and death of some of the affected animals. They also said that this disease is associated with increment in population of ticks especially in wet season and in the beginning of the dry season. This disease occurred in Somali and named as Nairobi sheep disease (personal Communication, Ahemed Sheik, 2001). This disease is highly pathogenic and causes high morbidity and mortality therefore, further study to identify the etiology of the disease is recommended. The ticks, which are incriminated to transmit this disease, are already identified from Shinille zone. Mange mite was reported with a morbidity rate of 58.4 % and a mortality of 38.7%. Respondents said that once few goats are infested, the spread in the herd is very fast specially in wet season of the year. They also noticed that the lesions are distributed throughout the skin of infected animals and transmitted by contact to the healthy animals. Respondents further disclosed that the sheep is relatively resistant to this disease. The clinical symptoms observed by the respondents were rubbing with standing objects and with other healthy or sick animals, dried skin lesions, when the lesions are generalized, the animal gets off feed and emaciated and finally dies. Contagious Caprine Pluero Pneumonia (CCPP) and pneumonia were reported separately. CCPP, according to the data collected during survey period caused high morbidity of 91.4 % and mortality of 47.9 %. Respondents said that the disease is transmitted when healthy animals were in contact with sick animals in grazing land and at watering point. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 197 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 3. Diseases of small ruminants occurred from beginning of September 2000 - end of February 2001 in Shinille zone and their morbidity and mortality based on opinion of respondents Type of disease Total number of Animals Sick Died Recovered Morbidity Mortality 55.6 Hulumbo 491 309 273 36 62.9 Anthrax 23 8 2 6 34.8 8.7 300 134 57 77 44.7 19.0 38.7 FMD Mange Mite 2323 1357 900 457 58.4 CCPP 455 416 218 162 91.4 47.9 Pneumonia 768 518 435 83 67.5 56.6 GIT parasite Diarrhoea Sogudued TBD/Ticks infestation 26 9 1 8 34.6 3.8 4913 2332 2078 254 47.5 42.3 768 328 245 83 42.7 31.9 6745 1935 781 1157 28.7 11.6 Ticks infestation/diseases related with ticks infestation were also reported to occur with a morbidity of 28.7 % and a morality of 11.6 %. It is usually called as ‘Shilline’. In addition, they also informed that during tick’s season the animals become anemic and listless and some of them became depressed and died. Diarrhoea was reported, as a disease syndrome by respondents, the morbidity and mortality rate of 47.5 and 42.3 % were obtained respectively. Out of 2332 affected animals 2078 died, due to dehydration. This is very sever problem in Shinille zone where water scarcity is one of the major problem for livestock production. Identifying the exact etiology and factors involved in initiating diarrhoea is a potential area for future research. Donkey ‘Bocho’ is ranked first according to respondents from pastoralists, agropstoralists, sedentary farmers and those in the ecosystem. It is a reproductive disease, which results in swelling of reproductive organs, and ventral abdomen, and the suffering animal develops difficulty in urination. This disease was observed with a morbidity of 75 % and a mortality of 57.6 % (Table 4). The disease was reported from respondents of all husbandry practice. It will be a fertile area of research for interested animal health personals. From clinical symptoms, may be this disease is dourine caused by Trypanosome equiperdum, which has been reported in Ethiopia from Arsi of Oromia region. Other diseases of donkeys are listed in table 4. Table 4. Diseases of donkey occurred from beginning of September 2000 - end of February 2001) in Shinille zone and their morbidity and mortality based on opinion of respondents Type of disease Swelling of Reproductive organs and ventral abdomen Total number of animals 144 Sick Died Recovered 108 83 25 Jaundice 11 8 7 1 Anthrax 12 12 12 0 Morbidity 75.0 72.7 100 Mortality 57.6 63.6 100 Remark CFR 76.9 87.5 100 Animal health services The epidemiology of these diseases which affects different species of domestic animals is not well studied in the Shinille zone and in the Somali regional state. In all the cases there is poor extension service regarding preventive aspect of infectious and parasitic disease. The price of drug is unaffordable by nomads and the availability is also limited. The veterinary infrastructures are underdeveloped or non-existent at all. Animal health services are hardly available in Shinille zone; there are only four veterinary clinics out of which only one may remain to be functional in the near future. These veterinary clinics are located in Shinille, Arabi, Hadigala and Asbuli. At the moment, none-of these clinics are functional (Personal Communication, 2001), these veterinary clinics were constructed without appropriate need assessment studies. Moreover, theses clinics are not equipped with the necessary facilities and human element. Only for Shinille clinic one veterinary assistant was assigned and because of shortage of clinical equipment’s and medicine, proper service to the nearby livestock owners have not been commenced. The current man power status at Shinille zone is far below the standard required. The only available staffs are two Animal Health Technicians (AHT) and two animal health assistants. These low-level staffs are assigned to manage and co-ordinate the activity of veterinary service with out any facilities. There are 12 198 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems AHT and one animal health assistant in Shinille, 18 AHT in Errer, 6 AHT in Aysha, 8 AHT in Afdem, 12 AHT in Miesso and one AHT in Denmbel. They have been assigned to run vaccination and preliminary animal health care, and all of them are not provided with clinical materials and medicines. From this existing structure one can deduce that Shinille zone livestock owners are not provided even with minimum animal health care. There are veterinary clinics and SERP development centres in the rest of the zones but in Shinille zone it is only Shinille and Hadehagale where veterinary clinics were shown but both of them are non-functional. In the rest of the Somali region, development centres are found in most of the districts and through these centres veterinary services are given to stockowners. Out of the 72 agropstoralists interviewed only 4% said that they are getting regular animal health service. Whereas 96% said, that they are not getting regular animal health services but once in a while their herd is visited by vaccinators, and this was about three years back. 90% of agropastoralists respondents disclosed that their animals were vaccinated before four years. Out of 258 respondents from pastoral areas 94% disclosed that they are not getting regular animals health services. Even annual vaccinations were carried before one, two, three and more than three years, as disclosed by 2, 35, 8, and 55 % of the respondents. In the sedentary farming areas only six percent of the respondent mentioned the presence of regular health services. Concerning facilities of animal health except in sedentary husbandry system where they have mentioned the presence of one crush and one health post, in pastoral and agropastoral areas none of the respondents reported the presence of animal health service in their vicinity. In the sedentary farming 40% the respondents disclosed that their animals were vaccinated for different disease in this year. The rest said their animals were vaccinated two to three years ago. From these it can be deduced that the Shinille pastoralist, agropastoralist and sedentary farmers have not been provided with minimum animal health care, this is may be one of the reason for huge morbidity and mortality of their herd and for decrease in livestock population. The partner in animal health care in Shinille zone and its ecosystem are Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and Harerhge Catholic Secretariat (HCS). The respondents said that the service is irregular and limited to vaccination and preliminary animal health care. The respondents from pastoral and agropastoral husbandry system suggested that in the future the service have to be mobile based on their seasonal movement pattern. Some of the respondents suggested stationed clinics and health posts in the central area based on the choice of the society and others suggested training of paravets from their ethnic group that can serve them in their village. The sedentary respondents from Shinille and its ecosystem prefer stationed animal health services in their vicinity. In all the production system 90% of the respondents suggested that if regular animal health is provided they are ready to pay for vaccination and treatment. Recommendations For planing of livestock improvement strategies, the knowledge of existing production system, infrastructure, ecological condition, feed resources, health situation and livestock husbandry skill are prerequisites. Therefore, to understand the livestock production problems and in order to design cost effective intervention, livestock health and productivity monitoring study is recommended. The present veterinary infrastructure in Shinille zone can be considered as non-existing; therefore, establishing an efficient, sustainable and effective animal health service is immediate need. For effective improvements of livestock productivity, disease free or minimal disease risk environment is needed. Without cheap, effective and timely disease prevention and control any livestock improvement program will not be successful. Therefore, to ensure food security where livestock is playing major role in the livelihood of the pastoral and agropastoral systems, it is essential to strengthen the veterinary infrastructure. These may include: Sustainable drug supply is highly essential for effective animal health service. Establishing revolving fund in order to facilitate efficient drug supply is of paramount importance. To date the quantities of drug supplied by MOA and HCS is by far lower than the quantity demanded. The method of revolving fund may assists the problem of scarcity of drug supply. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 199 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production In Shinille veterinary professionals are not present, only few animal health technician’s and assistants are available. Though, it is very difficult to fill this gape in short period of time, but to overcome this deficiency a mobile veterinary service is recommended for the areas having pastoral and agropastoral husbandry practices. The implementation of community based animal health services using paravets or community animal health assistants who will be expected to play a pivotal role in improving health of livestock can be viable proposition, but the training should be restricted to primary animal health care and vaccination. In an attempt to upgrade knowledge of livestock diseases and productivity, it is recommended to arrange an in-service training for animal health staff at all level in Shinille. In order to reconcile the strengthening of veterinary infrastructure with subsistence need and other needs of herdsmen of Shinille, traditional knowledge, on disease prevention practices, socio-economic conditions and other aspects of the society at large need to be given due attention. In short, the strengthening of animal health services should support prominence of participatory approach in an attempt to improve rural life. References Abel Mersi, Bekele Tafesse, Fikadu Getahun and Wogene Teklu., 1994. Losses from foot and mouth disease in mixed farming area of eastern Ethiopia, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 24(3), 143-145 Bekele T., 1999. Studies on the respiratory disease ‘Sonbobe’ in camels in the eastern lowlands of Ethiopia, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 31(6), 333-345 Bekele T, and Tezera G., 1998. Preliminary observation on camel types and major parasitic disease of camel in the eastern lowlands of Ethiopia, Proceeding of the Ethiopian Society of Animal production, 14-15 May 1998, Addis Ababa, PP: 201-207 Bisrat Mengistu, Tafesse Mesfin, Berehe G. Egizabher and Clare Luz Duarte, 1990. Cattle poisoning and mortality associated with tortoise clostridial toxicity in the Beletu district of Ethiopia, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 22, 195-196 Fourie, J. M., 1946. Associated bovine botulism in southern Africa with the consumption of dead tortoise, Journal of the South African Veterinary Medical Association, 17, 85-87 Soulsby E.J.L., 1982. Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals, Seventh Edition, Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, PP: 231-255 Melaku Tefera and Feseha Gebreab, 2001. A study on the productivity and diseases of camels in eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 33(4), 265-274 Tezera Getahun, 1998. Characterisation of camel husbandry practices and camel milk and meat utilisation in Jijiga and Shinille Zones, Somali Region, MSc thesis, Alemaya University, PP: 122. 200 10th ESAP-Proceedings Traditional processing of camel meat and milk, and marketing of camels, milk and hides in After Zone of Somali National Regional State, Ethiopia Ahmed. Sh Mohamed1, B.P Hegde2 and Bekele Tafesse2 1Somali National Regional State, PO. Box 241, Jijiga University, PO. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia 2Alemaya Abstract This study was initiated with the objectives of generating base line data in the area of traditional meat and milk processing, marketing of camel and its products. The study was under taken in the five purposively selected Weredas of Afder Zone. Sampling methods used was stratified random sampling technique wherein for each Woreda five small (10-20 camels) medium (21-50 camels) and large (< 50 camels) herders were considered. ‘Olobe’ and ‘Darreein’ are the two types of traditionally processed meat in Afder. These products are prepared to extend the use of meat for longer time especially for dry season and for cultural reasons. Of the two types ‘Olobe’ is available in urban market. These products are also prepared during crises when large numbers of animals are dying. 85, 69 and 52 percent of the small, medium and large herd size camel owners respectively reported their preference for fresh cooked meat. Smoking of camel milk container is practiced to improve the taste and the quality of milk. Souring of milk is practiced at any time when surplus milk is available. The mean maximum shelf life of soured milk under pastoral practice is 6.1, 5.8 and 6.7 days respectively as opinioned by small, medium and large herd size camel owners respectively. Livestock marketing infrastructure are not well organized in Afder. The major market outlet is Kenya and Somali and locally Doll-ado, Hargelle and Jerati. The mean number of camels sold were 2.1, 2.5 and 3.5 for small, medium and large herd size, respectively. Mostly adult males and females were brought to Jerati market. The price of camel in Jerati market varies from 370 Birr for immature camel to 1350 Birr for adult camel. Milk marketing is limited to certain towns due to lack of transportation facilities. The price of milk varies 0.50 to 8.10 Birr in different distracts. Distance, season and quality of milk are the factors that affect the milk price. Pastoralists sell or purchase camel hides by cash or in kind. The large herd owners get more hides to sell compared to small herd owners. The price of hides varies from 40 Birr to 240 Birr in the study area. Introduction In the hot arid areas, which cover approximately one third of the surface of the earth (Coppock, 1994), the camel is an asset to operate in many ways. Camel can survive in dry areas and produce milk and meat from otherwise non-productive desert resources. The importance of camel arises primarily from provision of milk and meat within a subsistence economy and its use as an animal of burden for transporting goods to the markets, water from wells and household belongings for mobile families. Besides their economic importance, camels are also prized according to their role in traditional social relations such as payment of the bride wealth and compensation of injured parties in tribal feuds (Mohamed, 1987). Camels are also indispensable animals for use in cultural and religious occasions. Despite these, the economic contribution of camels in Ethiopia is not yet exactly determined (Gebremariam, 1989, Wilson, 1989). The camels are considered as sort of banking system and security against drought, disease and other natural problems that affect smaller livestock more seriously (Mohamed, 1987). In the past as well as nowadays camels have been extensively exploited for their ability to travel the terrains impossible to other animals. The camels are well adapted to harsh dry conditions and in times of drought, continue to supply milk for human consumption long after other livestock have died. However contribution in terms of cash to the pastoralists are not well studied. In the eastern part of Ethiopia, most of research undertakings on productivity, production systems and diseases on camels were around Jijiga and Shinille Zones of the Somali National Regional State (Abebe, 1989, 1995, Kebebew, 1998, Tezera, 1998, Zeleke, 1998, Bekele 1999, Baars, 2000, Bekele, 2001) and little 10th ESAP-Proceedings 201 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production work was done in remote arid zones like Afder. The contribution of camel interns of cash to pastoralists and marketing of camels and its products are not well studied. Therefore, the present study was initiated with the objectives generating base line information on traditional camel meat and milk processing leading to market and also on marketing of camel, milk, and hide in Afder zone of Somali State. Materials and methods The study was undertaken in Afder Zone, which is located in the south east of Ethiopia and borders the Republic of Somalia. The zone covers the south-western corner of Somali National Regional State (SNRS) and it’s bordered with southern Somalia. The altitude varies from 250m to 600m. Afder zone has no linkage with Capital City of Jijiga SNRS (Figure 1). The zone has eight districts/Woredas (West-Imey, El-keri, Gorobagagsa, Gouradamole, Hargelle, Jarati, Barey, Dollo-bay) and is inhabited by Somali pastoralists. Agro-pastoralism is also practiced along the edges of three rivers namely Ganale, Web and Shabele (the later one being in Imey district). Crop production by agro-pastoralists mainly depends on rainfall that is erratic. Livestock products particularly milk provides most of the daily energy requirement of the pastoralist, grain and sugar providing the balance. In agro-pastoralism, small scale farming of sorghum and maize along the Ganale and Web rivers and petty trading generate additional income for the households. Accurate figures on livestock populations are not available. Because the area is largely inaccessible the census in 1994 did not cover this zone. The camel population figure estimated by the Southeast Rangelands Project (SERP) in 1998 showed that there were 260,000 heads of camel. Sampling procedure The sampling method used was systematically stratified random sampling technique for the selection of the herd size but not for Woreda, which is based on accessibility, security situation and population. Five districts (Dollo-Bay, Jarati, Hargelle, Barey and El-keri) out of eight districts of Afder zone were selected. Figure 1. Location of the study area In this study large camel herd size means household which own above 50 heads of camel and medium herd size is any household owing 21-50 heads of camel, and small herd size consists of households that own 1020 heads of camel regardless of other livestock they have. 202 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems The study therefore excluded households, which owns less then 10 camels, and these households were considered poor camel owners, as they cannot herd separately and independently since they may not able to provide information about their herds. The household was used as the unit of investigation; and the camel herd was used to stratify the household into three wealth classes. From each of selected districts five households for each of three-wealth class were randomly selected totalling 15 households for a district and 75 households for the five districts. Data collection To collect information on traditional practices of milk and meat processing a single-visit formal survey method (ILCA, 1992) was employed. To get information on camel marketing as well as on milk and hides marketing interviews and group discussion were held with elders and retrospective data were also collected from development projects of government as well as non-governmental organisations like Pastoralist Concern Association. In addition development agents at Zone and Woreda levels and officials of the Ministry of Agriculture were also consulted. Statistical analysis As the majority of the data were collected on single formal survey methodologies, most of the data were analysed using the descriptive statistics of the statistical package for Social Science SPSS version 10. Results and discussion Traditional processing of meat Among the respondents 91.7 percent of the small herd owners and 100 percent of the medium and large herd owners reported that there are two types of traditional camel meat processing methods to prepare processed meat ‘Olobe’ and ‘Darreein’. ‘Olobe’ The fresh camel meat is cut into small pieces using a sharp knife. Then the meat is fried in butter on low fire for about three hours, cooled, transferred and preserved in traditional container called ‘Qumbe’. Traditionally ‘Olobe’ is prepared when young married lady visit her husband family. Accordingly adult male camel will be slaughtered and meat is processed and then after with another camel transported the preserved Olobe meat to her husband, family is transported by camel. The ‘Qumbe’ was made from the hides of camels and cattle. According to pastoralists traditional container can preserve the meat for 3-6 months without spoilage. This statement should not be underestimated since improvement of processing and preservation containers can lead to better food security during lean season of the year. Nowadays, ‘Olobe’ is available in urban markets. Women were found selling the dry product in Dollo-ado market and Barey towns. Women were well aware of possible spoilage that can affect the product due to the mismanagement during processing. About 85, 69.2, and 52.0 percent for small, medium and large herd owners respectively reported that they normally consumed fresh cooked meat. However, only 40 percent of the large herders reported that they consumed both cooked and ‘Olobe’ form of meat. ‘Darreein’ ‘Darreein’ is the second type of processed meat. In this method the meat was cut and made just like long rope by drying under the sun for one day. Then the meat was packed in the bags. It was utilized when the need arises. They exposed these ropes of meat to fire and smoke before taking during meal session. The duration of preservation was said to be three months. It was considered as inferior in quality compared to ‘Olobe’ type. The nature of meat was tough. Children, women and the hungry men consumed mainly the meat processed by this method. This method was commonly practiced during crises particularly during drought or disease outbreaks when large numbers of animals are dying. Therefore, the aim of this type of processing is to save the family from hunger during the drought period and to utilize the meat from dying animals efficiently. However, parallel reports on the social utilization of the ‘Olobe’ and ‘Dareerin’ type of preserved meat and the reasons for practicing as observed in the present study have not yet been reported in the available literature. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 203 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Milk processing Milk is used in several ways such as with tea (caddeys), with grain and as traditional medicine. Further milk was used to fulfil religious and cultural obligation particularly during festivals and occasions of Mowlid. It was found impossible, to estimate amount consumed by household as fresh milk or sour milk and the total off take per household per day as the respondents found it difficult to answer. About 65 percent of the households in Barey, Hargelle and E-lkari reported that they consumed all milk they produced because they were far from main marketing towns. About 60 and 40 percent of pastoralist of Dollo-Bay and Jarati respectively use some amount of milk for home consumption and other portion for sale in order to exchange with other commodities they need. About 50 percent of small herders reported they consume fresh camel milk in the wet season when there is surplus milk. Tezera (1998) in Jijiga reported similar situation in Shinille zones. Smoking Smoking is traditional preservation method and is practiced to improve the taste and the quality of the milk. Moreover, it was noticed that some plant species were not used to smoke the container because they were considered inferior, and spoil both taste and odor of the milk. Soured milk Souring of milk is practiced at any time when surplus milk is available and mainly during wet season. During the middle to end of the rain season, milk production increases which result in reduction of price. Milk remains unsold and unused is of course soured later on. During surplus season even smaller herd household had surplus milk. Milk was soured when demand for soured milk in the urban area was high and some times milk was soured for cultural and religious purposes. This includes praying on funerals and for rain (Roob Doon). For these occasions, donation of soured milk from different households was collected at the place of ceremony. The method for souring of milk was simple and similar across camel pastoralist in different districts in Somali National Regional State. Most of the herders disclosed that they need not add anything to sour the milk as milk become sour it self. Nevertheless, when they wanted to sour the milk quickly for some purpose, they added small drops of previously soured milk or they completely mixed with already soured milk. This starter was used only when they want to increase the speed of souring. Hashi (1984) and Tezera (1998) reported similar procedures. The camel owners believe that milk remains always safe and can be consumed at any time even after its shelf life. The mean maximum shelf life of normal soured milk under pastoral condition as 6.1, 5.8, and 6.7 days respectively according to small, medium and large herd size herd owners (Table 1). Respondents disclosed that the shelf life of soured milk depends on the quality of milk, the type of the container and plants used to smoke (disinfect) the containers. The present opinion is in agreement with the report of Kohler et al., (1991). However, Gebremariam (1987) reported that the shelf life of soured milk ranged from 21-23 days when preserved properly. Butter Most of the camel owners in the study area were not interested in producing cheese and butter from camel milk. During the course of data collection, it was found that no herder who tried to produce butter or cheese. However, some of the camel owners reported that the young camel herders sometimes try to produce butter for personal use. They may extract a small amount of the butter oil, which was estimated at 0.25 kg from two liters of milk. The butter processing method is by heating certain type of stone for 3-4 hours on fire and the same was dropped to the milk in the container, which result in production of small amount of butter oil. This was not reported elsewhere in Somali State. The present study is in agreement with the report of Payne (1990), where it was stated in that camel milk is not commonly used to extract butter or ghee. But on the contrary, several authors believe that both butter and cheese could be made from camel milk through some special techniques. It seems that under traditional system it is difficult to make butter or cheese from camel milk. 204 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Improved processing technique could help to store excess milk produced during wet season so that it can serve as reserve in shortage season. This is particularly relevant in the difficult environment in which these pastoralists have to operate. Table 1. Reported shelf life of camel soured milk by herd size groups Herd size Small Medium Large) N Average shelf life (day ) Maximum shelf life (day ) Average shelf life (day ) Maximum shelf life (day ) Average shelf life (day ) Maximum shelf life (day ) Minimum Maximum Mean S. D 24 2.00 7.00 3.2083 1.1788 23 4.00 10.00 6.1304 1.5464 26 2.00 5.00 3.1346 .8192 26 3.00 10.00 5.8462 1.4613 25 2.00 7.00 3.2000 1.0000 25 4.00 30.00 6.7600 5.0023 Camel marketing Although livestock production is considered the main occupation in the study area, the opportunity to sell livestock and livestock products appeared to be very poor. Even essential marketing infrastructures are nonexistent. All Woredas are far from existing major markets: Jijiga (850 km), Harar (970km), and Dire-Dawa (1030 km). The only major main market outlet is Kenya and Somalia. The local markets for Afder zone are Doll-ado (220 km from Hargelle) and Jarati (40 km from Hargelle). Although marketing infrastructure is poor for other livestock, camel producers have wider choices for marketing, because they can sell their live animals in different markets. Based on information gathered through personal communications and the local radio message, they decide the suitable time to sell the animals and the market regardless of the regional and national boundaries. The choice of specific market was based on demand. The choice of camel markets for the herders of districts are listed in Table 3. Table 3. Options of camel markets by Woreda Woreda First choice Jarati Jarati Second choice Jarati Dollo-Bay Barey Jarati Dollo-Ado Mandera Luuq Hargelle Dollo-Ado Jarati Dollo-Ado Barey Godey Barey Jarati Dollo-Ado Mandera Barey Baydhabo E-l kari Jiiq Shakisa Jiiq Shakisa The alternative markets include for both local and foreign markets. The foreign markets are in towns of the neighboring countries such as Mandera in Kenya and Luuq and Baydhabo in Somalia. In general, camels are last to be taken to the market when other livestock failed to offer good value because of loss of body condition during recurrent droughts. Therefore, the proportion of sold camels increases during drought period. During last 12 months the mean number of camels sold on average were 2.1, 2.5 and 3.8 for small, medium and large herd size respectively. Table 4 presents the number of camels brought to market and sold and also the average price per head in Jarati market. It can be seen from the Table that most of the animals, brought to the market were adult males and females. The adult females brought to the market increased from August to November (Figure 2 and 3), because of prolonged dry period. Further substantial number of immature males and females were also 10th ESAP-Proceedings 205 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production brought to the market. Indirectly this result confirms the importance of camel during the period of crises (dry season and drought period). The present finding disagree with the previous report of Tezera and Bekele (1998), where in number of animals sold were by far less than the camel brought to the markets. The reason may be attributed to the drought period situation in the present study or the demands of the camel in the study area are higher than in eastern Ethiopia. However, since this data are collected from only one market for a short period, it may not provide the whole picture of the relationship between demand, supply and price, the influence of the season, different channels involved in the system of camel marketing in study area. However, the data provide the preliminary insight to camel supply and demand and the price during drought time. It can be observed from the table that young female sold for a price twice of young males. The reason may be due to the demand of young female over the male since only one male is required for breeding purpose, but all young females are selected for future dams. Table 4. Number of camels brought and sold and their prices in Jarati market Month Class of camels Brought Sold August Adult female Adult male Immature female Immature male 100 90 81 93 95 88 81 85 800 920 800 370 September Adult female Adult male Immature female Immature male 120 115 55 80 115 110 53 67 910 1000 870 380 October Adult female Adult male Immature female Immature male 128 90 39 30 128 90 39 21 950 1050 830 390 November Adult female Adult male Immature female Immature male 153 59 47 44 139 59 47 32 1150 1250 880 385 December Adult female Adult male Immature female Immature male 91 29 31 33 91 29 31 3 1300 1350 910 425 Number of Camels Brought Adult Female Adult male Imature Female Price per animal (Birr) Imature Male 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 August September October November December Months Figure 2. Number of camels brought to Jarati market 206 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Number of Camels Sold Adult Female Adult male Imature Female Imature Male 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 August September October November December Months Figure 3. Number of camels sold in Jarati market Milk marketing It was noticed that milk marketing was limited to certain towns and some settled villages. The major milk marketing constraint was lack of road to transport milk from remote areas. Restaurants in Barey, Hargelle, and E-lkari received milk directly from producers. Almost all of the studied households reported that the demand for the milk was high during dry season and low during wet season. The variation in price of milk in different Woredas is given in Table 5. The major factors affecting milk price were distance, season, quality of milk and whether milk was sold directly by producer or through middle women. Table 5. Price of milk in study area (in Birr) Woreda N Jarati 14 Minimum price 0.5 Maximum price 1.70 Mean price 0.9 S.D 0.30 Dollo- Bay 11 0.6 1.75 1.1 0.30 Hargelle 14 2.4 8.10 3.0 1.50 Barey 11 1.3 1.80 1.3 0.34 El-kari 15 0.6 1.25 1.0 0.30 Note = 2000 Somali shilling= 1ETB Hide Camel hides are extensively used to make ropes to fetch water from deep wells, and to make ropes (xarig) to construct the traditional hut. The hides of camels are also used as covers over baggage during migration (Gebil). After migration hides were used to decorate the constructed hut. It was also used as bedding material for sleeping and praying. About 95.8, 100 and 92.0 percent of small, medium and large herd owners respectively reported that they used camel hides for all these purposes. Similar reports on utilisation of the skin of the camel were recorded by earlier workers (Bekele, 1995; Baars, 2000). The present study also found out that pastoralist sold or purchased camel hide either in cash or in kind. The prices of hides by Woreda and herd size group are listed in Table 2 The size, quality, availability and the demand of the hide determine the price of the hide. The large herd owners get more hides to sell compared to small herd owners and sell at lower price. The demand for hides by small herders may be more and large herders always have surplus hides from slaughtered animals or died animals in the herd. By large the price of camel hide in Jerati district is more than rest of district. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 207 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 6. Prices of camel hides Herd size Small Medium Large Woreda Jarati Dollo Bay Hargelle Barey El Kari Jarati Dollo Bay Hargelle Barey El Kari Jarati Dollo Bay Hargelle Barey El Kari Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr Birr N 5 2 5 5 2 4 4 4 5 5 5 3 5 5 4 Minimum 50.00 60.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 55.00 40.00 60.00 40.50 60.00 40.00 60.00 60.00 40.00 40.00 Maximum 240.00 85.00 60.00 80.00 70.00 100.00 90.00 60.00 80.00 80.00 90.00 70.00 90.00 80.00 80.00 Mean 110.0000 72.5000 54.0000 64.0000 65.0000 78.1250 70.0000 60.0000 64.1000 66.0000 59.0000 65.0000 70.0000 68.0000 57.5000 S. D 74.8331 17.6777 8.9443 11.4018 7.0711 20.5523 21.6025 .0000 14.9683 8.9443 18.8414 5.0000 12.2474 17.8885 17.0783 In remote areas where currency notes are scarce, hides were exchanged to live goats and sheep. The numbers of goats or sheep exchanged for a camel hide are determined by the quality of the hide. About 66.7, 65.5 and 64.0 percent for small, medium and large herders respectively reported that two sheep or goats were enough to exchange for one hide of camel while 12.5, 23.1, and 24 percent of small, medium, and large herders reported that one goat or sheep is enough to find a good quality hide. Thus hide is a very important by product from the camels. The observation on barter system in hide trade has not been reported elsewhere. Conclusion The pastoralists practice traditional processing of milk to increase shelf life but it was for a short period. The poor marketing facility in all seasons and food insecurity in dry season indicate that this complete food of desert people needs to be preserved for longer time. Therefore improved processing technique to store excess milk produced during wet season is essential so that it will serve as reserve for dry season. This is another relevant area for immediate research focus. The key markets in the Afder zone are poorly developed. Consequently prices offered do not encourage the sale of animals, but the season and low income of the camel owners make it difficult to retain the animals while waiting for better prices. The problem of camel and camel product marketing was further exacerbated by the long distance. In some areas, it takes two to three days to reach the market. Therefore, except few government workers and traders most inhabitants of urban area are also under serious economical stress and their buying power is poor, even during ample season. Despite of poor marketing system, and local demand, it was reported that there exists a good demand for live camels mainly through cross-border trade, where traders preferred camels to other livestock. References Abebe, W. 1991. Traditional husbandry practices and major health problems of camels in the Ogaden (Ethiopia). Nomadic People, 29: 21-30 Asefa Asmare. 2000. Review Article: The camel, (Camelus dromedarius) the prime source of food for human consumption in harsh Arid and Semi-Arid areas. Folia Veterinarian. 44: 215-221. Baars, R. M. T. 2000. Cost and returns of camels. Cattle and small ruminants in pastoral herds of Eastern Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 32: 113- 126 Bekele, T. W. 1995. Observation on camel reproduction, utilisation, camel types and some health problems of camels in eastern low lands. Alemaya University, 25pp 208 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Bekele, T. and Getu, H. 1998. Current camel health situation analysis and review on camel production in the Somali Regional State, Alemaya University, 78pp Bekele, T. 1999. Studies on the Respiratory disease ‘” Sonbobe” in camels in the eastern lowlands of Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 31: 333-345. Bekele, T. 2001. Studies on Cephalopina titillator, the cause of ‘Sengale’ in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in semi-arid area of Somali State, Ethiopia. Tropical Animal health and production, 33(6), 489-500. Coppock, D. L. 1994. The Borana plateau of Southern Ethiopia: Synthesis of pastoral research, development and change, 1980-91. International Livestock Centre for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 418 pp Gebramariam, A. 1987. Livestock production and its socio-economic importance among the Afar in Northeast Ethiopia. Somali Academy of Science and Arts. Mogadishu, Somalia. Gebremariam, A. 1989. The future of camel rearing for food production in Ethiopia. In: T. Teka, (ed.), Proceedings of camels pastoralism as food system in Ethiopia. Institute of Development Research Centre (IDRC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 49-54. Hashi, A. M. 1984. Milk production of the camel. Somali Academy of Science and Arts: Somalia. Hashi. A. M. 1987. Traditional practices of camel husbandry and management in Somalia. In: A. Hjort. (ed). The Multipurpose Camel: Interdisciplinary studies on Pastoral Production in Somalia. Uppsala, Sweden. PP 123- 139 ILCA. 1992. (International Livestock Centre for Africa) Livestock production systems survey: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Kebebew, T. 1998. Milk production, persistent and composition of pastorally managed Camels in eastern Ethiopia. M.Sc. thesis. Alemaya University, Ethiopia. Kohler, I. Musa, B.E. and Ahmed, M.F. 1991. The camel pastoral system of the southern Rashida in Eastern Sudan. Nomadic Peoples, 29: 69-79. Payne, W. J. 1990. An Introduction to Animals Husbandry in the Tropics, Tropical Agriculture series, New York, USA. Schwartz, H.J. and Dioili, M. (ed). 1992. The One Humped Camel in East Africa. A pictorial guides to disease, health care and management. Josef, FR Margraf, Germany. PP 1-10. SERP. 1998 (South East Rangelands Development Project), Quarterly report. Gode Branch, Somali Region, Ethiopia. SPSS. Version 10. 1999. Soft ware Package for Social Science for Windows. Tezera, G. 1998. Characterisation of Camel Husbandry Practices and Camel Milk and Meat utilisation in Jijiga and Shinille zones of Somalia Region M.Sc. thesis, Alemaya, University of Agriculture. Ethiopia. Tezera, G. and Bekele, T.1998. Camel marketing in Eastern Ethiopia. Proceeding of the 6th Annual Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production. 14-15 May 1998 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp 194 –200. Wilson, R.T. 1989. Camels and camel research in Ethiopia. In: T. Teka, (ed.), Proceedings of camel pastoralism as a food system in Ethiopia. The Institute of Development Research Centre (IDRC): AAU, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: pp 11-19 Zeleke Mekuriaw. 1998. Productivity, Reproductive and Health Monitoring Study on Camel herd at Errer valley, M.Sc. thesis, Alemaya University of Agriculture, Ethiopia. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 209 On-Station and On-Farm Evaluation of the ‘Hay-Box Chick Brooder’ Using Different Insulation Materials at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center and Denbi Village, Adaa Wereda Negussie Dana1, Alemu Yami1, Tadelle Dessie1, Samuel W.Hana2 1Ethiopian agricultural Research Organization, Debre Zeit Agric.Res.Center, P.O.Box 32 2Formerly, senior student at Mekelle University Abstract Trials were conducted on-station at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center and on- farm at Denbi village to test the suitability of the ‘hay-box chick brooder’ to brood chicks using different insulation materials. During the onstation trial, the survival and comparative performance of chicks raised using: 1) conventional electric brooding (control), 2) the ‘hay box brooder’ insulated with barley straw, 3) the ‘hay box brooder’ insulated with tef straw and, 4) the ‘hay box brooder’ insulated with wheat straw, was evaluated. Data were collected on feed intake, water consumption, body weight change and mortality of chicks. Feed and water consumption and body weight gain were significantly higher for chicks raised using the conventional electric brooder compared to those raised under the hay box brooders insulated with either of the cereal straws. However, there were no significant differences in survival rates between chicks brooded using any of the methods tested. The levels of mortality at the end of the brooding phase (8 weeks) were 18.7% and, 18.3, 20.8 and 18.9% for chicks raised under the electric brooder and hay boxes insulated with barley, tef and wheat straw, respectively. Statistically, the performance and survival of chicks raised under the ‘hay-box brooder’ using any one of the insulation materials was not different from each other. The on-farm trial was conducted at ten households using tef straw and wheat straw as insulation materials. Data were collected on parameters similar to the on-station trial. The results indicated no significant variations in performance and survival of chicks raised using the ‘hay box brooders’ insulated with either type of straw. The rates of mortality under this condition were even lower (7-10%) compared to those recorded on-station. In conclusion, the hay box brooder can successfully be used to brood chicks to eight weeks of age using either of the two types of cereal residues as insulation materials. It is a suitable technique to brood chicks under village conditions, given that the chicks are provided adequate feed, water and appropriate management. However, the effects of season and altitude on the performance of the technology need to be assessed further. Keywords: chick brooding, ‘hay-box brooder’, insulation materials, mortality, growth Introduction The productivity of local scavenging hens is low not only because of low egg production but also due to high chick mortality. About 60% of the chicks hatched in the rural areas of Ethiopia die during the first 8 weeks of age (Tadelle, 1996) mainly due to disease and predator attacks. Climatic factors such as temperature, moisture and air circulation and other factors such as nutrition are also known to be important determinants of chick mortality (Katule, 1994). About half of the eggs produced in the villages of Ethiopia have to be hatched to replace chicken that have died (Tadelle, 1996), and the brooding time of the laying bird is long with many brooding cycles required in order to compensate for its unsuccessful brooding. It is estimated that, under scavenging conditions, the reproductive cycle consists of a ten day laying phase, a 21-day incubation phase and finally a 56-day brooding phase. This implies a theoretical maximum number of 4.2 clutches per hen each year although in reality, the number is probably 2-3. Assuming 3 clutches per hen per year, the hen would have to stay for about 168 days out of production every year entirely engaged in brooding activities. This is a very important setback to the productivity of the individual birds in particular and the poultry sector in general. Moreover, the extension service of the Ministry of Agriculture is facing a considerable challenge in its poultry extension activities since the multiplication centers are expected to rear chicks up to three months of age or even older before distributing to farmers. The breeding and multiplication centers can’t meet this 10th ESAP-Proceedings 211 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production demand due to the huge requirement in terms of brooding facilities even though they have adequate hatching capacity. Developing appropriate and simple chick brooding techniques for rural farmers’ use would guarantee distribution of the required numbers of day old chicks to farmers. This will alleviate the present burden of the Breeding and Multiplication Centers of the Ministry of Agriculture and develop the capacity and success of the extension service. The other potential benefit of this technique is that it could enable farmers to isolate chicks from their mothers at a very early age and raise them separately so that the hens could resume egg laying in a short period of time, although this aspect is yet to be studied. Brooding chicks using the “hay-box” chick brooding technology, developed at the Jimma College of Agriculture, seems to hold promise in bridging this gap. This technology utilizes simple, locally available, materials. The major principles of this simple technique involve brooding chicks by conserving the metabolic heat produced by the chicks, and keep them warm. Under village conditions using the hay box brooder also has the advantage of providing protection to chicks against predator attack and reduced risk of exposure to disease through confinement. The brooder was tested in urban and rural areas of the western highlands around Jimma and produced successful results (Solomon, 2001). The objectives of this work were to evaluate the performance of the ”hay box” chick brooder with associated recommendations and to compare the effect of using different insulation materials on feed utilization, growth and mortality of chicks up to 8 weeks of age under research station and in villages. Methodology The trial site The on-station trial was conducted at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre (DZARC) located 45 km East of Addis Ababa at an altitude of 1900 m a.s.l. at a latitude of 8.44oN and longitude of 39.02 oE. Based on 22 years’ data the average annual rainfall is 845 mm and the average minimum and maximum temperatures range from 10oC to 22oC, respectively, the mean average being 16oC. The on farm trial was conducted at Denbi Village, Ada Wereda. Earlier studies in the central highlands (Tadelle, 1996) established the fact that women farmers play the most dominant role in smallholder poultry production. Based on this information, women were selected to participate in the current activity. Accordingly, ten interested women headed households were selected to take part in the trial. Selection of households and trial site was carried out in collaboration with the extension unit of the Office of Agriculture, Ada Wereda, involving the development agent of the village. The participants were given training on some aspects of management practices, feeding, watering and health care of chicks before the commencement of the trial. Consistent advice and assistance was offered to the farmers through monitoring individual households regularly. Construction of the ‘hay box brooder’ A total of fifteen ‘hay box brooders’ were constructed for the on station trial using three types of insulation materials: barley, tef and wheat straw. The boxes were constructed adopting the dimensions recommended by Solomon (2001), with slight modifications. Each box, containing a set made of a larger run area fitted with a smaller compartment, had a capacity to brood 70 chicks. The dimension (Width x Breadth x Height of the box, in respective order) of the run area for 70 chicks was about 150 cm x 150 cm x 40 cm, while that of the smaller box was 75 cm x 75 cm x 40 cm. The outer borders of the boxes were constructed of lumber and covered with meshed wire. The two boxes were separated by a small door allowing movement of chicks from one to the other. Straw was stuffed to the inner walls of the boxes that were covered on the top by sacks filled with straw. The initial brooding temperature of the ‘hay-box’ was regulated/ reduced weekly by manipulating the amount of straw stuffed between the sides of the boxes and the central nest area. The on-farm trial involved a total of ten ‘hay-box brooders’, constructed at the Debre Zeit Research Center using two types of insulation materials: wheat straw and tef straw. Each box had the capacity of brooding 40 chicks. The dimension (Width x Breadth x Height of the box, in respective order) of the run area for 40 chicks was about 120 cm x 120 cm x 40 cm, while that of the smaller box was 50 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm. The boxes were constructed as described for the on-station trial. 212 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems Experimental animals and treatment A total of 1400 day-old chicks of commercial layer strain were used in the on-station trial. The chicks were divided randomly into four treatment groups each replicated five times, with 350 chicks per treatment. The treatments were: 1) electric brooder using 150W bulbs in the conventional brooder house (control), 2) ‘hay box brooder’ insulated with barley straw, 3) ‘hay box brooder’ insulated with tef straw and, 4) ‘hay box brooder’ insulated with wheat straw. The chicks were offered a commercial starter ration ad libitum and water was made available at all times for all groups. Forty day-old chicks of the Rhode Island Red (RIR) breed were supplied per household for the trial conducted on farm. The treatments included two types of insulation materials that were tested along with the hay boxes having equal dimensions. Each treatment was randomly assigned to five of ten households selected. The insulation materials used, wheat straw and tef straw, were the residues of the most predominant crops grown in the central highlands. The chicks were vaccinated at day-old against Newcastle disease using HB1 (HB1, NVI, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia) in both trials. Day-old weights of the chicks were recorded. A balanced chick starter ration was produced at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center and distributed along with the chicks to each farm. Chicks were fed, watered and managed in a manner similar to the first trial. Data collection and statistical analysis In the on-station trial, data were collected on daily feed and water intake. Body weight changes were recorded weekly. Mortality was recorded as it occurred. Brooding temperature was monitored weekly to maintain/regulate the temperature in the box. Data were subjected to the analysis of variance techniques according to the completely randomized design. Fisher’s test was employed to separate treatment means for factors that displayed significant F-test. Data similar to those of the on-station trial were collected for 8 weeks during the on-farm trial. Two-sample t test was employed to analyze the data, and confidence limits were used to further test whether the treatments were actually different from each other (Mead et al., 1993). Minitab statistical package (MINITAB INC., 1996) was used to analyze the data set. Results and discussion Maintaining the brooding temperature of the hay box In artificial chick brooding, the initial brooding temperature below the hover should be 35oC at 5 cm from the floor which should be reduced by 2.8oC each week until it equals the mean daily ambient temperature (Williamson and Payne, 1984). In the current study, the recommended levels of temperature were successfully maintained in the brooder. The initial levels were decreased to the desired levels by reducing the amount of straw stuffed between the walls of the box and the central nest area. Feed and water intake and body weight change The on-station trial showed that feed and water consumption at eight weeks of age were significantly higher (P<0.001) in chicks reared under the conventional electric brooder. Chicks brooded using the electric system attained mean body weight of 240 g per chick, while body weights of 213, 209, 220 g per chick were recorded under the ‘hay-box brooders’ insulated with barley, tef and wheat straws, respectively (Table 1). Chick growth under the ‘hay box brooder’ was significantly slower during the first four weeks of brooding due to the low feed consumption although the rates were relatively faster after the fourth week. This is because the chicks didn’t have the chance to feed at night under the ‘hay box brooder. There were highly significant (P<0.01) differences between the ‘hay-box brooders’ insulated with any one of the cereal straws and electric brooder in feed conversion ratio (FCR). Chicks had better feed conversion efficiency under the ‘hay-box brooders’ than those raised using the electric system. This might probably be as a result of the limited height of the roof and the meshed wire on top of the box restricting the activity/movement of chicks, such as jumping or flipping, consequently reducing the nutrient requirements for maintenance. Performance of the chicks brooded using the ‘hay box’ did not differ significantly with respect to the type of insulation material used. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 213 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 1. Effect of using the hay box brooder insulated with different insulation materials on cumulative feed and water intake, body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of chicks reared on-station (up to 8 weeks of age) Mean (± SD) per chick Treatment Feed intake (g) Water intake Electric brooding 1125 (64)a 2918 (168) a Hay box insulated with barley straw 814 (46) Hay box insulated with tef straw 845 (18) Hay box insulated with wheat straw 818 (24) BWG (g) FCR (Feed/Gain) 240 (11) a 4.7 a 2109 (71) b 213 (14) b 3.8 b 2055 (99) c 209 (14) b 4.1 b 2208 (57) c 220 (12) ab 3.7 b Means in a column followed by different superscript letters are significantly different from each other (P<0.05) Similarly, results of the on-farm trial indicated that there were no significant differences between chicks brooded using either of the insulation materials in terms of feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, growth and mortality rates (Table 3). However, chicks brooded using the hay box insulated with wheat straw had slightly higher feed intake and cumulative live weight gain compared to those brooded using tef straw as an insulator. Feed consumption increased steadily (Fig 1) while live weight changes were highest at the 4th and 8th weeks of age (Fig. 2) for both insulation materials. Live weight gain, ranging between 2531g/chick/week, was comparable to the values reported earlier by Solomon (2001) for chicks brooded both under the ‘hay box’ and the standard electric brooder. The cause of the sudden drop in live weight gain of chicks at the 5th week is not clear. However, although not substantiated by the feed consumption data, from the concurrent heavy mortality recorded during this specific week (Fig.3), the reason might probably be due to the poor health condition of some chicks at the time. FI/week (g/bird) 300 200 100 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wheat straw Insultor 75.5 124.4 158.2 186.4 223.1 228.8 250.6 267.8 Tef straw insulator 56.9 104.7 155 150 177 219 242 263 Week Wheat straw Insultor Tef straw insulator BWG (g/bird/wk) Figure 1 Weekly Feed intake (FI/Bird/Wk) of RIR chicks reared using the ’hay-box brooder’ insulated with tef straw or wheat straw in Denbi village, Ada Wereda (Mid Nov.1998 to Jan. 1999) 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Week Wheat straw insulator Tef straw insulator Figure 2. Weekly weight changes (BWG) of Rhode Island Red chicks reared using ’hay box brooder’ insulated with wheat of tef straw in Denbi village, Ada Wereda Chick mortality During the on-station trial, ‘hay-box’ brooding resulted in a comparable level of mortality to that of conventional electric brooding (Table 2). Solomon (2001) also found a similar level of survival to an age of 3 weeks in rural areas and 8 weeks in urban areas, of chicks raised using the two systems. The levels of mortality under this trial were 18.7% using the electric brooders while it ranged from 18.3 to 20.9% for chicks 214 10th ESAP-Proceedings Production Systems in the hay box brooders. The results of this trial showed that using hay-box brooders insulated with any type of cereal residues to replace artificial electric heating could be considered as a simple and suitable technique of brooding chicks with out electricity. Table 2. Mortality of chicks reared using different brooding systems at the Debre Zeit Research Center (0-8 weeks of age) Treatment Mortality (%) Electric brooding 18.7 Hay box insulated with barley straw 18.3 Hay box insulated with tef straw 20.8 Hay box insulated with wheat straw 18.9 On the other hand, the rates of mortality recorded on farm were low, even compared to on-station conditions and that reported by Solomon (2001). The rates were comparable to what is normally expected under conventional electric brooders. Solomon (2001) reported mortality rates as high as 24% using ‘hay box brooders’ under village conditions around Jimma. Table 3. LS means (±SE) of feed consumption, growth rates and percent mortality of Rhode Island Red (RIR) chicks reared using the hay-box brooder insulated with tef straw and wheat straw at Denbi village, Ada Wereda (0-8 weeks) Insulator Parameter Wheat Straw Insulator Feed intake/b/d (g) Cumm.Feed intake (g/b) Cumm. Weight Gain (g/b) Tef Straw Insulator Significance (P) 25 (3.7) 23 (1.3) 0.20 1515 (86) 1363 (57) 0.22 137 (7.8) 0.16 156 (10.8) Feed conversion (Feed: Gain) 11 (1.0) Mortality (%) 10 Mortality (%) of village chicks, 0-8wks (Central highlands) 61 10.7 (0.8) 7 0.61 0.65 Significance level: P<0.05 Chick mortality recorded under village conditions in the central highlands was about 61% in the first 8 weeks (Tadelle, 1996). Based on a survey in the villages of Wolayta, Southern highlands, Hoyle (1992) reported a mean mortality rate of scavenging chicken ranging from 47 to 73% to an age of 3 months. It is a promising success to reduce such a huge rate of mortality to as low as 7-10% (Table 3). Nevertheless, the low levels of mortality in the current trial should not be attributed entirely to use of the ‘hay-box brooders’ alone and, thus, the levels could not be compared directly to those in scavenging, village conditions. Rather, it has to be noted that the present work involved additional interventions such as provision of balanced rations and vaccination, which are virtually unavailable for chicks brooded under the traditional village systems. Mortality (%) 8 6 4 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 Week 6 7 8 Figure 3. Weekly mortality rates of Rhode Island Red chicks reared using the ’hay-box brooder’ at Denbi village, Ada Wereda (Mid Nov. 1998 to Jan. 1999) The highest rate of mortality was recorded during the 5th week (Fig. 3). Since no concurrent changes were evident in terms of feed consumption during this period, except the decline in live weight gain, the cause of the deaths might be mechanical injury of the chicks due to harsh/poor handling during feeding and managing. The first four weeks are usually considered to be the most critical times in brooding chicks 10th ESAP-Proceedings 215 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production under tropical conditions. In light of this, the on-farm performance of chicks brooded using the ‘hay box brooder’ in the current trial can be rated excellent. Conclusions and Recommendations The performance of chicks brooded using the ‘hay-box brooder’ was fairly comparable to the standards achieved under the conventional systems irrespective of the type of insulation material used. The season when the on-farm trial was conducted (mid November to January, which is the beginning of the long dry season) seemed to have favored chick survival and growth. The impact of season should, thus, be assessed through further work under on-farm conditions in diverse agro climatic regions. Present experiences also show that the dimensions of the boxes need to be refined further. After verification of this technique with the above conditions it might be adopted extensively by the extension services to promote distribution of improved breeds of day old chicks to small holder farmers. The potential use of this technique to raise local chicks separated from their mothers at a very early age to enable the hens resume laying in a short period of time should also be examined. Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the financial support of the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization and for the support staff of the poultry research farm of the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center. Sincere gratitude also goes to the women farmers of Denbi village for their fruitful collaboration during the on-farm trial. References Hoyle, E., 1992. Small scale poultry keeping in Wolyta, North Omo Region. Farmers Research Project, Technical pamphlet No. 3, Farm Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Katule, A.M., 1994. Foundation of modern poultry management. Memeographed report. Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania. Mead, R., R.N. Curnow and A.M. Hasted. 1993. Statistical Methods in Agriculture and Experimental Biology. Chapman and Hall. London. MINITAB. 1996. MINITAB statistical package, users guide, Release 11. Minitab Inc., USA.Tadelle Dessie. 1996. A survey of village poultry production in the central highlands of Ethiopia. MSc thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Uppsala, Sweden Solomon Demeke. 2001. Suitability of home made hay box chick brooder to the Jimma and Bedele areas of Oromia Region. Ethiopian J.Agric.Sci. Williamson, G and J.A, Payne, 1984. An introduction to animal husbandry in the tropics. Longman, London. 216 10th ESAP-Proceedings FEED PRODUCTION AND USE Integration of forage legumes in to maize based cropping systems in Western Ethiopia: Effect of intercropping of Lablab purpureus and Vicia atropurpurea on maize grain and total forage yields Diriba Geleti and Lemma Gizachew Bako Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 3, Western Shewa, Ethiopia. Abstract The study was conducted at Bako Research center between 1993 - 1996 to assess the feasibility of integrating two forage legumes (Lablab purpureus and Vicia atropurpurea) into maize-based cropping system for improving feed and food production. The grain and fodder DM production over the first three years showed the same trend. During 1993, 1994 and 1995, the maize grain yield obtained from the plots where Lablab was simultaneously planted with maize was low. The mean grain yield values for 1993,1994 and 1995 were 5.64, 3.70 and 3.68 t/ha, respectively. It was found that the vetch species tested were not suitable for intercropping in to maize farming system. Though the amount of fodder obtained from the legume component in Lablab/maize intercrop system is low, the fact that this yield was obtained with out affecting maize grain yield makes the intervention attractive. During the 1996 season, the highest maize grain yield (7.33 t/ha) was obtained from plots under sole Lablab purpureus for three years. The least maize grain yield from plots Vicia atropurpurea plots those with v.atropurpurea and its simultaneous intercrop with maize, indicates the low contribution of these legume species in restoring soil fertility. Maize stover yields were higher on plots continously planted to sole Lablab and in those where Lablab was simultaneously planted with maize. Keywords: Ethiopia; Forage legumes; Cropping systems; Lablab purpureus; Vicia atropurpurea; Maize; Introduction Integrating forage crops particularly the leguminous ones in to the cereal based cropping system is one of the strategic options to overcome soil fertility problems that farmers are currently facing (Nnadi and Haque, 1986). Growing forages in association with food crops optimizes the use of farm labour and land, and reduces other input costs required for establishing improved forages and substantially contribute towards alleviating livestock feed shortage of the mixed farming system (Adugna Tolera and A.N. Said, 1992). Livestock are the integral component of the subhumid mixed farming system of Western Ethiopia. Crop production is dependent on livestock for draft power and manure as much as livestock do on crops for crop residues. This study was, therefore, undertaken to investigate the effects of intercropping of two forage legumes, Lablab purpureus and Vicia atropurpurea on maize grain and total forage yield in sub-humid climate of Bako area. Material and Methods The study was conducted at Bako Agricultural Research Center (37o09’ E longitude, 090 6’ N latitude and 1650 masl) from 1993-1996. The soil belongs to the Nitosol series and is reddish brown in color, clay to sandy clay loam in texture with pH value ranging from 5.3 to 6 (Dawit Mulugeta and Legesse Dadi, 1987). Prior to its use for the study, the experimental field was under the traditional fallow for two years. For this study, an open pollinated composite maize variety, Beletech, developed by Bako Research Center was used. The experimental design was randomized compelete block design with four replications, each plot measuring 20m2. A respective inter-and intra-row spacling of 75 and 25 cm was used for maize. Land preparation was done by tractor at the opening of the fallow period, and in the following years, seed bed preparation was done using hoe. Two annual forage legumes, Lablab purpureus and Vicia atropurpurea, were planted in pure stands and inter cropped with maize either simultaneously, at the start of the main rain, or six weeks after maize planting. Pure stands of Lablab and vicia were sown at 30 and 25 kg/ha seed rate, respectively, while the intercropped plots were planted at half these rates. The maize-forage legume intercrops had one row of Lablab purpureus, drilled mid way between rows of maize and two rows of vicia atropurpurea spaced at 25cm from each other and from the rows of maize. During the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production first three years, 1993-1995, for sole legume plots, 30 kg/ha TSP was applied at planting while sole maize and maize-forage legume mixtures were fertilized with the rate and type of fertilizer recommended for maize (75/75 N/P2O5 Kg/ha). During the 1996 cropping season, all plots were planted to sole maize and recommended fertilizer rateapplied to all treatments except T2 and T3 which were under pure legumes the previous three years. During this cropping season, TSP was applied on plots that have been occupied by sole legumes (T2 and T3) at the rate of 30 kg/ha with the assumption that the soil P level might have been significantly mined by the legume crops during the previous three year. Description of the treatments used in the study is given below. Treatement No. Treatment description T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 Maize alone Lablab alone Vicia alone Maize + Lablab ( Simultaneous planting) Maize + Vicia ( Simultaneous planting) Maize + Lablab (Late planting) Maize + Vicia (Late planting) 26 weeks after planting, maize plants from the middle two rows were cut to 12 cm from the ground level. Maize ears (cobs and grain) and maize residue were partitioned and weighed in the field. Grain yield was determined following shelling and adjusting the moisture level to 12.5 percent. Subsamples from maize residues (including cobs), and forage crops, dried in forced draft oven at 650c, were used to determine fodder DM yield. Results and Discussion Maize grain and stover yields, legume DM and total forage biomass for the year 1993 are given in Table 1. The effect of forage integration treatments on maize grain yield was not significant (P>0.05). Mean grain yield values ranged from 5.6 to 8.1 t/ha. The highest grain yield was obtained from plots where Lablab was intercropped 6 weeks after planting maize followed by plots planted to pure maize stands. Least maize grain yield was obtained from plots where Lablab and maize were simultaneously planted. This reduction of maize grain in simultaneously planted Lablab could be attributed to the competetion between the legume and the maize. The DM yield of the legumes varied significantly (P<0.01) among treatments. Higher DM yield was recorded for Lablab planted alone followed by the same crop simultaneously planted with maize. The DM yield of Vicia and Lablab planted 6 weeks after planting maize was very low (Table 1). The effect of cropping system on maize stover yield was not significant. Maize stover yield was higher (8.8 t/ha) where Lablab was intercropped six weeks after planting maize followed by sole maize (8.8 t/ha). The amount of stover DM obtained from maize plus late planted vicia was also high (8.7 t/ha). A highly significant effect of cropping system (P<0.01) on total forage biomass was observed. Simultaneous planting of Lablab with maize resulted in higher total fodder and this could be due to the higher percentage contribution of the legume component to total biomass for this particular treatment. During the 1994 cropping season (Table 2), significant treatment effect was observed on DM yields of grain (P 0.05), legume (P<0.01), stover (P<0.05) and total forage (P<0.01). Highest grain yield (6.6 t/ha) was obtained from the maize and Lablab intercropping where Lablab was planted at the later stage of maize growth. Grain yield differences between the early (6.0 t/ha) and late (6.2 t/ha) planted Vicia and maize intercropping were not significant (P>0.05). Sametime planting of Lablab and maize reduced maize grain yield. As was observed for the 1993 season, higher legume biomass (5.1 t/ha) was obtained from plots under pure Lablab. Late planting of Vicia into maize produced no legume bio-mass yield maize (0.0 t/ha). Forage yield differences between simultaneously and late planted Lablab was not significant. Mean grain yield differences between sole, late and early planted vicia was not significant. Significant (P<0.05) treatment effect was observed for maize stover yield. Higher maize stover yield was recorded for the sole maize plots followed by the plots of maize where vicia was intercropped six weeks after planting maize. Differences between treatment means for total forage biomass was highly significant (P<0.01). The 220 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use highest total forage yield was recorded for simultaneous maize-lablab planting followed by Lablab intercropped six weeks after maize planting. The least total forage biomass was recorded for pure vicia. The effect of cropping system for all traits was signficant (P<0.01) during the 1995 cropping season (Table 3). Time of planting of vicia was observed to have no significant effect on maize grain yield but this was not true for maize-lablab intercrops. Similar trends were observed on the 1995 as well as previous years legume DM yield. Sole Lablab gave significantly (P<0.01) higher (5.6 t/ha) yield. The yield recorded for simultaneously, or lately planted vetch was very small indicating that it is not suitable intercropping purposes in maize based farming system for enhancing forage production. Frequent field observation during the experimental period indicated that the significant reduction of the yield of this legume is attributable to the shading effect of the main crop and attack by the foliar disease, anthracnose, that resulted in leaf shuttering and weak stands. Maize stover yield was higher for the cropping system where vicia was intercropped late in to maize followed by late Lablab and simultaneous vetch planting. Total forage yield was also higher (9.1 t/ha) for late intercropped vetch followed by late lablab and simultaneous lablab intercropping with maize (Table 3). Maize grain and stover yields for the 1996 crop season are given in Table 4. Highest (7.3 t/ha) grain yield was obtained from plots continously planted to sole lablab followed by the species simultaneously intercropped in to maize (6.7 t/ha). This could be attributed to the nitrogen contribution of the legume through biological nitrogen fixation. Maize stover DM yield was also significantly influenced by the cropping system treatments. Higher (9.1 t/ha) maize stover yield was recorded in plots where lablab intercropped simultaneously with maize, followed by plots where vicia was intercropped late in to maize. Stover yield recorded for plots under sole vetch were observed to be lower than any other treatments. In conclusion, the maize grain and total fodder yield obtained over the first three years ( 1993-95) showed the same trend. In all cases, the maize grain yield was low in plots where Lablab was simultaneously planted with maize. Early or late planting of Vetch into maize plot did not affect the maize grain yield. The smaller DM yield obtained from sole Vetch plots puts the suitability of this system in question. Though the amount of fodder obtained from Lablab-maiz base system is low, the fact that this yield is obtained with out affecting maize grain yield makes the intervention attractive. Table 1. Grain (t/ha) and forage legume DM yield (t/ha) of maize/forage legume intercropping system in 1993 Legume DM yield Stover DM yield Total forage biomass (t/ha) Treatments Grain yield Maize alone 7.2 - 8.83 8.83ab Lablab alone - 5.60a - 5.600b Vicia alone - 0.48b - Maize + Simultaneous Lablab 5.64 3.90a 7.08 0.480c Maize + Simultaneous Vicia 6.70 3.54b 7.69 Maize + Late Lablab 8.10 1.47b 9.12 10.59a Maize + Late Vicia 7.14 1.18b 8.75 9.93a SEM P level 0.67 0.19 NS 0.47 0.00 0.98 0.77 NS 0.93 0.00 10.98a 8.23ab Table 2. Grain (t/ha) and forage DM yield (t/ha) of maize/forage legume intercropping system in 1994 Treatments Grain Legume Stover Total forage biomass Maize alone 4.40ab - 6.98a 6.98ab Lablab alone - 5.10a - 5.60b Vicia alone - 0.477c - 0.477c Maize + Simultaneous Lablab 3.70b 2.88b 4.98b 7.86a Maize + Simultaneous Vicia 6.00a 0.13c 5.81ab 5.94ab Maize + Late Lablab 6.58a 2.33b 5.26b 7.59ab Maize + Late Vicia 6.21a 0.00c 6.81a 6.81ab SEM P level 0.63 0.05 0.35 0.00 0.46 0.03 0.53 0.00 10th ESAP-Proceedings 221 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 3. Grain (t/ha) and forage DM yield (t/ha) for maize and forage intercropping systems in 1995. Treatments Grain Maize alone 5.39a Legume - Storege 5.87b Total forage biomass 5.87b Lablab alone - 5.61a - 5.61b Vicia alone - 2.05bc - 2.05c Maize + Simultaneous Lablab 3.68b 2.67b 4.88b 7.55ab Maize + Simultaneous Vicia 5.92a 0.13d 7.12ab 7.25ab Maize + Late Lablab 6.43a 1.11cd 8.25a 9.06a Maize + Late Vicia 6.21a 0.00d 9.10a 9.10a SEM P level 2.42 0.000 0.29 0.000 0.55 0.001 0.61a 0.00 Table 4. Grain (t/ha) and maize stover (t/ha) yields for the different treatments of forage/maize intercropping systems during the 1996 Treatments Grain yield Stover Maize alone 5.88ab 8.03abc Lablab alone 7.33a 7.97abc Vicia alone 5.11b 6.367c Maize + Simultaneous Lablab 6.68ab 9.120a Maize + Simultaneous Vicia 5.13b 7.660bc Maize + Late Lablab 5.35b 7.210bc Maize + Late Vicia 6.25ab 8.530ab SEM P level 0.43 0.01 0.46 0.01 Acknowledgements We would like to express our thanks to Oromia Agricultural Development Bureau for funding the project. Thanks are also due to the Animal Feeds and Nutrition Division’s technical staff for their support during data collection. References Nnadi, L.A. and I.Haque. 1986. Forage legume-cereal systems: Improvement of soil fertility and Agricultural Production with sepcial reference to sub-saharan Africa. In: proceedings of a workshop held at ILCA, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, 1619 September 1985. Dawit Mulugeta and Legesse Dadi. 1987. Chemical control of weeds in maize at Bako, 1980-1986. In: A.W.Michieke (ed.) proceedings of the Eleventh East African weed science society conference, Nairobi, Kenya, 25-31, May 1987. Adugna Tolera and A.N. Said. 1992. Prospects for integrating food and feed production in Welaita Sodo, Ethiopia. In: Proceedings of the joint feed resources networks workshop held in Gaborone, Botswana, 4-8 March, 1991. 222 10th ESAP-Proceedings Regrowth age and nitrgen application effects on yield and nutritional quality of Panicum coloratum Diriba Geleti Bako Research Center, P.O.Box 3, Western Shewa, Ethiopia. Abstract The study was conducted to assess the effects of stages of harvest (8, 10 and 12 weeks of age) and levels of N fertilizer (0, 50, 65, 80 and 95 Kg per hectare) on yield and quality of Panicum coloratum. Traits studied include dry matter yield (DMY), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), cellulose, hemicellulose, in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD), calcium and phosphorus. The effect of stages of harvest and N was significant for DM yield. The interaction effect of the two factors was significant for all yield traits. Stages of harvest significantly influenced CP, NDF, and IVDMD. For the rest quality parameters the effect of harvesting stage was not significant. Except for phosphorus, the effect of N fertilizer on chemical components and IVDMD values of Panicum was not significant. With lapse of time in maturity, a consistent trend in DMY and STD was observed for Panicum. With increasing levels of N fertilizer, the DMY at harvest consistently increased. Though there was no obvious trend of reduction in CP concentration, the earlier harvested samples gave higher mean values compared to the samples harvested at 12 weeks of age. The IVDMD value showed declining trend with increasing stages of maturity. Thus, harvesting Panicum at 10 weeks of age could be considered optimal. Significantly higher DM yield was obtained when 95 Kg per hectare N was applied. Similarly, CP was also higher at this level of N. Thus, it is recommended to apply a nitrogen rate of 95 Kg per hectare for achieving optimal herbage yield and quality among the tested rates. Introduction The age of the plant at harvest and the fertility status of the soil are the two most important factors affecting yield and quality of forage crops (Daniel, 1996). The DM yield of forage species at a given age of harvest was reported to be low on N deficient soils (Wilman and Fisher, 1996). The effect of N on crude protein (CP) content of grasses was reported to depend on the time of harvest after it is applied. It was reported to reach its maximum soon after application which could be explained by the rapid uptake of N by plants immediately after application. The DM yield of grasses increases with increasing levels of N. Behaeghe and Carlier (1973), on the other hand have reported that the increment in sward mass production due to increased rate of N may lead to a greater dilution of the CP concentration in grass species. This suggests that the stage at which a forage crop is harvested should be considered if improvements in forage DM yield and quality is to be achieved from pastures to which N fertilizer is applied. The DM yield of grasses was reported to increase with time up to a certain level, while the crude protein concentration and herbage digestibility decreases inversely. It is well established that animal production is impaired as the quality of forage is decreased by the proceeding development of the plants during the growing season (Steen, 1992). The substantial reduction in the feeding value is attributed to chemical and physical changes in plant tissues (Van Soest, 1994). The proportion of cell walls increases in the plant material and the increased lignin content is correlated with reduced digestibility of the cell wall material (Jung, 1989). Low CP concentration in forage plants limits animal production by reducing the degradability and intake of feed material (Shirley, 1986). Determination of the effects of stages of harvest and amount of N is very crucial to identify stages of cut and N levels at which both yield and quality can be optimized. This study, therefore, was conducted with the objective of assessing the effects of harvesting stage and N rates on yield and quality of Panicum coloratum. Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Materials and Methods Location The study was conducted at Bako Agricultural Research Center during the long rainy season of 1999. The center is located at 09o6` N latitude and 37o09` E longitude; about 260 Km west of Addis Ababa. The altitude is 1650 m above sea level. The area experiences one main rainy season extending from March to October; the effective rain being from May to September (IAR, 1991). The mean annual rainfall is about 1280 mm with a peak in July. Mean annual temperature is 20 o C, with a mean minimum of 13 and maximum of 27 o C (BARC, meteorological station). The soil of the area is dominantly reddish brown Nitosols. They are generally clay dominated and characterized by a low available P with a pH of 5.3 to 6 in surface soils (Dawit and Legesse, 1983). Vegetation cover of the area is of woodland and open wooded grassland type. Dominant pasture species include grass species like Hypparrhenia anamesa and Sporobolus pyramidalis and the legume Neonotonea wighti (Lemma et al, 1993). Treatments and experimental design The effect of different stages of harvests (8, 10 and 12 weeks of age) and levels of N fertilizer (0, 50, 65, 80 and 95 kg N ha-1) on the yield and quality of Panicum was investigated. The harvesting stage treatments were assigned to the main plots and the levels of N fertilizer constituted the sub-plots arranged in a split plot design with four replications. Establishment of plots Pure seed of Panicum coloratum was planted on well prepared seed beds at a seed rate of 10 kg per hectare. The seeds were drilled in rows of 2 m long with 30 cm inter-row spacing. The area of each plot was 12 m2. Before drilling the seed, a starter fertilizer at a rate of 100 kg in the form of diammonium phosphate (46% P2O5 and 18% N) was applied. Then, the applied fertilizer was worked in to the upper soil layer using hand rakes. After the stand was well established, the above ground biomass was uniformly cut at about 4-5 cm height from ground level and the cut biomass was raked out of the plots. This was practiced so that the plots become uniform and standardized. The N fertilizer treatments in the form of urea (46 % N) was then applied to the experimental plots and after application the soil surface was disturbed by using hand rakes to enhance soil-fertilizer contact. Dry matter yield For DM yield determination two randomly selected middle rows were harvested and the fresh weight of each plot was recorded in the field just after mowing using a field balance. Sub-samples of each treatment were dried in forced draught oven at 60 o C for 72 hours to determine the DM percent. A composite sample of the dried forage material for each treatment was saved for laboratory analyses. Chemical analysis of the feed samples Weighing of feed samples for chemical analysis was done by the “hot weighing” procedure. The DM concentration was determined using the procedures described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (A.O.A.C., 1980). The N concentration was analyzed using the Kjeldhal procedure and CP was determined by multiplying percent N by the factor 6.25. Analysis of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) followed the procedures described by Goering and Van Soest (1970). The concentration of hemicellulose was determined by subtracting ADF from NDF and cellulose by subtracting lignin from ADF. The Ca concentration was determined using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Perkin-Elmer, 1982). Phosphorus was determined by the auto-analyzer (Chemlab, 1978). A modified two stage in vitro Tilley and Terry technique (1963) was used to determine in vitro DM digestibility. Statistical Analyses Analysis of variance was done using MSTATC computer program. For forage DM yield, the effect of harevesting stage, nitrogen rates and the interation of the two factors were considered in the model. As the interaction between the two factors was not significant, the average effect of the two factors were considered 224 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use separately. For the chemical composition data, only the effect of stage of harvest and N rate was considered in the model as the samples were pooled over replications. Significant mean differences were declared using least significant difference (LSD) procedure. Results and Discussion DM yield Variance ratios and levels of significance from the analysis of variance for herbage DM yield and chemical composition of Panicum coloratum (to be refered to as Panicum here after) is given in Table 1. The DM yield was significantly affected by cutting stage. Nitrogen fertilizer has also significantly affected the DM yield of the grass. The effect of the interaction between N and harvesting stage was not significant for DM yield and as a result the average effects of the two factors were treated separately. Mean values for DM yield and chemical composition as influenced by stages of harvest is given in Table 2. With increasing stages of harvest, the herbage DM yield showed an increasing trend. The increasing trend in herbage DM yield with increasing age at harvest obtained in this study is in agreement with the reports of other researchers (Teshome et al, 1994; Aschalew et al 1995; Daniel, 1996). The effects of rates of N on DM yield of Panicum is given in Table 3. With increasing levels of N fertilizer, DM yield showed an increasing trend. Chemical composition and in vitro DM digestibility Harvesting stages significantly influenced crude protein, NDF and in vitro DM digestibility (Table 1). The ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin calcium and phosphorus concentrations were not significantly influenced by stage of harvest. On the other hand, the phosphorus concentration of the samples was significantly influenced by the rates of N applied. No significant effect of N, however, was observed for all other chemical entities and in vitro DM digestibility values. The mean values of the different chemical components and in vitro DM digestibility values as influenced by stages of harvest are given in Table 2. The concentration of crude protein ranged from 6.27 to 8.43. The observed crude protein value at 10 weeks of age was greater than the one obtained at 8 weeks of age though there was no statistically significant difference between the two harvesting stage means. Harvesting at 12 weeks was observed to result in a reduced crude protein concentration. The reduction in crude protein concentration values associated with longer age at harvest in the present study is in agreement with the reports of Butterworth (1967), Daniel (1990; 1996) and Teshome et al (1994) who reported similar features for tropical forage species. The findings reported by Gomide et al (1969) for tropical grass species has also revealed longer age at harvest to significantly reduce the crude protein concentrations. Tinnimit and Thomas (1976) have also reported similar result. Vona et al (1984), Teshome et al (1994) and Daniel (1996) have also indicated the generally declining trend of crude protein concentration with increasing plant maturity. Intake of forage was reported to sharply reduce when the crude protein content of herbage falls below 6-7 percent in feed DM (Milford and Haydock, 1965). Van Soest (1982) has also reported the minimum level of crude protein required for an optimal rumen function to be 7.5 percent. A review by Adugna and Said (1994) has as well showed crude protein values less than 7.5 percent to result in inhibition of intake, digestibility and proper utilization of the DM of feeds. In the present study, harvesting Panicum beyond 10 weeks was observed to result in fall of crude protein below the values reported to be optimal by Van Soest (1982) but did fall within the ranges reported by Milford and Haydock (1965). The crude protein concentration of the samples harvested at 12 weeks of age was observed to contain 2.01 and 2.16 percentage units less than those samples harvested at 8 and 10 weeks of age, respectively. Considering the mean values for crude protein observed in the present investigation, delaying age at harvest beyond 10 weeks could inhibit optimal rumen function which would possibly affect the performance of animals subsisting on forage based diets suggesting the need for supplementation if animals are to give satisfactory yield. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 225 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production The NDF concentration did not exhibit any consistent trend with stage of maturity. It varied from 74.02 to 77.5 percent. The percentage value of NDF obtained at 12 weeks of age was greater than the one harvested at 10 weeks. The higher NDF that was recorded for the first cut, 8 weeks of age, as compared to the one cut at 12 weeks in the present study is in contrary to the results of Shenkute (1972) and Cowardlord et al (1974). Inconsistencies in NDF concentration has also been reported by Arroyo-Aguilu et al (1980) who found NDF values without a well established trend for Guinea and Merker grass hays. All samples of Panicum contained an NDF value greater than 60 percent; the critical level above which voluntary feed intake is decreased, rumination time increased and efficiency of conversion of metabolic energy to net energy is decreased (Shirley, 1986; Reed and Goe, 1989). This implies that quality had already been started declining even before the earlier harvest was practiced. The concentration of other cell wall constituents were inconsistent and not significantly influenced by harvesting stage. The values obtained for ADF in this study is in agreement with what was observed by Olubajo et al (1974) who indicated features with no pronounced variation resulting from age differences. Inconsistencies in hemi-cellulose concentration of tropical grass species were observed by Shenkute (1972) who reported inconsistent relationship between hemicellulose and age of plants in Guinea and Pangola grasses, an increase with age in Congo and Elephant grasses and insignificant reduction with age in Star grass. Minson (1971) has reported a non-significant effect of age on the concentration of hemicellulose and this is in agreement with the results obtained in the present investigation. The in vitro DM digestibility values varied from 46.92 percent in the 12 week samples to 53.65 percent for the 8 week ones. The differences between the means of harvesting stages were highly significant. The in vitro DM digestibility value for samples harvested at 12 weeks of age was 6.73 and 6.25 percentage units less than the ones obtained for 8 and 10 weeks of age, respectively. Moore and Mott (1973) and Mugerewa et al (1978) have reported digestibility values higher than 65 percent to indicate good nutritive value and those below this level to result in reduction of feed intake due to the resultant decrement in feed digestibility. The values observed in the present study were by far lower than the indicated critical figure. The low in vitro DM digestibility values observed in lately cut samples in this study are in agreement with the results reported by Clark (1963), Daniel (1990), Teshome et al (1994) and Aschalew et al (1996). The effect of stages of harvest on the concentration of Ca was not significant. Though not significant, highest Ca content was obtained for the samples harvested at 8 weeks of age. The concentration of Ca at 10 weeks of age was lesser by 0.13 percentage units. There was a slight increment at 12 weeks of age compared to 10 weeks. The higher Ca concentration obtained at the first cut in this study is in agreement with the findings of Daniel (1996) who reported a higher value for Rhodes grass at the earlier stage of plant development. A lactating cow weighing 400 kg and producing 18 kg of milk per day as suggested by Fleming (1973) and NRC (1978) requires a Ca concentration in feed DM of 0.43 percent. Except for the samples harvested at 10 weeks of age, a higher Ca value than the dietary requirement was obtained in the present study. Harvesting stage effects on the concentration of P was not significant. The mean values of P ranged from 0.13 to 0.15 and no clear trend was observed. The inconsistent trend observed in this study contradicts with the findings reported by Fleming (1973) and Vona et al (1984) who reported a significant decline of the concentration of P with advancing maturity. The values obtained were apparently lower than the ranges reported to be adequate for maintenance in beef cattle (NRC, 1984), dairy cattle (NRC, 1981), sheep (NRC, 1975) and goats (NRC, 1981). Except for phosphorus, fertilizer N did not influence all chemical components and in vitro DM digestibility values of Panicum. No obvious trend, however, was observed. The crude protein values for different N rates ranged from 6.92 to 8.60 percent. There was a clear trend of increment in crude protein concentration with increasing levels of N. Except for the control plots and the plots to which 50 kg N was applied, crude protein did not fall below the critical dietary level of 7.5 percent required for optimal rumen function (Van Soest, 1982). This implies the possibility of obtaining a quality forage with acceptable crude protein levels from Panicum based pasture by applying N levels as low as 65 kg per hectare. This, in fact, depends on the 226 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use age of the crop and the environmental features under which the crop is grown. The insignificant effect of N on the chemical composition and in vitro DM digestibility in the present study could be attributed, among other factors, to the availability of a flush of natural soil N that might be the result of mineralization of soil organic matter as suggusted by Wild (1972), and Dommergues et al (1980). Perhaps, leaching and volatilization losses of N applied caused by the high rain and temperature that the area experiences could also be suggestedas an important factor that might have diluted the treatment differences. Conclusion With lapse of time in maturity, a consistent trend in DM yield was observed for Panicum. With increasing levels of N fertilizer, the DM yield consistently increased. The DM yield, crude protein, NDF and in vitro DM digestibility concentrations were significantly influenced by the stages of harvest. Though there was no obvious trend of reduction in crude protein concentration with increasing stages of harvest, the earlier harvested samples gave higher mean value as compared to the samples harvested at 12 weeks of age. Higher NDF concentration than the critical level was recorded for all samples. The in vitro DM digestibility consistently declined with increasing stage of maturity. Thus, harvesting Panicum at 10 weeks of age could be considered optimal. Significantly higher DM yield was obtained when 95 kg per hectare nitrogen was applied. Similarly crude protein, though not significant, was also higher at the same nitrogen level. Similarly no significant variability between nitrogen rates was observed for neutral detergent fiber and dry matter digestibility. Thus, it seems more beneficial to apply a nitrogen rate of 95 kg per hectare for optimum yield and quality among the tested N levels. Table 1. Variance ratios and levels of significance from the analysis of variance for DM yield, chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of Panicum coloratum as affected by stages of harvest and levels of N fertilization Sources of variation Variable Harvesting stage DMY N rates 4.05* CP 21.54*** 12.49** 2.14NS P 3.30NS 9.62** NDF 4.65* 0.42NS ADF 2.29NS 0.65NS Lignin 3.60NS 1.09NS Cellulose 2.56NS 0.58NS Hemicellulose 0.68NS 2.33NS IVDMD 8.40** 0.79NS Ca 1.72NS 0.19NS * = SIGNIFICANT AT 5 %; ** = significant at 1 %; NS = not significant; Table 2. The chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) (% DM) of Panicum harvested at different stages of harvest Variable DMY (t/ha) Stages of harvest (weeks) 8 10 12 S.E.M. 11.04b 12.84ab 14.71a 0.91 CP 8.28a 8.43a 6.27b 0.34 P 0.14 0.15 0.13 0.005 NDF 77.50aΨ 74.02b 76.81a 0.85 ADF 48.47 45.34 48.65 1.23 7.24 5.61 6.32 0.43 Lignin Cellulose 41.23 39.73 42.33 0.82 Hemicellulose 29.03 28.68 28.16 0.53 IVDMD 53.65a 53.16a 46.92b 1.29 Calcium 0.51 0.38 0.48 0.05 s.e.m. = standard error of treatment means; Ψmeans within row followed by common letters do not significantly vary 10th ESAP-Proceedings 227 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 3. Effect of N on DM yield, chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of Panicum as influenced by rates of N fertilizer. Variable DMY (t/ha) Nitrogen rates (kg/ha) 0 9.48d 50 65 80 95 S.E.M. 12.18c 13.25bc 14.03bc 15.39a 0.48 DM 91.83 91.92 92.19 91.96 92.10 0.08 CP 6.92 7.27 7.56 7.92 8.60 0.44 P 0.17aΨ 0.14b 0.12b 0.14b 0.13b 0.01 NDF 75.81 76.13 76.75 75.99 75.87 ADF 46.21 46.28 49.28 47.94 47.72 1.58 5.65 5.90 6.89 6.59 6.91 0.56 Lignin 1.10 Cellulose. 40.57 40.38 42.38 41.34 40.81 1.06 Hemicellulose 29.6 29.85 27.47 28.05 28.15 0.68 IVDMD 53.28 51.36 49.19 51.64 50.73 1.67 0.41 0.48 0.45 0.46 0.47 0.07 Ca s.e.m. = standard error of treatment means; Ψmeans within column followed by common letters do not significantly vary References Adugna Tolera and A.N. Said. 1994. Assessment of feed resources in Wolayta Sodo: Quantity estimation and laboratory evaluation. EJAS. 14: 69 - 87. A.O.A.C. (Association of Official Analytical Chemists ).1980. Official Methods of Analysis, Arlington, VA, USA Aschalew Tsegahun, Beyene Chichaibelu., Derric T., and Asnakew Woldeab. 1996. Effect of frequency of clipping and nitrogen fertilization on dry matter yield and nutritional quality of four improved grasses under irrigation. In: Proceedings of The Ethiopian Society of Animal Production, 18 - 19 May, 1995. Behaeghe, T. J., and L. A. Carlier. 1973. Influence of nitrogen levels on quality and yield of herbage under mowing and grazing conditions. Proceedings of the Fifth General Meeting of European Grassland Federation, Uppsala, 52-66. Butterworth, M. H. 1967. The digestibility of tropical grasses. In: Nutr. Abst. Rev. 37: 349-368. Chemlab. 1978. Determination of orthophosphate in water and waste water. Chemlab Ltd. U.K. Clark K. W. 1963. The in vitro digestibility of whole grasses and their parts at progressive stages of maturity. Can. Jour. Plt. Sci. 43: 79 - 87. Coward-Lord, J., J.A. Arroyo-Aguilu and O. Garcia-Molinari. 1974. Fiberous carbohydrate fractions and in vitro true and apparent digestibility of ten tropical forage grasses. J. Agric. Univ. of Puerto Rico. 58: 293 - 304. Daniel Keftassa. 1990. Effect of developmental stage at harvest, N application and moisture availability on the yield and nutritional value of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth) - Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) pastures. Ph.D. Thesis. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. Daniel Keftassa 1996. Effects of nitrogen application and stages of development on yield and nutritional value of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana). Eth.J. Agric.Sci. 15: 86- 101. Dawit Mulugeta and Legesse Dadi. 1987. Chemical control of weeds in maize at Bako 1980-1986. In: A. W. Michieke (ed.), Proceedings of the Eleventh East African Weed Science Society Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, 25-31, May 1987. Dommergues, Y. Garcia JL and Ganly F. 1980. Microbial considerations of the nitrogen cycle in West African Ecosystems. In: Rosswall T. (ed.). Nitrogen Cycle in West African Ecosystems, pp. 55-72. IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria. Fleming, G. A. 1973. Mineral composition of herbages. In: Butler G. W., and R. W. Bailey (eds). Biochemistry of Herbage. London, Academic Press 1: 529 - 566. Chemistry and Gomide, J. A., C. H. Noller, G. O. Moh, J. H. Conrad and D. L. Hill. 1969. Effect of plant age and nitrogen fertilization on the chemical composition and in vitro cellulose digestibility of tropical grasses. Agron. J. 61: 116 - 119. 228 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use IAR (Institute of Agricultural Research). 1991. Meteorological data for IAR centers, subcenters and trial sites. IAR, Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Miscellaneous Publications No. 1. Jung, H.G. 1989. Forage lignins and their effects on fiber digestibility. Agron. J. 81: 33-38. Lemma Gizachew, Alemu Tadesse, and Abubeker Hassen 1993. Botanical composition, improvement interventions and cattle weight gain of natural pastures of western Ethiopia. Paper presented during the 17th International Grassland Congress held in New Zealand and Australia from 8 - 12 Feb. 1993. Milford, R. and K. P. Haydock. 1965. The nutritive value of protein in subtropical pasture species grown in Southeast Queensland. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. Anim. Husb. 5: 13 - 17. Minson, D.J. 1971. The nutritive value of tropical pastures. J. Aust. Inst. Agric. Sci. 37: 255 - 263. Moore, J. E. and G. O. Mott. 1973. Structural inhibitors of quality in tropical grasses. In: A.G. Matches (ed.). Antiquality components of forages. CSSA special Publication No. 4., Madison, Wisconsin, 53 - 98. Mugerewa J. S. , J. A. Christianson and S. Ochetim. 1973. Grazing behaviour of exotic dairy cattle in Uganda. East Afr. Agric. Fores. J. 19: 1 - 11. NRC (National Research Council). 1981. Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals. No.15. Nutrient Requirements of Goats. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D. C. NRC (National Research Council). 1984. Nutrient Requirement of Domestic Animals. No.4. Nutrient Requirement of Beef Cattle, 6th rev.edition. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. NRC (National Research Council). 1975. Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals. 5th revised edition. Nutrient Requirements of Sheep. National Academy of Sciences, Wahington, D.C. Olubajo, F. O., P. J. Van Soest and V. A. Oyenga. 1974. Comparision and digestibility of four tropical grasses growing in Nigeria. J. Anim.Sci.38: 149 - 153. Perkin-Elmer. 1982. Analytical Methods for Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, U.S.A. Reed, J. A. and M. R. Goe. 1989. Estimating the Nutritive Value of Cereal Crop Residues: Implications for developing feeding standards for draught animals. IlCA. ILCA Bulletin. No.4. ILCA, Addis Abeba. Steen, R.W.J. 1992. The performance of beef cattle given silages made from perennial ryegrasses of different maturity groups cut on different dates. Grass Forage Sci.,47: 239-248. Shenkute Tessema .1972. Nutritinal Value of Some Tropical Grass Species Compared to Some Temperate Grass Species . Ph.D. Thesis, Cornell Univ. Ithaca, New York. Shirley, R. L. 1986. Nitrogen and Energy Nutrition of Ruminants. Academic Press, Inc., Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. Teshome Shenkoru, Beyene Chichaibelu. and J.D. Reed. 1994. Effect of days of maturity and fertilizer on composition and in vitro digestibility of indigenous pasture in the eastern high lands of Ethiopia. Ethio.J. Agric. Sci. 14: 60 - 68. Tilley, J.M.A and Terry R.A. 1963. A two stage technique for in vitro digestion of forage crops. Journal of British grass land society,18:104 - 111. Tinnimit, P. and J. W. Thomas. 1976. Forage evaluation using various laboratory techniques. J. Anim.Sci. 43: 1058 1065. Van Soest, P. J. 1982. Nutritional Ecology of the Ruminant. O and B Books, Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.A Van Soest, P.J., 1994. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant, 2nd edn. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 229 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Vona, L.C., G. A. Jung, R. L. Reid and W. C. Sharp. 1984. Nutritive value of warm season grass hays for beef cattle and sheep digestibility, intake and mineral utilisation. J. Animal Science 59: 1582-1593. Wild, A. 1972. Mineralization of soil nitrogen at a savana site in Nigeria. Exp. Agric. 8: 91-97. Wilman, D., and Fisher, A., 1996. Effects of interval between harvests and application of fertiliser nitrogen in spring on the growth of perennial ryegrass in a grass/white clover sward. Grass Forage Sci. 51: 52-57. 230 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Evaluation of sorghum and millet green fodder for their nutritive value at two stages of growth Kenea Feyissa 1, Mahendra Singh2 , M.L. Verma2 and Ashok Kumar2 1 Holetta Agricultural Research Center P.O.Box 2003 of Animal Sciences of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology Pantnagar, U.P., India, 263145. 2 Department Abstract Two period feeding experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of green fodder of sorghum (Rio variety) and Pearl millet (ICMV-221) at two stages of growth using growing crossbred heifers. The dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent fiber cellulose, acid detergent lignin and gross energy contents were lower in pearl millet than Rio, while the crude protein, hemi cellulose and total ash contents were higher in pearl millet than Rio at both stages of harvest. The neutral detergent fiber content was higher in pearl millet than Rio at milk stage but the value became reversible at dough stage. The dry matter digestibility of Rio at milk stage (57.26%) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that at dough stage (49.93%). In case of pearl millet the dry matter digestibility did not differ significantly between the two stages. The over all DM digestibility did not differ significantly between Rio (53.60%) and Pearl millet (56.84%). However, the digestibility of DM in stage I (57.76%) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than stage II (52.68%). The Organic matter digestibility of Rio at milk stage (60.24%) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that at dough stage (53.25%). In case of pearl millet the organic matter digestibility at milk stage (61.14%) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than at dough stage (56.74%) indicating that the organic matter digestibility at stage I was significantly higher than stage II. However, the overall value did not differ significantly between the two fodders. The digestibility coefficient of crude protein for Rio at milk stage (54.58%) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that at dough stage (45.22%). The digestibility of CP in pearl millet at milk stage (66.18%) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that at dough stage (55.15%), which indicated clearly that the digestibility coefficient of CP for fodder harvested at stage I was significantly higher than that harvested at stage II. Further more the over all CP digestibility of Pearl millet (60.67%) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than Rio (49.90%). The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber in Rio at milk stage (52.09%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that at dough stage (39.55%). The digestibility of hemi cellulose on Rio at milk stage (65.73%) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that at dough stage (58.32%). At dough stage of harvest the value was significantly (p<0.01) higher in pearl millet (72.04%) than Rio (58.32%) but non significantly different for pearl millet between the two stages of growth. The over all cellulose digestibility of pearl millet (49.65%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than Rio (44.18%) but non significantly different for gross energy. The dry mater intake (kg/day) of the group of heifers fed on Rio and Pearl millet at milk stage (2.5 & 3.22) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than the group fed on both fodders at dough stage (2.20 and 2.76), respectively. The dry mater intake (g/kg w 0.75) of heifers fed on Rio and pearl millet at milk stage (80.51 and 97.29) was significantly higher than at dough stage fed group (67.46 and 81.77), respectively. There fore, it can be concluded that early stage harvesting of green fodder growth provided more nutrient availability per unit of body size of the animals compared to that harvested at later stages of maturity. Better nutrient utilization has been observed on pearl millet than Rio at both stages of growth. Introduction One of the technical constraints to improve animal productivity is a lack of fed of high nutritive value throughout the year. Sorghum and millet are important dual purpose cultivated crops mainly grown during the kharif (main rainy season) in many parts of India. About 35 % of the area grown to sorghum and millet in the world is in India (Rachie, 1966). Numerous studies have been demonstrated by International Crop Research Institute for Semi arid and Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) on genetic and breeding progress for digestibility and genetic and environmental factors and their interaction on existing dual- purpose sorghum and pearl millet genotypes. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 231 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Sorghum, popularly known in Indiaas Jowar, is an important food crop and source of fodder in Indian dry land agriculture. The area annually sown with sorghum is about 17 to 18 million hectares (Verma, 1975). It is a rapidly growing and gives high green forage yield of about 250-700 q/ha depending on variety and cutting management. The high green matter and better nutritive value at younger stages of growth grouped sorghum as a maintenance feed for dairy animals (Verma, 1995). There are several varieties of forage sorghum grown best under Indian condition viz.; Vidisha 60-1, SL-44, MP chari, Type -8B, Type- 4 and Type -3 are among the promising single cut and multi cuts varieties and lines. Rio, which is one of most promising varieties of forage sorghum, has god potential for both green matter yield and silage because of it juicy stalks and high sugar content. When the silage of this variety of sorghum (Rio) is fed to crossbred milking cows supplemented with different rate of concentrates supported up to 2-3 kg milk yield per cow per day (Verma, 1975). Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides), locally known as bajra, is an important dual-purpose crop cultivated in India. Its agronomic practices are similar to that of sorghum. However, it is preferred to sorghum for its fast growth and withstands moisture stress but it has a limitation of becoming fibrous soon after heading. Though green forages form the bulk fractions of ruminant diets the performance of these animals depends upon their ability to consume the fiber portions of the diet. There are several genetic and environmental factors affecting forage quality. Species, variety and stage of growth have a marked influence on chemical composition, intake and digestibility of the feed. Harvesting at a very early stage to get better nutritive value has an adverse effect on dry matter yield. Delayed harvesting, no doubt yields higher dry mater but the crop is nutritionally poor. Digestible energy and digestible protein contents are significantly reduced and at the same time animals are not able to eat the required quantity of fodder (Verma, 1995). The nutritive value of sorghum and pearl millet has not been adequately evaluated as compared to other commonly cultivated crops like maize. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the nutritional value of sorghum (Rio variety) and Pearl millet (ICMV-221) green fodder at two stages of growth using crossbred heifers. Materials and Methods Study Area Feeding experiment was conducted at livestock research center of the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U.P.; India during the months of August to September 1999. Pantnagar is situated in the foothills of Himalaya at 29.50N and 79.30E and an altitude of 243.84 m above mean sea level. Experimental fodders used Green fodder of sorghum (Rio variety) and Pearl millet (ICMV-221) were harvested from the agronomic field of the University farm at two different stages of growth i.e. at stage I (milk stage) Rio reached a maturity age of 84-91 days and Pearl millet 66-73 days after sowing and at stage II (dough stage) Rio at 110117 days after sowing and Pearl millet at 93-100 days after sowing were harvested green from the field manually and carried to the experimental site for feeding directly after machine chaffing. Experimental animals used Twelve growing (Sawihal Holstein Friesian) crossbred heifers ranging from 10.6 to 11.5 months of age and 98.72 to 106kg body weight were selected from the dairy farm at livestock research center of the University. Due to limited number of animals feeding experiment was conducted in two periods. Experimental heifers were grouped into two-homogenouse group of six animals in each group on the basis of body weight and age. One animal from each group was randomly allotted to one of the two feeds. During period I group I and II of the heifers allowed to feed on greed fodder of Rio and Pearl millet of stage I, respectively that lasted for 19 days of adaptation and followed by 7 days of collection period. During period II the same group of heifers were directly transferred to the stage II of Rio and Pearl millet green fodder, which lasted for 10 days of adaptation and 7 days of digestibility trial. 232 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Feeding and management of experimental animals Experimental animals were grouped into two with six animals in each group and housed in the nutrition shed individually. Manually harvested green fodders, after chopping using chaffer into pieces of 2-3cm were offered between 8:00-9:00 a.m. The animals were tied in the shed during the digestibility trial of both periods to ascertain feed consumption and left over feeds for each animal. The left over feeds were weighed from previous day and recorded on before offering new feed for the day. Weighing of feed offered and residue left was done using 300 x 0.1kg `Avery` mark plate form balance. Collection and sampling of feeds and faeces Fresh samples of the fodders were collected at time of offering. Sampling was done after thorough mixing, the next day morning samples of residues of individual animals were collected after weighing and thorough mixing. All collected samples were kept in an air oven for drying at 70-800c for 24 hrs till constant weight was recorded. Faeces collection started 48 hrs after the first feed was offered. The individual animals faeces were collected quantitatively and carefully without mixing with urine. Small quantity of wet faeces (1/500th part i.e. the proportion was fixed according the quantity of faeces voided by the animal on the first day), after thorough mixing, were sampled and taken to the laboratory for dry matter determination. To preserve the fresh faece some part is mixed with 15ml of 25% H2So4 solution, bulked over period, and kept in a labeled wide mouthed glass bottle with a tight lid, for nitrogen determination. Chemical Analysis Dried samples were ground through the laboratory Wiley mill of 2mm sieve size and stored in a clean labeled polythen bags for chemical analysis. Organic matter, Kjeldhal nitrogen and total ash were determined according to the procedures of Association Official of Agricultural Chemists (AOAC; 1975). The fiber components such as NDF, ADF, Hemi cellulose, and Cellulose and Acid detergent lignin were determined by the standard procedure of Georing and Vansoest (1970). Gross energy value of the feeds was determined by chromic acid oxidation method of O`shea and Maguire (1962). Apparent digestibility coefficients of the nutrient for the treatments were calculated by the method of McDonald et al (1995). Statistical Analysis During the course of study treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) considering the two variety of fodders and two stages of growth as treatments and animals as replication. Data collected during the experimental periods were analyzed and compared by 2-way analysis of variance as per the procedure of Sndecor and Cochran (1967) Results and Discussions Chemical composition Chemical compositions of Rio and pearl millet at two stages of growth are given in Table 1. The dry matter percentage of Rio green fodder at milk and dough stages of growth was 24.40 and 34.93, respectively. In case of Pearl millet the dry matter content at milk and dough stages was 18.82 and 23.43 percent, respectively. Gill et al (1979) evaluated Pearl millet fodder at different stages of maturity and reported that DM content increased 3 times from bloom (17.22%) to mature stage (49.56%) on fed basis. The dry matter percentage was increased by 10.53% units for Rio and in case of pearl millet by 4.61% units due to stage of growth in the present study. The increase in DM content with increase in maturity for sorghum and pearl millet was similarly reported by Aganga et al (1996). At both stages of growth Rio has higher DM% than pearl millet. This higher value of dry matter for sorghum was also reported by Chauhan et al (1976). This variation in dry matter content between the two fodder crops might be due to variation in their genetic potential. In both fodder crops organic matter contents increased with advanced in the stage of maturity. Regardless of the stage of growth at harvest slightly higher organic matter content for Rio than pearl millet was observed and such higher OM content for sorghum was similarly reported by Naryanan and Dabaddghao(1972) and Pal et al (1975). The crude protein contents of both green fodder crops decreased from milk to dough stages of growth. Pal et al (1975) reported that increase in lignin content and crude 10th ESAP-Proceedings 233 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production fiber and decrease in crude protein of delayed harvesting and the higher the crude protein content is usually an indication of early harvesting. Regardless of the stage of harvest higher crude protein content in pearl millet, compared to sorghum, was observed with the difference of 1.93% and 1.53% units higher at their respective stage of comparison. Similarly Randhawa et al (1988) had reported that green bajra had 1.5 % times more crude protein content than sorghum fodder. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) percentages of both fodder crops increased with stage of growth. This might be due to more structural carbohydrate and lignin synthesis at later stage of growth. Nandra et al (1983) reported that sorghum harvested at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 days after sowing has 56.4, 60.0, 63.04, 67.6, 71.6 and 74.8 percent NDF, respectively. The acid detergent fiber, which represents the lignocellulose complex of the total cell wall constituents, varied with stages and between the two fodder crops. Higher hemicelluloses and cellulose contents were observed for both fodders at dough stage than milk stage. Higher hemi cellulose contents in pearl millet than Rio at both stages of growth have been observed. Das et al (1974) also reported higher hemi-cellulose percentage in bajra fodder compared to dinanath grass and sorghum forages. Lower value of cellulose content at milk stage but almost similar contents at dough stage were recorded for the fodders under study The acid detergent lignin (ADL) percentages of Rio and pearl millet also increased with stage of maturity. Similar trend but higher values were reported for sorghum (Verma, 1975). Slightly higher ADL percentage for sorghum than Pearl millet has been observed in present study. Das et al (1974) also reported higher lignin content in jowar, as compared to dinanath grass and bajra. Total ash percentage decreased with maturity of plants for both fodder crops. This might be due an increase in cellulose and total water-soluble carbohydrates. Nath and Das (1953) reported similar reduction in ash contents of grasses with an increase in maturity. Gross energy showed a slight increase with maturity. Such trend was also reported by Gill et al (1979) for Pearl millet. Apparent Digestibility Dry matter (DM) digestibility percentage of Rio at milk stage showed significant difference than at dough stage, but non-significant difference for pearl millet between the stages. Pearl millet differed nonsignificantly but higher DM digestibility on pearl millet than Rio at dough stage. Gupta (1975) studied the dry matter digestibility of 4 varieties of sorghum at 3 different maturity stages. The digestibility values were 66-71, 58-68, and 53-58 percent respectively for flowering, full flowering and post flowering stages. This significance difference might be due to lignin deposition. Organic matter (OM) digestibility coefficients for both fodders were higher at milk stage compared to dough stage. Both fodders differed non-significantly, but the overall digestibility of OM at stage I (60.68%) was significantly higher than stage II (54.10%), indicating that stage of growth has a negative effect on digestibility of the nutrients. Significantly (p<0.01) higher digestibility coefficients of crude protein were observed for Rio (54.58%) and pearl millet (66.18%) at milk stage than at dough stage (45.22%) and (55.15%), respectively. The crude protein digestibility decreased significantly with maturity for both plants and such decline is attributed to the progressive lignifications of the plant material. Overall higher crude protein digestibility was observed on pearl millet (60.67%) than Rio (49.90% ) fodder. The variation in digestibility between these two crops might be due to variation in their chemical composition especially the crude protein content and palatability. Higher crude protein digestibility for pearl millet than sorghum was also reported by Randhawa et al (1988). Many scientists have recognized the detrimental influence of cell wall constituents of forage on digestibility and intake. The digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) for Rio (52.09%) at milk stage was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that at dough stage (39.55%), with the difference of 13 % units. The difference is attributed to stage of harvest. This difference in NDF digestibility between milk stage and dough, might be due to more structural carbohydrates synthesis and lignin deposition in the cell wall during later stage of growth. Incase of pearl millet the digestibility of NDF differed non-significantly between the two stages of growth. The overall value of neutral digestibility coefficient of pearl millet 234 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use (51.82%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than Rio (45.82%). However, superior digestibility of NDF in sorghum than bajra was reported by Pradhan et al (1991). The digestibility coefficient of neutral detergent fiber for stage I (51.98%) was significantly higher than that at stage II (45.67%), indicating that the digestibility of NDF is highly influenced by the stage of growth. Non-significant but slightly higher ADF digestibility in pearl millet in comparison to Sorghum (Rio) has been observed in this study. Higher acid detergent fiber digestibility in sorghum than pearl millet was reported by Pradhan et al (1991), and they reported that ADF digestibility ranged from 37.6-41.0 percent for sorghum and 37.9-39.0 percent in pearl millet. The ADF digestibility at stage I for Rio and pearl millet were significantly higher than that at stage II (Table 2). The hemi cellulose digestibility coefficient for Rio fodder at milk stage (65.73%) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that at dough stage (58.32%) with stage difference of 7.41 percent units. In case of pearl millet hemi-cellulose digestibility values of 70 and 72 percent at milk and dough stage of growth, respectively, were recorded. These values were higher compared to Rio. Gupta et al (1975) alsoreported higher hemi-cellulose digestibility in bajra than jowar. Cellulose digestibilities in pearl millet at both stages, and Rio at milk stage, were significantly higher than Rio at dough stage. The overall digestibility value on pearl millet was significantly higher than that of Rio. Significantly higher gross energy digestibility value (61%) was observed for pearl millet followed by Rio (59%) at milk stage of growth and pearl millet (56%) at dough stage. Randhawa et al (1988) also reported non-significant but higher gross energy digestibility for bajra (66.0%) than sorghum (63.4%). Dry matter Intake Dry matter intake (kg/day) were significantly (p<0.01) different amongst the treatments. The dry matter intake (kg/d) for both Rio and pearl millet at milk stage was significantly (p<0.01) higher than at dough stage. This variation in dry matter intake expressed as kg/day might be due to better palatability of the fodders at younger stage of harvest. The variation in dry matter intake (kg/100kg body weight) and (g/kg w0.75) at two different stages of growth of both crops followed similar trend as in case of dry matter intake (kg/day). At milk stage, significantly higher dry matter intake per metabolic weight was observed in pearl millet fed heifers, compared to Rio fed. The intake value was also significantly different between Rio and pearl millet at dough stage of growth (Table 3.) Conclusions Significant differences have been observed, on stages of growth at harvest and chemical composition, digestibility and intake of the two fodder crops. The variations observed are a reflection of variation in chemical composition, even though the two crops were grown under similar agronomic practices. Therefore, these differences are attributable to the genetic make up of the crops. Variation due to stages of maturity indicated that harvesting of a fodder crop at early stages of growth is an essential consideration as it affects the nutritive value of forages. It may therefore be concluded that ruminants can feed on either of the two green fodders, provided that they are harvested at a younger stages of growth, thereby allow more of the nutrient availability per unit of body size. The overall nutrient utilization was higher in pearl millet than sorghum (Rio) at both stages of growth. Acknowledgments The authors are indebted to Department of animal Sciences, Directorate of Research, Joint and Assistant Directorate, Livestock Research Center of the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, U.P., India, for their assistance in providing the necessary facilities during the course of the investigation. Graduate Scholarship awarded by the Ethiopian Government is duly acknowledged. References Aganga, A.A.;Tsioto, C.M.; Mawandmena, M. 1996. Growth and nutritive value of some varieties of sorghum and millet as forage in Botswana. Tropical Science. 36(20):86-91. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 235 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production A.O.A.C. 1975. Official methods of Analysis. 11th ed. Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. Washington, D.C. Chauhan, J.R.; Gill, R.S. and Ichhponan, JS. 1976. Metabolizable energy content of some kharif fodders when fed to Buffaloes. Indian Journal of Animal Science. 46(10):520-524. Das, B.; Arora, S.K. and Luthra, Y.P 1974. Comparative study of chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of dinanth grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum); Bajra (Pennisetum typhoides) and sorgum (Sorghum vulgare). Indian Journal dairy Scince. 21(4):234-237. Georing, H.K. and Vansoest, P.J.1970. Forage fiber analysis (Apparatus, Reagents, Procedure and Application). Agriculutral Hand book no. 379:1-12. Agricultural resaerch Services, United States. Deprtment of Agriculture. Gill, R.S.; Chauhan, T.R. and Ichhponan, J.S. 1979. A note on nutritive value of pearl millet fodder at its different stages of maturity for Buffaloes. Indian Journal of Animal Science.49(9):751-753. Gupta, P.C.; singh,R.; Vidya Sagar and pradhan, K. 1975. Effect of diferent cutting on the cell wall constituents on digestibility of berseem (Trifolium alexandria). Indian Journal of Dairy Science.28:143-145. Mc Donald, P.;edwards,R.A.; grenhagh, J.F.D.and Morgan,C.A. 1995. Animal Nutrition, 5th ed. Addison Wesley lng man. Inc.Pp. 223-223. Nandra, K.S.; Tiwari, M.S.; Chopra, A.K.1983. Chemical composition, in vitro digestibility and yield of sorghum fodder at different stages of growth. Journal of resaerch of Punjab agricultural University. 20(30):390-393. Naryanan, T.R,. and dabadaghao, P.M. 1972. Forage crops of India : ICAR, Pp130. Nath, N, and Das, N.B. 1953. Effect of growth stage on chemical composition of some indigenouse grasses of India. Indian Journal of Vetrinary Science.23:43-51. O`shea, J.; and Maguire,M.F. 1962. Determination of calorific value of feedstuffs by chromic acid oxidation methods. Journal of food Science and agriculture. 13:3530-257. Pal, R.N.; pachauri. V.C.. and Negie, S.s. 1975 . Studies on yield, composition and nutritive values of Pennisetum pedicellatum. Indian Journal of Animal Sciencee. 45(11):1817-1822. Rachie, K.O. 1966. Utilization of genetic diversity in sorghum and millet improvement. Indian Journal of Genetic and Plant breeding. 26A:61-72. Pradhan, K.; Bhatia, S.K., and Sangwan, D.C. 1991.Relative rumen ecosystem and nutrient digestibility in cattle and Buffaloe fed on fibrous diets. Haryana Agricultural Univesity, Hassar. 103pp. Randhawa, S.A.; Gill, R.S.; and Hundal, L.S. 1988. Effect of feeding green sorghum, its silage or hay on milk production in Buffaloes. Indian Journal of Dairy Science. 4(93):255.257. Sndecor, G.W., and Cochran, W.G. 1967.Statistical Methods.6th ed. Iowa State University press, ames.593p. Verma, D.N. 1995.A Text Book of Animal Nutrition. New Delhi. Kalyani Publishers. P240-249. Verma, M.L.1975. Progress report of the ICAR ad hoc project on evaluation of new sorghum varieties in terms of nutrient content and milk production for the year 1974- 75.Pp12-22, 27-31. 236 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Table 1. Chemical composition of Sorghum (Rio) and Pearl millet green fodder at two stages of growth Sorghum (Rio) Chemical composition Stage I (Milk stage) %DM Pearl millet (ICMV-221) Stage I (milk stage) Stage II (dough stage) Stage II (dough stage) 24.40 34.93 18.82 23.43 OM 93.64 94.06 90.58 92.04 CP 7.00 5.60 8.56 7.53 63.40 67.80 63.60 66.30 % Nutrient composition on DM basis NDF ADF 38.50 39.80 34.60 36.30 Hemi cellulose 24.90 28.00 29.00 29.60 Cellulose 29.00 31.90 26.50 30.10 ADL 5.20 6.60 5.00 6.30 Total Ash 6.36 5.94 9.42 7.96 Gross energy M cal/gDM 3.97 4.19 3.85 3.90 Table 2. Average percent digestibility coefficient of nutrient for green fodder of sorghum (Rio) and pearl millet at two stages of growth Percent digestibility coefficients for the nutrients Treatments DM OM T1 (Rio stage I) 57.27a T2 (Rio stage II) 49.93b T3 (P.millet stage I) T4 (P. millet stage II Fodder avg. Stage avg. Cellulose Gross energy CP NDF ADF HC 60.24ab 54.58b 52.09a 43.02a 65.73a 47.43a 58.63ab 53.25c 45.22c 39.55b 31.30b 58.32b 40.94b 57.20b 58.26a 61.14a 66.18a 51.86a 41.95a 70.10a 50.17a 60.90a 54.42a 56.74bc 55.15b 51.77a 39.14a 72.04a 49.14a 56.02b T1+T2 53.60a 56.74a 49.90b 45.82b 37.16a 62.03b 44.14b 57.92a T3+T4 56.84a 58.94a 60.67a 51.82a 40.54a 71.07a 49.65a 58.46a T1+ T3 57.76a 60.38a 60.38a 51.98a 40.49a 67.92a 48.80a 59.77a T2+ T4 52.68b 54.10b 50.19b 45.67b 35.22b 65.18a 45.05a 56.61b NB values bearing different superscripts within the same column indicate significance at (p<0.01) Table 3. Average dry matter intake of heifers fed on green sorghum (Rio) and pearl millet (ICMV-221) at two stages of growth Treatment DMI (kg/day) DMI (kg/100 kg body wt.) T1 (Rio stage I) 2.52b 2.56b T2 (Rio stage II) 2.10c 2.14c 67.46c T3 (pearl millet stage I) 3.22a 3.03a 97.29a T4 (pearl millet stage II) Fodder Avg. Stage Avg. DMI (g/kgw0.75) 80.51b 2.76b 2.53b 81.77b T1+T2 2.31b 2.35b 73.99b T3+T4. 2.99a 2.78a 89.53a T1+T3 2.87a 2.80a 88.90a T2+T4 2.43b 2.34b 74.60b Values bearing different superscript with in the same column indicate significance at (p< 0.01) 10th ESAP-Proceedings 237 Plant growth characteristics and productivity of Napier Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum (L.) Schumach.) as affected by plant height at cutting, sources and levels of fertiliser Tessema Zewdu1**, R.M.T Baars2 and Alemu Yami3 1Adet Agricultural Research Centre, P. O. Box 08, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia 2Alemaya University, P. O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia 3 Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, P. O. Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia Abstract Plant growth and dry matter yield (DMY) of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) were studied under field conditions at Adet Agricultural Research Center, Northwestern Ethiopia. The treatments were five fertiliser applications (0, 46 and 92 N kg ha-1, and 1 and 2 t ha-1 cattle manure) and three plant heights at cutting (0.5, 1 and 1.5 m). There was a significant (P<0.05) effect on DMY due to plant height at cutting, fertiliser application and their interaction. The highest DMY was obtained from an interaction of cutting at 1.0 m by 92 N kg ha-1 with 12.34 t ha-1. Plant height at cutting showed a significant (P<0.05) effect on number of leaf per tiller (NLPT), total leaves per plant (TLPP), leaf length (LL) and leaf: stem ratio (LSR). Internode number per tiller (INPT), internode length per tiller (ILPT), number of tiller per plant (NTPP) and basal circumference per plant (BCPP) were affected (P<0.05) by both plant height at cutting and fertiliser application. Plant growth characteristics, which positively influenced DMY of Napier grass were NLPT, TLPP, NTPP and BCPP while the effect of LSR was negative. Research on Napier grass should consider these plant growth characteristics to achieve optimum DMY and quality of Napier grass genotypes. Introduction Napier grass is a tall, stout and deep rooted perennial bunch grass well known for its high yielding capability and usage as a forage for livestock (Woodard and Prine, 1991). Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schumach, also known as Elephant grass, occurs naturally throughout tropical Africa (Robert et al., 1995) and particularly in east Africa (Kariuki et al., 1998). Napier grass has been introduced to all tropical countries and to sub tropical areas of the world (Butt et al., 1993) and grows from sea level to altitudes of 2000 m where rainfall exceeds 1000 mm (Bayer, 1990). It is a vigorous and highly productive forage that withstands considerable periods of drought although little or no growth is produced during these periods (Butt et al., 1993). But it rapidly recovers with the onset of rain and can survive for more than five years at elevations exceeding 900 m (Sollenberger et al., 1990). Since seeds are not viable, Napier grass could be propagated from stem cuttings of three nodes, or by division of rootstocks or shoot tips. However, older and hardened stems are more reliable than young materials (Alemayehu Mengistu, 1997). Napier grass can provide a continual supply of green forage throughout the year and best fits in all intensive small scale farming systems (Alemayehu Mengistu, 1997). Before Napier grass becomes a valuable forage source, however, more should be known about its adaptation and yield performance under different agronomic conditions by exposing it to various growth promoting factors. The development of regular harvesting systems and application of inorganic fertilisers or farmyard manure can significantly improve the productivity of Napier grass to a reasonably good quality (Annido and Potter, 1994). Therefore, this study was designed to assess the influence of plant height at cutting as well as different sources and levels of fertiliser on the growth characteristics and yield of Napier grass. * Corresponding author Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Materials and Methods Experimental site Productivity and plant growth characteristic studies on Napier grass were conducted from 1999-2000 crop seasons at Adet Agricultural Research Centre (AARC), northwestern Ethiopia, 445 km away from Addis Ababa. The area is located at 11o 17’ N latitude and 37o 43’ E longitude at an elevation of 2240 m above sea level. The centre is characterised by alluvial soil and to some extent by red and black soils. The research activities reported here were conducted on red soil representing one of the typical soil types of the region. The annual rainfall of the area is 1285 mm with a range from 860 to 1771 mm and 109 rainy days per year (average of 14 years, 1986-99) (AARC, 1999). There is one main rainy season extending from May to October with a peak during June-August. The average annual minimum and maximum air temperatures are 8.8 and 25.4 oC, respectively (AARC, 1999). In 1999, the annual rainfall was 1215 mm and the average monthly minimum and maximum air temperatures were 7.5 and 26.1 oC, respectively. The 0-40 cm soil layer of the study area is characterised by a PH of 4.72-4.95, a total N content of 0.1363-0.1528%, an available P content of 0.66-0.88ppm, and an organic C content of 2.5-4.4%. The total N content, OC, OM and available P content of cattle manure were 1.549, 53.08, 92.34% and 50mg/kg, respectively (Table 1). Experimental design and treatments The study was conducted using a 5 × 3 factorial experiment arranged in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were five fertiliser applications (0, 46 and 92 N kg ha1, and 1 and 2 t ha-1 cattle manure) and three cutting heights (0.5, 1 and 1.5 m, in which the grass harvested at 10-15 cm above ground). The plot size was 3 by 5 m. The spacing between replications and plots were 2 and 1 m, respectively, while spacing between individual plants within rows and between rows was 0.5 and 1 m, respectively. Planting and management practices One high yielding Napier grass accession (ILRI accession no. 14984) previously tested at AARC was selected and vegetatively propagated using root splits on a well prepared red soil under rainfed conditions in last weeks of July 1999 when the soil was moist. Diammonium phosphate fertiliser was applied at planting at a rate of 100 kg ha-1 for establishment according to the recommendation (Bogdan, 1977; IAR, 1988). Nitrogen (N) fertiliser was applied after establishment (one month after planting) by placing near root slips depending on the treatment. The cattle manure applied on the plot was more than three months old. The manure was crushed, ground and broadcasted on the plot and raked in the soil one month before planting for proper decomposition. Soil and manure samples were taken for major nutrient analysis before planting of Napier grass and analysed according to standard procedures. Data collection and analytical procedures Data on plant growth characteristics were recorded throughout the growing season. Growth characteristics recorded were number of tillers per plant (NTPP), number of leaves per tiller (NLPT), total number of leaves per plant (TLPP), internode number per tiller (INPT), internodal length per tiller (ILPT), leaf: stem ratio (LSR), basal circumference per plant (BCPP) (cm) and leaf length (LL) (cm). Three plants in each plot were randomly selected for recording data on NTPP, BCPP and TLPP. Two tillers from each selected plant (a total of six tillers) were randomly used for determining NLPT, INPT, LL and ILPT. In the first year of sampling only one cut was obtained for all treatments. In the second year of the experiment two cuts were obtained for 1.5m height and three cuts for 0.5 and 1.0m height. Napier grass was harvested 10-15 cm above the ground from all the treatments excluding guard rows (a net plot size of 2 by 3m) and individual samples were taken for DMY analysis. DMY was determined by oven drying at 65oC for 72h until constant weight was obtained. Statistical analyses Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out using SAS (1998) by the general linear Models (GLM) procedure for plant growth characteristics and DMY applied to factorial experiment in RCBD. The model included the effects of fertiliser, plant height at cutting, their interaction and replications. Mean separation was tested using the least significant difference (LSD). Correlation analysis between plant growth 240 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use characteristics and DMY were determined. Mean differences for growth characteristics and DMY were considered significant at P=0.05. Results and Discussion Plant growth characteristics Plant growth characteristics of Napier grass are presented in Table 2. Number of internode per tiller was significantly affected by plant height at cutting and fertiliser application. The highest INPT value was obtained at 0 N (8.3 internodes) and 1.5m cutting height (9.0 internodes). However, harvesting at 0.5 m height and applying 46 N kg ha-1 had the lowest INPT (5.6 and 6.9 internodes), respectively. The highest INPT recorded might be due to undisturbed vegetative growth for the highest plant height at cutting or for longer periods of growth for the grass (Butt et al., 1993). Plant height at cutting showed a significant effect on NLPT, TLPP, LSR and LL. However, there were no significant differences observed for these plant growth characteristics by fertiliser application. The highest NLPT and TLPP were obtained at 1.5m cutting height with 33.8 and 1036.5, respectively. However, the highest LSR (3.0) was obtained from 0.5m cutting height. Number of leaves per tiller and TLPP increased with increasing cutting heights while LSR and LL were the highest at the smallest cutting height. This might be due to the reduction in leaf proportion and an increase in an overall stem fraction of the grass at the highest cutting height, due to maturity of the plant. The result was in agreement with the findings obtained by Butt et al. (1993) which also suggested that the optimum cutting regime necessary to produce an optimum response differ for each growth characteristics of Napier grass. Leaves per tiller and TLPP were significantly few at the shortest cutting height due to cutting at younger stage. Number of tillers per plant, BCPP and ILPT were significantly affected by plant height at cutting and fertiliser application. Similarly, Kamel et al. (1983) reported that number of tiller per plant for Napier grass increased significantly by plant height at cutting and increasing N levels from 0 to 300 kg N ha-1 in Egypt. However, animal manure and chemical fertilisers had no effect on number of tillers per plant at the early stage of growth in Taiwan (Liang, 1982). The shortest BCPP (60.3 cm) and ILPT (12.8 cm) were obtained from the shortest height of 0.5 m. The highest NTPP (31.1) and BCPP (71.3 cm) were obtained by applying 92 kg N ha-1 while the highest ILPT (16.9 cm) was obtained at 42 kg N ha–1. The shortest plant height at cutting reduced ILPT and BCPP, NLPT and TLPP values. This was because of reduction in photosynthesis and carbohydrate reserves occuring in the lowest defoliation heights of the grass while on the other hand a continuous incremental photosynthetic rate throughout the growing season in the highest cutting height (Butt et al., 1993). Cattle manure did not affect most of the growth characteristics of Napier grass harvested at different harvesting heights compared to N fertiliser. This might be due to many factors. These include the small amount of manure applied in the study and its low nutrient contents of cattle manure or the long-term effect of cattle manure in the soil-plant interaction systems. A ton of cattle manure on DMY basis in Ethiopia contains 8 and 4 kg of N and P, respectively (Ange, 1994 as cited by Taye Bekele, 1996). The use of 30 t ha-1 farmyard manure for increased growth and DMY of Napier grass harvested at 1.5m height is reported in Paraguay (Aveiro et al., 1991). Dry matter yield (DMY) The DMY was significantly affected by plant height at cutting and fertiliser application as well as their interaction effect. The highest DMY was obtained from an interaction of cutting at 1.0 m by 92 kg N ha-1 with 12.34 t ha-1. The DMY of cattle manure applied at 2 t.ha-1 was significantly higher than the DMY of cattle manure applied at 1 t.ha-1 and the control plot (Table 3). Plant height at cutting and fertilisation increase DMY. This is reported by several other studies (Liang, 1982; Kamel et al., 1983; Hassan et al., 1990; Muinga et al., 1992). In the central highlands of Ethiopia, the highest DMY yield of Napier grass was obtained from the intermediate plant height at cutting (1m) (Seyoum et al., 1998). The present study shows higher DM yields for both 1.0 and 1.5 m plant height at cutting and applying 92 kg N ha-1. However, according to Tessema et al. (2001; 2002) the yields of CP and digestible dry matter of Napier grass were higher at 0.5 and 10th ESAP-Proceedings 241 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production 1.0m plant height at cutting. Therefore, utilising Napier grass at 1 m height is advantageous in terms of forage yield and quality than applying inorganic N fertiliser, which needs extra cost and not friendly to the environment. The effect of cattle manure on DMY was compared to chemical fertiliser application and was not found pronounced. This might be due to the small amount of manure applied and the slow nutrient releasing as the manure was not yet fully decomposed. Despite these relatively low values, application of 2 t ha-1 of cattle manure significantly effected DMY. The growth attributes of Napier grass were proportional to the amount of applied manure in Taiwan (Liang, 1982). Relationship between plant growth characteristics and dry matter yield Table 4 shows the correlation analysis between plant growth characteristics and DMY of Napier grass. The DMY of Napier grass were positively correlated with INPT, ILPT, NLPT, TLPP, NTPP, BCPP and negatively correlated with LL and LSR. The negative linear correlation between DMY and LL was not significant which might be caused due to chance rather than by treatment effects. The negative relationship between DMY and LSR might be associated mainly because of the shorter the leaf length and the higher the LSR, the lower DMY of the morphological fractions. Most plant growth characteristics showed positive correlation with each other while LL and LSR showed negative relationship. The DMY of the different morphological fractions were also positively correlated with each other. The result of the correlation analysis of most growth characteristics and DMY of Napier grass was found similar with past research works (Hassan et al., 1990; Kamel et al., 1983). Conclusion Number of leaf per tiller, TLPP, LL and LSR were affected significantly by plant height at cutting while INPT, ILPT, NTPP and BCPP were influenced by both cutting height and fertiliser application. Plant height at cutting, fertiliser application and their interaction had a significant effect on DMY. Higher DM yields were obtained for both 1.0 and 1.5 m plant height at cutting and applying 92 kg N ha-1. Utilising Napier grass at 1 m height therefore is advantageous in terms of forage yield and quality than applying inorganic N fertiliser, which needs extra cost and not friendly to the environment. Plant growth characteristics that highly positively influence Napier grass DMY were TLPP, NTPP and BCPP, and negatively was LSR. Future research on Napier grass should consider these plant growth characteristics among others to achieve optimum DMY and quality of Napier grass. Acknowledgement The authors acknowledge the Amhara National Regional Council and AARC, Ethiopia, for financing the research. All the staff of Animal Feeds and Nutrition Division of AARC are highly appreciated for their assistance during the execution of the research. References AARC (Adet Agricultural Research Center). 1999. Adet Agricultural Research Centre Annual Report. April 1998 to March 1999, Adet, Ethiopia. Alemayehu Mengistu. 1997. Conservation Based Forage Development for Ethiopia. Self Help Development International and Institute for Sustainable Development Publishers. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ange, A. L. 1994. Integrated plant nutrition management in cropping and farming systems–A challenge for small farmers in developing countries. Food and Agricultural Organisation: Rome, Italy. Annido, D. O. and H. L. Potter. 1994. Seasonal variation in productivity and nutritive value of Napier grass at Muguga, Kenya. East African Agriculture and Forestry Journal 59 (3): 177-185. Aveiro, A. R., Siewerdt, L. and Junior-Silveira, P. 1991. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum): effects of irrigation, farmyard manure and chemical fertilisers. 1. Dry matter content and total dry matter yield. Revista-da-SociedadeBrasileira-de-Sootecnia (Brasil) 20 (4): 339-347. 242 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Bayer, W. 1990. Napier grass: a promising fodder for small holder livestock production in the tropics. Plant Research and Development 31:103-111. Bogdan, A. 1977. Tropical pasture and fodder plants (Grasses and legumes). Longman, London. Butt, N. M., Donart, G.B., Southward, M. G.,. Pieper, R. D and N. Mohammad. 1993. Effects of defoliation on plant growth of Napier grass. Tropical Science 33: 111- 120. Hassan, W.E. Wan, R.H. Phipps and E. Owen. 1990. Dry matter yield and nutritive value of improved pasture in Malaysia. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad) 67 (4): 303-308. IAR (Institute of Agricultural Research). 1988. Hand Book on Forage and Pasture Crops for Feeding Animals (1st ed.). Kamel, M. S., Abdel-Raouf, M. S.,. EI-Din, S. A. T and T. Abbas. 1983. Effects of cutting height and frequency and nitrogen application rate on growth and forage yield of Napier grass, Pennisetum purpureum, Schum. Annals of Agricultural Science, University of Ain Shams (Egypt) 28 (2): 607-625. Kariuki, J, N.,. Gitau, G. K, Tamminga, S, Van Bruchem, .J., Muia, J. M. K. and K.R.G. Jrunga. 1998. Effect of feeding napier grass, lucerne and sweet potato vines as sole diets to dairy heifers on nutrient intake, weight gain and rumen degradation. Livestock Production Science 55: 13 – 20. Liang, J. C. 1982. The response of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) to animal manure and chemical fertiliser. 1. Effects on dry matter yield and quality. Journal Agriclural Association of China (Taiwan) no. 119: 64-74. Muinga, R.W., Thorpe, W., Topps, J.H. and J.G. Mureithi. 1992. Responses to Pennisetum Purpureum (Napier grass) basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of Leucana forage to cross bred dairy cows in subhumid tropics. Pp.75-84. In: J.E.S. Stares, A.N. Said and J.A. Kategile (eds). The complementarity of feed resources for animal production in Africa. Proceedings of the joint feed resources Networks workshop held in Gaborone, Botswana, 4-8 March 1991. International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Robert, F. B., Miller, Darrel, A. and C. J. Nelson. 1995. Forages (Fifth ed.), Volume I. An introudction to grassland agriculture. Iowa state university press, Ames, Iowa (USA). SAS, 1998. SAS/STAT version 7. Guide to personal computers, Statistical analysis system institute Inc., NC. U.S.A Seyoum Bediye, Sinashi Sileshi, Tadesse Tekle Tsadik and Liyusew Ayalew. 1998. Evaluation of Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) and pennisetum hybrids (Pennisetum purpureum x pennisetum typhoides) in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia. Pp. 94-202. In: Proceedings of the Fifth Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP). 1517 May 1997. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Sollenberger, L.C., Jones, Jr., Albrecht, K.A. and G.H. Ruitenberg. 1990. Vegetative Establishment of Dwarf Elephant grass. Effect of defoliation prior to planting stems. Agronomy Journal 82 (2): 274-278. Taye Bekele. 1996. Utilisation of organic residues in Ethiopia: A review. In: Teshome Yisengaw, Eyasu Mekonnen, and Mintesinot Behailu (eds.). 1996. Proceedings of the third conference of the Ethiopian Society of Soil Science, February 28-29, 1996, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 194 pp. Tessema, Z., R.M.T. Baars and Alemu, Y. 2002. Effect of plant height at cutting, sources and levels of fertiliser on yield and nutritional quality of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.). African Range and Forage Science, 19 (2):_____. Tessema Zewdu, Robert Baars and Alemu Yami. 2001. Effect of plant height at cutting, sources and levels of fertiliser on yield, chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.). Paper Presented on the 9th annual Conference of the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production. 30-31 August 2001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO). Woodard, K. R. and G.M. Prine. 1991. Forage Yield and Nutritive value of Elephant grass as effected by Harvest Frequency and Genotype. Agronomy Journal 83 (3):541-546. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 243 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 1. Soil and manure quality parameters before fertilisation and planting of Napier grass Soil Total N (%) OC* (%) OM (%) Available P (ppm) pH (H2O) 1:1 EC (Mmhos/cm) 0.1363-0.1528 2.5-4.4 5.0-8.8 0.66-0.88 4.72-495 0.027-0.069 1.549 53.08 92.54 50mg/kg - - Cattle manure * OC = organic carbon; OM = organic matter; EC = electric conductivity h Plant height at cutting x N fertiliser (kg.ha-1) y Cattle manure (t.ha-1) Table 2. Plant growth characteristics of Napier grass as influenced by plant height at cutting and fertiliser application Plant height at cutting (m) Fertiliser application Plant growth characteristics 0.5 1 1.5 SE ± 0d 46d 92d 1e 2e SE ± INPT 5.6c 7.7b 9.0a 0.19 8.3a 6.9b 7.3b 7.4ab 7.3b 0.24 ILPT (cm) 12.8c 15.0b 17.4a 0.41 14.7b 16.9a 14.9ab 14.3b 14.3b 0.54 NLPT 20.5c 25.6b 33.8a 1.58 28.8 25.1 25.9 26.2 27.4 TLPP 438.7c 728.9b 1036.5a 860.2 717.3 834.4 620.6 640.6 53.3a 48.5b 48.6b 48.8 52.8 51.4 48.5 49.2 LL (cm) LSR 3.04a 1.33b 53.2 1.47 1.17b 2.05 68.7 1.90 0.16 1.91 1.84 1.72 2.14 1.62 0.21 NTPP 21.3b 28.2a 30.3a 1.23 28.5ab 27.9ab 31.1a 23.0b 22.5b 1.59 BCPP (cm) 60.3b 63.1b 73.7a 1.94 67.3ab 67.9ab 71.3a 58.9c 62.9bc 2.50 Means within rows with different letters are significantly different, P<0.05; d = N kg ha-1 and e = cattle manure (t ha-1). Table 3. Least square means of dry matter yield (t ha-1) of Napier grass as influenced by plant height at cutting and fertiliser application. Fertiliser application Plant height at cutting (m) 0xy 46x 0.5 6.99defg 6.95defg 1.0 6.48efg 1.5 8.45bcdef 9.05abcde Mean 7.31 8.89 10.67abc 92x 1y 2y 5.51fg 5.88efg 4.18g 5.90 12.34a 7.84cdef 8.58bcdef 9.18 10.28abcd 8.16cdef 9.38 Mean 11.72ab 9.53 8.16 8.21 7.29 abcdefg Numbers with similar superscript do not significantly differ (P < 0.05). SE (±) for comparing any two means = 1.18; for comparing plant height means = 0.53 x N fertiliser (kg ha-1) y Cattle manure (t ha-1) Table 4. Correlation coefficients (r) between plant growth characteristics and dry matter yield of Napier grass INPT ILPT ILPT NLPT TLPP LL LSR NTPP BCPP LDMY SDMY 0.77a NLPT 0.91a 0.72b TLPP 0.89a 0.78a 0.94a LL -0.38 -0.01 -0.31 -0.18 LSR -0.79a -0.72b -0.67b -0.71b 0.32 NTPP 0.74a 0.56c 0.68b 0.84a -0.36 BCPP 0.69b 0.79a 0.74a 0.87a 0.16 -0.58c 0.70b LDMY 0.77a 0.86a 0.68b 0.76a -0.30 -0.85a 0.77a SDMY 0.58c 0.64b 0.51c 0.61c -0.33 -0.75a 0.71b 0.53c 0.81a TDMY 0.76c 0.86a 0.72b 0.79a -0.27 -0.87a 0.79a 0.74b 0.98a -0.76a 0.70b 0.82a N = 27; Significance level a = P < 0.001; b = P < 0.01; c = P < 0.05. 244 10th ESAP-Proceedings Effect of manure and nitrogen fertilization on establishment, herbage yield and seed productivity of perennial grasses Getinet Assefa, Fekede Feyissa and Abreham Gebeyehu Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO), Holetta Research Center, Forage and pasture crops research program P.O.Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Abstract This paper assesses establishment, herbage yield and seed yield response of three perennial grasses (Phalaris aquatica cv. Sirossa, Chloris gayana cv. Massaba and Panicum coloratum) to different manure and N-fertilizer levels applied annually or only once during the establishment year. To take seasonal variations in to account, planting was made for two years (1996 and 1997). Stand counts taken a month later after planting indicated that manure or fertilizer N did not significantly affect germination of the three grass species during both planting years (P>0.01). However, herbage yield results during the establishment years showed an increasing trend with an increase in manure or N fertilizer levels and yields were found to be nearly similar in response to manure levels of 10 -15t ha-1 and N levels of 46-92kg N ha-1 for all the species in both planting years. The three grasses attained their peak herbage productivity during the second years of establishments. Mean herbage yields during this peak growth stage were 6.90t, 8.05t and 7.59t ha-1 DM for Phalaris, Rhodes and Colored Guinea respectively in 1996 plots. For the 1997 planted trial, the figures were 6.12t, 9.75t and 7.77t ha-1 DM respectively for the three species. The overall mean herbage DM yields were 5.57t and 6.40t ha-1 for Phalaris, 5.85t and 6.40t ha-1 for Rhodes and 6.35t and 5.49t ha-1 for Colored Guinea in 1996 and 1997 plots respectively. Number of harvests and total herbage yields were higher for Rhodes and Colored Guinea; but the lower yields obtained during the short rains lowered mean herbage yields of these species. Fertilization with manure or N fertilizer had significant effect on the overall herbage productivity of the three species for both planting years (P<0.01). Mean herbage yields were higher in response to the higher manure and N levels (15 t ha-1 manure and 92kg N ha-1) especially for Rhodes grass; but the response of Phalaris and Colored Guinea was slightly inconsistent. Continuous annual manure application did not significantly improve herbage yields of the species as compared to annual application of N fertilizer (P>0.01) indicating the residual fertilizer value of the initially applied manure. All the grasses gave two seed harvests in the second and third years of establishment for each planting year and alike herbage yield, higher seed yields were obtained during the second year of establishment for all the species. Mean seed yields were significantly higher in the 1996 planting than 1997 planting for all of the species (P<0.01). In 1996 planting, Phalaris gave higher mean seed yield in response to 23kg N ha-1; whereas Rhodes and Colored Guinea gave higher mean yields in response to 92kg N ha-1. Rhodes was also equally responsive to 15t ha-1 manure. In the 1997 planting, mean seed yields were still higher in response to 92kg N ha-1 for Rhodes and Colored Guinea but in response to 15t ha-1 manure for Phalaris. Seed yields showed an increasing trend with an increase in N fertilizer levels for all the species; but the trends were inconsistent in response to the manure levels used. The overall mean seed yields were 167.9kg and 69.9kg ha-1 for Phalaris, 172.9kg and 93.6kg ha-1 for Rhodes and 123.5kg and 64.5kg ha-1 for Colored Guinea in 1996 and 1997 plantings respectively. Similar to the herbage yields, annual manure application did not significantly improve seed yields in all the grasses. Generally, both herbage and seed yields of the species were better in response to higher levels of manure or N fertilizer initially applied to the fields. Introduction Natural pastures that provide the bulk of ruminant feed in Ethiopia are depleting from time to time and their average annual productivity does rarely exceed 1.5-2.5t ha-1 dry matter under continuous communal grazing system (EARO, 2000). Crop residues as other major sources of livestock feed could not meet the nutritional requirements of the animals due mainly to low protein and high fiber contents. Hence, these feeds have to be complemented with cultivated pasture species of high forage yield with reasonable quality if any meaningful production level is to be expected from livestock. Among the perennial pasture species tested so far, Rhodes (Chloris gayana), Colored Guinea (Pannicum coloratum) and Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) are Ethiopian Society of Animal Production very well adapted grasses to mid and high altitude areas up to 2400m above sea level (IAR 1985 – 94). These species are among the very few perennial pasture species selected for their adaptation and herbage yield in the central highlands at Holetta. Once established very well, they stay green for most part of the year and resume active growth during the short rains in the area. However, lack of seed coupled with other policy problems has impeded the passage of these grasses from the evaluation stage to an on-farm testing and largescale production in the country (Lulseged, 1987). Despite this, seed production has received little attention and evaluation of improved pasture species has been solely based on environmental adaptation and herbage yield. Unless seed is produced in sufficient amount, the eventual step of large-scale production of improved pasture species would be critically hindered and all the preceding plant introduction and evaluation works will be wasted. Poor establishment especially in the cooler highlands is one of the major problems encountered from previous works on these species. Once they are well established the overall productivity will be very good in subsequent production life of the pasture. Fertilization with manure or fertilizer N is of paramount importance for successful establishment of these grasses both for forage and seed production. Experiences of other countries also indicated that a good perennial pasture requires high input and intensive management during the establishment year. Seed production from forages is technically difficult and is quite complex as species are recently domesticated and retain many characteristics of wild species such as early shedding of seed at maturity and various dormancy responses. Preliminary observations at Holetta have indicated that average seed yields of 150, 86 and 66kg ha-1 year-1 were obtained from Chloris gayana, Pannicum coloratum and Phalaris aquatica respectively (IAR, 1991-94). Besides cultural manipulation and agronomic practices, proper plant nutrition is important in increasing forage seed yields. Some varieties that are regarded as poor seeders have been observed to produce high seed yields when grown under suitable fertilizer regime. Nitrogen is one of the most important fertilizers for encouraging grass growth and has great influence on growth and development of seed crops. It accelerates flower initiation, increases the rate of floret production and inflorescence development. The most commonly used sources of nitrogen in Ethiopia are the imported commercial fertilizers. On the other hand, animal manures are other important sources of major and minor plant nutrients. Dry farmyard manure on average contains about 2% nitrogen, 0.4% phosphorous and 1.7% potassium; but different batches may contain very different percentage of nutrients depending on origin and storage (Murwira et al, 1995). Besides nutrient provision, manure has a beneficial role in improving the soils physical characteristics. The existing pressure of feed shortage and high prices of agro-chemical inputs will favor the use of farmyard manure for both backyard and field production of improved perennial pasture species. Using manure for perennial pasture species is also advantageous in that because of their long life cycle, they can efficiently exploit the residual fertilizer value of the manure. However, although Chloris gayana, Pannicum coloratum and Phalaris aquatica are some of the most promising perennial forage grasses recommended for the highlands of Ethiopia, there is no dearth of information on seed and herbage yield response of these species to manure and nitrogen fertilizer application. Moreover, the optimum fertilizer rate that can maximize both seed and herbage output from these species has not been established under highland conditions. The objectives of this experiment were therefore: 9. 10. To assess the effect of different manure and N-fertilizer levels on the establishment, forage yield and seed yield performances of the three perennial grasses; and To determine the optimum level of fertilizer for the species in the area Materials and Methods The study was carried out in the central highlands of Ethiopia at Holetta Agricultural Research Center from June 1996 to December 1999. The trial was planted in 1996 and 1997. The experimental site is situated 45km Northwest of Addis Ababa at an altitude of 2400masl and receives an annual rainfall of 1100mm with bimodal distribution over 70% of which occurs during the main rainy season that extends from June to 246 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use September and the rest during the short rainy season extending from February to April. The minimum and maximum air temperature ranges of the site are 2 to 90C and 20 to 270C respectively. The site is characterized by occasional frost that occurs in the months of October to November and temperatures below 00C are recorded for few days during these months. The trial was conducted on a Nitosol with a PH of 5.0 and usually deficient in total nitrogen (0.18%) and available phosphorous (9.0 ppm) and potassium (1.544 meq/100g). It has also an organic matter content of 2% (Holetta Research Center Soil Laboratory). Three perennial grasses including Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica cv. Sirrosa), Rhodes (Chloris gayana cv. Massaba) and Coloured Guinea (Pannicum coloratum cv. Coloratum) with respective germination rates of 57, 79 and 79% (determined at room temperature using bloating paper) were sown broadcast on a well prepared seedbed using a seeding rate of 15kg ha-1 on the 17th and 19th of June 1996 and 1997 respectively. The treatments were laid out in split-plot design with RCB arrangement in four replications using the grass species as main plots of size 256m2. Partially decomposed cattle manure at the rates of 5, 10 and 15t ha-1 and nitrogen fertilizer at the rates of 23, 46 and 92kgN ha-1 were applied in the sub-plots of size 32m2 leaving one unfertilized plot as a control. Nitrogen was splitted in to two so that one half was applied at planting and the other half at tillering. Phosphorous at the rate of 46kg P2O5 ha-1 was applied across all nitrogen plots in the establishment years. To assess the residual effect of the manure and N fertilizer, the plots were further splitted in to two starting from the second year of planting. The same manure and nitrogen fertilizer levels were applied to one half of the plots annually while the other half was left unfertilized until the termination of the trial. Data was collected for three years for each planting year. Forage yield was estimated by harvesting the grasses at the stage of 50% flowering whenever seed was not expected such as in the short rains. 50% flowering is the recommended harvesting stage for perennial grasses for compromised herbage yield and quality in the highlands. The stubble herbage yields after seed harvest was also determined for all the grasses. Herbage samples were dried to constant weight using forced air-drying oven to determine the drymatter percentage. All the grasses set seed starting from the second year as the area is cool and grasses grow slowly during the first year. The mature inflorescences were harvested 10-15cm below the Panicle; then sun dried, piled for few days and manually threshed and cleaned to estimate seed yields. The collected agronomic, forage and seed yield data was subjected to analysis of variance using the SAS statistical procedures. Combined and separate analysis was done for planting years, grass species and harvests. Results and Discussion Establishment years The seedling counts taken a month after planting were inconsistent over the treatments suggesting that fertilizer had no much effect at initial germination. Despite its low seed germination percentage in the laboratory, higher number of seedlings (almost twice of Rhodes and Colored Guinea) was recorded per square meter for Phalaris in both establishment years (Table 1). This might have been attributed to the suitability of the highland conditions for its establishment as the species is of temperate type. However, because of the stoloniferous nature of Rhodes and the decumbent stems of Colored Guinea which root at the nodes, they later on covered the plots more densely than Phalaris and this was reflected in their subsequent herbage and seed yields. Previous observations also indicated that plant population at establishment was very important for bunch/tuft type of grasses but were not much determinant in subsequent production seasons for creeping type of grasses like Rhodes. Fertilization with manure or N-fertilizer did not significantly improve germination as compared to the control in all the species in both establishment years. This implies that germination depends more on climatic conditions and species than nutrient supply. In 1996 planting year, all the grasses gave significantly higher herbage yields in comparison to the control when the higher manure rate (15t ha-1) was applied (P<0.05). On the other hand, higher herbage yields were recorded in response to 92 kg N ha-1 for Rhodes and Colored Guinea and in response to 10t ha-1 manure for Phalaris in 1997 plots (Table 1). The general trend was that there was an increase in herbage 10th ESAP-Proceedings 247 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production yield with an increase in manure or N-fertilizer levels in both establishment years. It has also been noted that manure levels of 10-15t ha-1 affected herbage yields of the species in a comparable manner to N levels of 46 - 92kg ha-1 (Table 1). As growth performance of perennial pasture species during the establishment year is very slow in the cool highlands such as Holetta, the corresponding herbage yield is generally low even under the regime of fertilizer application. This implies that nutrient supply in the establishment year may enhance more root development than vegetative biomass growth in perennial grasses. This in turn would determine subsequent herbage or seed productivity of the species in the following production seasons. Mean herbage yields were lower during the 1997 than 1996 especially for Phalaris and Colored Guinea. This might have been attributed to climatic variations between the two seasons. Performances of perennial grasses in the establishment year are highly influenced by weather, the degree of control over weeds and the difference in speed with which seeds germinate and establish, and less so by the specific factors under investigation (Boonman, 1993). In general, average herbage yields are less than 3t ha-1 DM with average height at harvest of below 1m for all the three species during both establishment years. Performance in the second and third year of establishment A) Herbage yield In the cooler highlands, herbage yield and number of harvests per year are highly determined by the availability of moisture. Most of the perennial grasses could be harvested 2 or 3 times per year. If short rains are timely and adequate, high herbage yields could be obtained. Moreover, tropical species like Rhodes and Colored Guinea are usually favored by the warmer season and grow very well even with little moisture available during the short rains. On the other hand temperate grasses like Phalaris are not performing very well in the short rains and sometimes may not give any harvest. During the second and third years all the grasses gave two harvests per year; one during the short rains when only herbage was estimated and the other following the main rains when both seed yield and stubble herbage yields were determined. However, Phalaris in some cases did not give harvestable forage during the short rains. As yield is a function of growth rate and time, herbage yields during the short rains were low as compared to the herbage or stubble yields obtained following the main rainy season. All the grasses attained their peak herbage productivity in the second year of establishment. However, herbage yields were also comparatively higher especially towards the later stage of growth in response to continuous annual manure or N-fertilizer application; but the yield improvements especially in response to annual manure application were not significant (P>0.01). Rhodes and Colored Guinea were relatively more responsive to annual N fertilizer application. Treatment effects on herbage yields of each of the grasses are described below. Phalaris grass: Herbage yields in both the planting years are indicated in table 2. In the 1996 planting, no significant herbage yield variation was observed in response to the different manure and N-fertilizer levels during the second harvest (P>0.01). Higher herbage yield was recorded in response to 92 kg N ha-1 followed by 23kg N ha-1 and 5t ha-1 manure. The third and fourth harvests were the stubble herbage yields determined after the first and second seed harvests respectively. Phalaris attained its peak herbage production during the third harvest that was made in the second year of establishment following the main rainy season. This was as expected since herbage yield is not equally distributed during the life period of perennial grasses and yields are usually at their best in the first 12-18 months and then drop rapidly followed by a rather steady state (Boonman 1993). During the peak growth stage, mean herbage yield was higher when 92kg N ha-1 was used and the lower average herbage yield was recorded in response to 5t ha-1 manure. However, the different manure and N-fertilizer levels didn’t bring about a significant variation in herbage yield as compared to the control (P>0.01). This implies that herbage yield of Phalaris is less affected by fertilizer during its peak growth stage. During the fourth harvest, mean herbage yield was lower than the third harvest. However, the effect of fertilizer became significant after the peak-growing season and accordingly significantly lower mean yield was recorded for unfertilized plots during the fourth harvest (P<0.05). N-fertilizer levels of 23kg and 92kg N ha-1 and 10t ha-1 manure significantly improved 248 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use mean yield in comparison to the control (P<0.05). There was also significant difference between mean yields of the different harvests (P<0.05) In 1997 plots, no harvest was taken following the short rains and only two stubble harvests were taken after seed in 1998 and 1999. During both harvests, herbage yield showed an increasing trend with an increase in manure levels and the response was significantly different (P<0.05) between the lower manure level (5t ha-1) and the other two levels (10t and 15t ha-1). The yield trends in response to the different Nfertilizer levels were variable but not significantly different (P>0.01). The overall mean yield was higher in response to 15t ha-1 manure. Unlike the 1996 plots, there was no significant difference between mean yields of the different harvests in 1997 plots (P>0.01). In both establishments, continuous annual fertilization with manure or N-fertilizer did not significantly improve herbage yield in comparison to the control (P>0.01). This may be attributed to the residual effect of manure and the inevitable losses of N applied as urea. Based on the percentage of N recovered in the forage, urea is usually the least efficient of the common sources of N because losses of up to 60% of the N applied as urea have been reported through volatilization and leaching (Bogdan 1977). In general, overall mean herbage yields of Phalaris excluding the establishment years ranged from 4.96 t to 6.06 t ha-1 and 5.01 t to 7.25 t ha-1 in 1996 and 1997 plots respectively. These results were in the ranges reported by Getinet et al (1996). Rhodes grass: As in the case of Phalaris, Rhodes grass attained its peak productivity during the second year in both establishments (Table 3). In both the planting years, herbage yield showed an increasing trend with an increase in manure and N fertilizer levels during all the harvests. Higher mean yields were obtained in response to the higher manure and N fertilizer levels (Table 3). During the third harvest when herbage yields were peak, fertilizer had no significant effect (P>0.01). However, at later stage during the fifth harvest, significantly higher herbage yields were recorded in response to 15t ha-1 manure and 92kg N ha-1 as compared to the control treatment in 1996 plots (P<0.05). Mean herbage yields of Rhodes during the peak growth (third harvest) and later stage (fifth harvest) were not significantly different in contrast to Phalaris (P>0.01). This is inline with Boonman (1993), which stated that the decline of productivity from the second year onwards is common to all cultivated tropical grasses, but N-fertilizer maintains their productivity for prolonged period of time. This indicates that tropical grasses such as Rhodes grass are more responsive to continuous annual fertilization towards the later growth stage than temperate grasses such as Phalaris. In 1997 plots, although mean herbage yield during the peak growth stage was better than that of the 1996 plots, yield has declined towards the later stage regardless of fertilization (Table 3). This may be attributed to variation in climatic conditions between the two seasons. Accordingly, average yield during the peak growth stage (third harvest) was significantly higher than the other harvests (P<0.01). Generally, the overall herbage yield of Rhodes varied from 5.51 t to 6.79 t ha-1 DM and from 5.34 t to 7.26 t ha-1 DM in 1996 and 1997 plots respectively. Mean yields were significantly higher than the control when the higher manure and N fertilizer levels were used (P<0.01) indicating that Rhodes is more responsive to higher rates of manure or N fertilizer. It has been indicated (Bogdan 1977) that herbage yields of Rhodes grass range from 1.5t to 25t DM ha-1 depending on soil fertility and fertilizers applied, frequency of cutting or grazing, rainfall and other factors. The results of this experiment also lie within the specified range with remarkable variations depending on fertilizer regime; growth stage, season and the overall mean herbage yield was closer to the result reported by Getinet et al (1996). Coloured Guinea grass: The number and types of harvests taken from Colored Guinea were similar to Rhodes in both plantings. In 1996 planting, significantly higher mean herbage yield was obtained in response to 10t ha-1 manure followed by 92kg and 46kg N ha-1 (P<0.05). Mean herbage yields of Colored Guinea showed an increasing trend with an increase in N levels; but the trend in response to the different manure levels was inconsistent (Table 4). This was in contrast to Rhodes. Moreover, unlike Rhodes, there was no significant difference between mean yields during the peak growth stage (second year of establishment) and the later stages (P>0.01). This indicates that herbage yield of Colored Guinea could be 10th ESAP-Proceedings 249 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production maintained higher relatively for prolonged period of time. Herbage yields during the short rains (the second and fourth harvests) were better than those of Rhodes and Phalaris in 1996 plots indicating that Colored Guinea is more responsive to small amount of rain than Rhodes and Phalaris. The overall average herbage yield of Colored Guinea ranged from 5.22t to 7.38t DM ha-1 in 1996 planting and it is higher than the results reported by Getinet et al (1996). Fertilizer treatment effects were inconsistent in the 1997 planting (Table 4). But all the manure and N fertilizer levels significantly improved herbage yield in comparison to the control (P<0.05). In contrast to the 1996 planting, herbage yields declined significantly towards the later stage (P<0.01). This may be attributed to seasonal climatic effects. Fertilization with manure or N fertilizer significantly improved herbage yield in comparison to the unfertilized plot during the peak growth stage (P<0.05). This shows that Colored Guinea is more responsive to fertilization than Rhodes and Phalaris during the peak growth stage. Its response to continuous annual fertilization was also better than the two grasses. B) Seed yield While herbage yield was determined in all possible seasons when the grasses reach 50% flowering, seed was harvested usually once a year during the main growing season (main rains) under Holetta condition. All the three grasses gave two seed harvests for each planting year, during the second and third year of establishment. Alike the herbage yield, higher seed yield was also obtained during the second year of establishment from all the species for both planting years. Mean seed yield of the two planting years was higher by 138, 62.6 and 66.2% during the second year of establishment than the third year for Phalaris, Rhodes and Colored Guinea respectively. Seed yields were significantly higher in plots established in 1996 than 1997 for all the three species (P<0.01). Mean seed yields were higher by 140, 84.7 and 91.4% for Phalaris, Rhodes and Colored Guinea respectively in 1996 plots. The overall mean seed yield of the two planting years was 118.9, 133.3 and 94kg ha-1 for Phalaris, Rhodes and Colored Guinea respectively. Mean seed yields of Rhodes showed an increasing trend with an increase in levels of manure or fertilizer N; but the seed yield trends of Phalaris and Colored Guinea was slightly inconsistent. Continuous annual fertilization with manure or N-fertilizer had improved mean seed yield of the species during the second seed harvest (third year of establishment). The results indicated that Rhodes and Colored Guinea were found to be more responsive to annual fertilizer application. Seed yield of each of the grasses in response to the different manure and N-fertilizer levels is presented as follows: Phalaris grass: In the 1996 planting, manure or N fertilizer had significantly affected seed yield of Phalaris during the first harvest (P<0.01); but not during the second harvest (P>0.01). No significant seed yield variations have been realized in response to the different manure levels applied during both harvests (P>0.05) (Table 5). Seed yield trend in response to the different manure and N fertilizer levels was inconsistent and higher mean seed yield was obtained in response to 23 kg N ha-1. This shows that the high seed yield of Phalaris in the 1996 planting than the 1997 planting might have been associated with better establishment conditions, soil and weather conditions than treatment effects. Seed yields were lower and also fertilizer treatment effects were insignificant in the 1997 planting. The overall mean seed yield was almost half of that of the 1996 planting (Table 5). This may be attributed to poor establishment during the 1997 planting and subsequent weather conditions. The seed yield trend in response to the different manure and N fertilizer levels was similar to the 1996 planting. Continuous annual fertilization improved seed productivity of Phalaris especially in the 1997 planting. Except in the 1996 planting when seed yield of exceptionally higher during the first harvest, seed yield and response of Phalaris to fertilizer application was lower as compared to Rhodes and colored Guinea grass. The seed yield results of Phalaris in this study the reports of Getinet et al (1996). Rhodes grass: Seed yield was significantly affected by manure and N fertilizer treatments during both harvests in 1996 planting (P<0.01). Higher average seed yield was obtained in response to 92 kg N ha-1 and 15t ha-1 manure in the first and second harvests respectively (Table 6). There was an increasing trend in seed yield with an increase in N level during both harvests. On the other hand, the yield trend in response to the different manure levels was inconsistent during the first harvest; but it increased with an increase 250 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use in manure level during the second harvest. This indicates the residual fertilizer value of manure in improving crop response towards the later stage of growth. Comparably higher mean seed yields were obtained in response to 92kg N ha-1 and 15t ha-1 manure in 1996 planting. This does not imply that 15t manure is equivalent to 92kg N in nutrient concentration; but their efficiency may differ as much of the nitrogen applied as urea is expected to be lost through leaching and volatilization (Bogdan, 1977). In plots established in 1997, higher average seed yields were obtained in response to 92kg N ha-1 during both harvests (Table 6). Seed yields were significantly (P<0.01) affected by the different N fertilizer levels during both harvests showing an increasing trend with an increase in N level. Similarly, although not significant (P>0.01), seed yields showed an increasing trend with an increase in manure levels indicating that Rhodes grass is responsive to fertilization. In general, the overall mean seed yields of Rhodes grass in this experiment ranged from 145.8kg ha-1 to 194.1kg ha-1 in 1996 planting and from 74.2kg ha-1 to 132.8kg ha-1 in 1997 planting. Taking climatic and seasonal variations in to account, this yield range is in agreement with Bogdan (1977), which stated that under tropical conditions, Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass) often produces two crops of seed per year, and seed yields range very widely from 65 to 650kg ha-1year-1. Subsequent annual fertilization with N had significantly improved seed yield of Rhodes grass as compared to the unfertilized plots especially during the second harvest for both planting years (P<0.05). However, annual manure application had no much effect on seed yield. This is attributed to the residual effects of manure and indicates that high level of initial manure application might be more essential than continuous application as the extensive root system of perennial grasses would enable them to efficiently utilize the residual manure towards the later stage of growth. Coloured Guinea grass: In the 1996 planting, higher seed yield was obtained in response to 23 kg N ha-1 during the first harvest and in response to 92 kg N ha-1 during the second harvest. No any level of manure used did significantly (P>0.01) improve seed yield in comparison to the control (Table 7). A significantly higher mean seed yield was obtained in response to 92 kg N ha-1 in the 1996 planting (P<0.05). Seed yields in response to the different manure and N levels were inconsistent during the first harvest; but showed an increasing trend with an increase in manure or N levels during the second harvest and higher mean seed yield was obtained in response to 92kg N ha-1 (Table 7). Mean yields in response to the different manure levels were lower than the control treatment indicating that Colored Guinea is less responsive to manure than Rhodes and Phalaris in terms of seed yield. In the 1997 planted trial, significantly higher (P<0.01) seed yield was obtained when 92 kg N ha-1 was used during the first harvest and when 46 kg N ha-1 was used during the second harvest. Alike the 1996 plots, significantly higher mean seed yields were obtained in response to 92 kg N ha-1 and 46kg N ha-1 as compared to the control and manure treatments (P<0.01). This indicates that Colored Guinea is relatively more responsive to higher rates of initially applied nitrogen fertilizer. Moreover, in contrast to Rhodes mean seed yields of Colored Guinea were significantly improved by subsequent fertilization during the third year of establishment especially in 1997 planting (P<0.01). This may indicate that Rhodes is more efficient than Colored Guinea in utilizing the residual nutrients in the soil. Mean seed yields of Colored Guinea for both the planting years were higher when the higher N fertilizer level (92 kg N ha-1) was used. In general, Phalaris grass; Rhodes grass and Colored Guinea grass can serve as potential perennial pasture species for the highlands of Ethiopia. The results of this trial have indicated that both herbage and seed yield potential of these grasses could be increased by proper fertilization management. This could be more materialized if fertilization is accompanied with other management options such as cutting or grazing. It has also been proved that annual application of N fertilizer can sustain both herbage and seed yields higher. However, annual manure application did not improve both herbage and seed yields in comparison to the control plots. Herbage and seed yields were higher towards the latter stage of growth in response to the higher level of initially applied manure. This is inline with the results of long-term manure trial in Kenya in which significant yield increases were observed in first year potatoes and maize and in third and fourth year Rhodes grass but only at the highest level of initial application, 27t ha-1 animal manure (Boonman, 1993). Positive manure effects are generally limited to very poor soils and its 10th ESAP-Proceedings 251 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production nutritional effects are usually disappointing when the nutrients contained in the manure are not deficient in the soil for the particular crop to be grown. The low response of the grasses to manure in this trial may be attributed mainly to the small amount used and its low content of desirable nutrients, especially of N, and to the associated low efficiency of manure as N-source. The nutrients that are relatively high in manure such as K are also reported to be in a better status in soils of the study area. Both herbage and seed yields of the three grasses during the peak growth stage (second year of establishment) were less influenced by the different manure and N fertilizer levels used. Rhodes and Colored Guinea showed a declining tendency of productivity sooner than Phalaris after the second year of establishment especially when fertilizer was not applied. Booman, 1993 also stated that grasses, especially only lightly fertilized or not fertilized at all, are usually most productive in the second year of growth and stoloniferous grasses loose their productivity sooner than tufted grasses but if the grass is well fertilized it may remain productive for a longer period of time and stoloniferous and rhizomatous species of old stands can then be as productive as younger stands and live as long as tufted species or even longer. The over all herbage and seed productivity of the three grasses evaluated in this experiment under Holetta condition was better in response to the initially applied high levels of manure and N fertilizer (15t ha-1 manure and 92kg N ha-1). Rhodes and Colored Guinea were also more responsive to annual N fertilizer application than Phalaris especially towards the later stage of growth. There is a need to evaluate the productivity of these grasses under higher levels of initially applied manure or continuous N application in combination with other management options such as cutting and the corresponding time of fertilizer application since time of application has an overriding effect in addition to rate of application in post establishment crops. References Bogdan A.V. 1977. Tropical pasture and fodder plants. Tropical Agricultural Series, Whistable Litho Ltd., Whistable, Kent, Great Britain. Boonman J.G. 1993. East Africa’s Grasses and Fodders: Their Ecology and Husbandry. Kluwer Academic Publisher, The Netherlands. EARO. 2000. Forage and pasture research strategy Getinet Assefa, Lulseged Gebrehiwot and Tadesse T/Tsadik. 1994. Establishment and subsequent forage production of perennial grasses as affected by different sowing dates and soil types. Ethiopian Journal of Agric. Sci. 14: 46-59. Getnet Assefa and Tadesse T/Tsadik. 1996. Effect of harvesting stage on yield and quality of perennial grass seeds in the highlands. In-proceedings of the 4th annual conference of the Ethiopian society of Animal production. 18-19 April 1996, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; pp. 208-215 Hanson, J. (ed) 1994. Seed production by smallholder farmers. Proceedings of the ILCA/ICARDA Research Planning Workshop on Seed Production by Smallholder Farmers, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 13-15 Jun 1994. ILCA, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia); ICARDA, Aleppo (Syria). 56p. Herbage seed unit, 1994. Forage seed production. ILCA Training Manual. ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Humphreys L.R. 1978. Tropical pastures and Fodder crops. Intermediate tropical Agricultural Series, Wing Tai Cheung printing Co Ltd, Hong Kong. ILCA/ICARDA 1994. Tropical Forage Seed Production. (Training Module). ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria. Loch, D.S. 1984. Commercial seed increase of new pasture cultivars: Organization and practice. In proceedings of a workshop on Pasture improvement research in eastern and southern Africa, held in Zimbabwe, Harare, 17-21 September 1984. 252 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Loch, D.S. and Ferguson, J.E. 1999. Tropical and subtropical forage seed production: an overview. In: Loch, D.S. and Ferguson, J.E. (eds). Forage Seed Production 2. Tropical and Subtropical species. CABI publishing. P.1-40. Mays D.A. 1974. Forage fertilization. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wis. USA Murwira K.H., Swift M.J. and Frost P.G.H. 1995. Manure as a key resource in sustainable agriculture, p131-144. In proceedings of an international conference held by ILCA on Livestock and sustainable nutrient cycling in mixed farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 22-26 November 1993. Table 1. Herbage DM yield (t ha-1) and seedling counts m-2 of perennial grasses in response to different manure and N fertilizer levels during the establishment year at Holetta. Seedling count Planting year 1996 Treatments Phalaris Rhodes Herbage yield Colored Guinea Phalaris Rhodes Colored Guinea 5 t ha-1 manure 1008a 560a 368c 1.12c 2.10c 1.36bc 10 t ha-1 manure 992a 484ab 360c 2.33abc 2.63bc 2.29abc 15 t ha-1 manure 760ab 440ab 612ab 4.17a 3.72a 3.35a 23 kg N ha-1 688ab 364ab 456abc 2.82abc 2.92abc 1.58bc 46 kg N ha-1 800ab 340ab 444abc 2.18bc 3.01abc 2.55abc 504b 244b 388bc 3.12ab 3.49ab 2.58ab 864ab 520a 648a 1.94bc 2.05c 1.03c Mean 802 421 468 2.53 2.85 2.11 lsd (0.05) 401 254 241 1.96 1.01 1.52 92 kg N ha-1 No fertilizer 1997 5 t ha-1 manure 892 680a 596 0.58bc 2.31 1.29bc 10 t ha-1 manure 940 464ab 500 1.29a 2.71 1.06bc 15 t ha-1 manure 848 536ab 452 1.04abc 3.31 1.82ab 23 kg N ha-1 804 676a 628 0.95abc 2.66 1.69ab 46 kg N ha-1 792 412ab 572 0.67bc 2.26 2.16a 92 kg N ha-1 700 332b 536 1.07ab 3.35 2.30a No fertilizer 1056 584ab 556 0.56c 2.28 0.57c Mean 862 526 548 0.88 2.70 1.56 lsd (0.05) 469 278 198 0.50 2.00 0.79 Means within a column and a year with different letters are significantly different Table 2. Mean herbage DM yield (t ha-1) of Phalaris in response to different manure and Nfertilizer levels during the second and third year of establishment at Holetta 1996 planting Treatments Harv2* Harv3** Harv4** 1997 1997 1998 1997 planting Mean Harv2** 1998 Harv3** 1999 Mean 5t ha-1 manure 3.79 6.23b 6.20ab 5.41ab 4.70b 5.34b 5.01c 10t ha-1 manure 3.62 6.98ab 6.67ab 5.76a 6.98a 7.36a 7.17a 15t ha-1 manure 3.52 6.81ab 5.91ab 5.41ab 6.72a 7.79a 7.25a 23kg N ha-1 3.80 7.28ab 7.12a 6.06a 7.03a 6.23ab 6.63ab 46kg N ha-1 3.42 6.93ab 5.96ab 5.44ab 5.37ab 5.60b 5.50bc 92kg N ha-1 3.98 7.52a 6.30ab 5.93a 6.29ab 7.49a 6.89a No fertilizer 3.29 6.52ab 5.07b 4.96b 5.74ab 6.95ab 6.35ab Mean 3.63 6.90 6.17 5.57 6.12 6.68 6.40 lsd (0.05) 0.88 1.28 1.64 0.73 1.80 1.72 1.31 - Means within a column with different letters are significantly different *- Herbage yield determined during the short rains ** - Stubble herbage yield determined after seed harvest 10th ESAP-Proceedings 253 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 3. Mean herbage DM yield (t ha-1) of Rhodes grass in response to different manure and N fertilizer levels during the second and third year of establishment at Holetta. 1996 planting Treatments Harv2* 1997 Harv3** 1997 5t ha-1 manure 4.59ab 10t ha-1 manure 4.56ab 15t ha-1 manure 1997 planting Harv4** 1998 Harv5** 1998 Mean Harv2* 1998 7.70ab 2.56cd 7.65ab 2.74bc 7.47bcd 5.60cd 5.24a 8.28abc 5.81bc 4.00bc 5.43a 8.61a 3.29ab 9.84a 6.79a 5.08a 23kg N ha-1 4.33b 7.14b 2.04d 6.35d 4.96d 46kg N ha-1 4.59ab 8.16ab 2.42cd 6.86cd 92kg N ha-1 5.21ab 8.80a 2.99abc 8.56ab No fertilizer 4.66ab 8.30ab 3.35a 7.37bcd Mean 4.80 8.05 2.77 7.82 lsd 0.05) 0.95 1.28 0.59 1.65 0.66 Harv3** 1998 Harv4** 1999 10.45a Mean 4.80b 6.83abc 4.69b 5.91de 10.60a 4.94b 6.87ab 3.47c 8.22b 4.33b 5.34e 5.51cd 3.92bc 9.03ab 5.11ab 6.02cde 6.40ab 4.47ab 10.80a 6.52a 7.26a 5.92bc 4.74ab 10.13a 4.14b 6.34bcd 5.85 4.42 9.75 4.93 6.40 0.99 1.79 1.44 0.83 9.02ab - Means within a column with different letters are significantly different *- Herbage yield determined during the short rains ** - Stubble herbage yield determined after seed harvest Table 4. Mean herbage DM yield (t ha-1) of Colored Guinea grass in response to different manure and N fertilizer levels during the second and third years of establishment at Holetta. 1996 planting Treatments Harv2* 1997 Harv3** 1997 Harv4** 1998 1997 planting Harv5** 1998 Mean Harv2* 1998 Harv3** 1998 Harv4** 1999 Mean 5 t ha-1 manure 4.59c 6.92b 3.40c 5.97c 5.22d 3.73bc 7.29bc 4.60abc 5.21bc 10t ha-1 manure 6.54a 8.38a 5.18a 9.40a 7.38a 3.71bc 7.03bc 4.19bc 4.98c 15t ha-1 manure 5.51abc 7.43ab 4.14abc 8.33abc 6.35bc 4.27ab 8.64ab 5.42ab 6.11ab 23kg N ha-1 5.91ab 7.54ab 4.41abc 6.90bc 6.19bc 3.80b 7.66ab 4.33bc 5.26bc 46kg N ha-1 5.99ab 7.70ab 5.06ab 8.38ab 6.78ab 5.30a 9.72a 5.12ab 6.71a 92kg N ha-1 6.49a 8.28ab 4.11abc 8.42ab 6.82ab 4.68ab 8.68ab 5.77a 6.37a No fertilizer 5.24bc 6.90b 3.51bc 7.31abc 5.74cd 2.41c 5.39c 3.57c 3.79d Mean 5.75 7.59 4.26 7.81 6.35 3.98 7.77 4.71 5.49 lsd (0.05) 1.18 1.41 1.60 2.40 0.83 1.36 2.17 1.27 0.96 - Means within a column with different letters are significantly different *- Herbage yield determined during the short rains ** - Stubble herbage yield determined after seed harvest Table 5. Mean seed yield (kg ha-1) of Phalaris in response to different manure and N fertilizer levels at Holetta. 1996 planting Treatments Harv.1 1997 Harv.2 1998 5t ha-1 manure 233.0b 80.6 10t ha-1 manure 278.1ab 83.7 15t ha-1 manure 254.6ab 23kg N ha-1 1997 planting Harv.1 1998 Harv.2 1999 Mean 156.8b 51.6b 45.5b 48.6b 180.9ab 70.6ab 76.3a 73.4a 76.7 165.6ab 81.7ab 74.8a 78.2a 317.0a 85.3 201.2a 75.2ab 51.1ab 63.1ab 46kg N ha-1 236.5b 61.5 149.0b 79.9ab 63.9ab 71.8a 92kg N ha-1 269.0ab 57.9 163.4b 76.2ab 74.0a 75.1a No fertilizer 235.1b 81.6 158.4b 87.1a 71.1ab 79.1a Mean 260.5 75.3 167.9 74.6 65.2 69.9 68.7 30.5 21.5 34.5 27.7 21.8 lsd (0.05) Mean -Harvest1 and Harvest2 are the two seed harvests made per the two planting years - Means within a column with different letters are significantly different 254 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Table 6. Mean seed yield (kg ha-1) of Rhodes in response to different manure and N fertilizer levels at Holetta. 1996 planting Treatments 1997 planting Harv.2 1998 Mean Harv.1 1998 Harv.2 1999 Mean 222.5abc 112.7bc 167.6ab 111.4ab 59.9c 85.6c 10t ha-1 manure 193.9bc 153.6ab 173.7ab 108.7ab 67.1c 87.9bc 15t ha-1 manure 209.0abc 177.9a 193.5a 102.2ab 68.6bc 85.4c 23kg N ha-1 176.4c 115.2bc 145.8b 84.70b 46kg N ha-1 224.5abc 116.4bc 170.5ab 92kg N ha-1 261.6a 126.5bc No fertilizer 236.6ab Mean 217.8 55.9 5t ha-1 manure lsd (0.05) Harv.1 1997 63.6c 74.2c 127.8a 93.4b 110.6ab 194.1a 138.4a 127.3a 132.8a 165.4ab 112.7ab 45.0c 78.8c 128.1 172.9 112.3 74.9 93.6 43.2 44.4 42.1 26.02 24.7 94.20c -Harvest1 and Harvest2 are the two seed harvests made per the two planting years - Means within a column with different letters are significantly different Table 7. Mean seed yield (kg ha-1) of Colored Guinea in response to different manure N fertilizer levels at Holetta. 1996 planting Treatments Harv.1 1997 Harv.2 1998 1997 planting Mean Harv.1 1998 Harv.2 1999 Mean 5t ha-1 manure 140.3ab 72.5c 106.4b 84.5abc 42.8bc 63.6bc 10t ha-1 manure 150.3ab 97.2bc 123.7b 71.5bc 34.5c 52.9c 15t ha-1 manure 120.6b 93.2bc 106.9b 90.7ab 39.1c 64.9bc 23kg N ha-1 175.4a 78.6bc 126.9b 89.0ab 43.1bc 66.1abc 46kg N ha-1 148.3ab 94.2bc 121.2b 81.7bc 58.4a 70.1ab 92kg N ha-1 172.4a 131.3a 151.9a 110.6a 54.0ab 82.3a No fertilizer 150.3ab 105.2ab 127.7ab 58.8c 44.5abc 51.7c Mean 151.1 96.1 123.5 83.8 45.2 64.5 38.5 30.4 24.5 28.6 14.5 16.9 lsd (0.05) -Harvest1 and Harvest2 are the two seed harvests made per the two planting years - Means within a column with different letters are significantly different 10th ESAP-Proceedings 255 Methods of Perennial Grass Establishment, Forage Productivity on Fallow Lands and Their Effect on The Subsequent Barley Crop Getnet Assefa1, Abreham Gebeyehu1, Fekede Feyissa1 and Berhane Lakew2 Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO), Holetta Research Centre, and Pasture Crops Research Program, 1Forage 2Barley Improvement Research Program P.O.Box, 2003, Addis Ababa, Abstract Establishment methods of Phalaris, Rhodes and Colored Guinea grasses by intercropping with barley and in pure stands on lands to be fallowed in the following seasons were evaluated at Holetta. The performance of grasses during the first, second and third year as an improved grass fallow and their residual effect on the subsequent barley crop were also assessed. Establishment methods of grasses by intercropping with barley did not show any significant effect on the performance of barley. Grasses established in pure stands produced average forage yield about five times more compared to the grasses established by intercropping during establishment but the variation sharply reduced then after. The actual total herbage yield during the fallowing period was higher for grasses established by intercropping as grasses established by intercropping stayed longer as a pasture for the same length of fallowing period compared to the pure stands. Besides that there is an advantage of covering and protecting the soil from erosion for longer time. Generally Rhodes grass produced significantly (P<0.05) higher forage yield followed by Colored Guinea and Phalaris under both the establishment methods. The residual effects of these grasses on the subsequent barley crop revealed that Colored Guinea and Phalaris had significantly (P<0.05) increased barley yield compared to the control while the highest forage yielder Rhodes grass had significantly (P<0.05) depressed the performance of barley. As fallowing season increased from 1 to 3 years the residual effects of grasses were also improved. This experiment revealed that establishing perennial grasses by intercropping was an advantageous strategy to improve natural fallow land. If fallowing is only for one year and if the forage crops are to be established in pure stands, it is advisable to cultivate productive and fast growing annual forage crops such as vetches and oats. When grasses are established by intercropping on fallow lands Colored Guinea grass is suitable and appropriate grass species to be used as improved grass fallow to produce high amount of forage and better residual effect on the subsequent cereal. Rhodes grass also showed a trend of beneficial effects both for high forage yield and better soil conservation and improvement if fallowing is longer. Introduction In the Ethiopian highlands poor soil fertility and feed shortage are major constraints limiting crop and livestock productivity. To overcome these problems fallowing is practiced to maintain soil fertility and to use the fallow land as a source of forage usually by grazing (Chilot et al, 2001). In these areas adapted perennial legumes are scanty and low in forage productivity. There are, however, many productive and well-adapted perennial grasses, which could be extended to farmers preferably in integration with food crops and other suitable techniques to the farming systems. Reports on integration of forage and food crops indicating that the recommended annual legumes such as vetch had a depressing effect on the main crop like barley, unless proper precautions are taken in selecting vetch species, cereal varieties and status of soil, while other legume such as clovers have problems of establishment and produce very low amount of herbage (Getnet et al, 2001). Perennial grasses, which are well adapted, productive and relatively available, could be an option to be integrated with cereals like barley and wheat, especially on land to be fallowed for longer periods. Grasses appeared to be much more effective than legumes in soil structure formation which was largely attributed to the differences in root systems. Grasses add effective fresh organic matter and nitrogen and can draw up minerals from lower soil depth through a deep and extensive root systems. This feature of grasses has also made a major effect in improving soil structure and water economy through aggregate stability and Ethiopian Society of Animal Production permeability (Boonman, 1993). The risk of erosion is also reduced on lands covered with grasses. The lower fertilizer requirement of crops following grasslands is perhaps the most striking effects of crop-grass rotations on crop yields in East Africa. This especially applies to N fertilizer. Though the amount is not to a large extent, Allen (1972) found little response to N dressing following grassland. The same applied to wheat even in the second year after grass (Seitzer et al, 1970). Nitrogen fixation by associative symbiosis between grass and bacteria has been reported for Azotobacter paspali, Azosprillum brasilense and Beijerinka indica (Dobereiner et al, 1972). A review of N fixation in tropical grasses has been given by Crowder and Chheda (1982), who state that this phenomena holds tremendous potential and is more likely to occur with tropical grasses due to their C-4 pathway of photosynthesis. Conventional pasture establishment is very expensive in terms of cost incurred for land preparation, labor and fertilizer; moreover in cool weather conditions their forage yield is very low during the establishment year. Hence the cheapest and widely utilized way of perennial pasture crop establishment is by relaying or intercropping food and forage crop which have an advantage of producing grain while establishing the pasture on the same land and produce forage in the subsequent years. Generally when grasses are sown in rotation and integration with food crops, it is a step-up to the conventional weed fallow, and therefore not an alien concept. Mixed farming based on alternating grazed pastures with crops, is still a solid platform from which efforts for sustained development can be launched, in the nearest possible harmony with the environment, however, information is very limited therefore the objectives of this experiment were 1. to evaluate the best establishment method of grasses on land to be fallowed in the following year(s), 2. to evaluate performance of barley when established in mixture with grasses, and 3. to assess the performance of forage crops during the fallowing period and their residual effect on the subsequent barley crop. Materials and Methods Description of the Site: The experiment was conducted at Holetta Research Center on well-drained red soil. The total annual rainfall for the area is 1012.4mm (average from 1996-2000) and the average minimum and maximum air temperature was 5.7oC and 22.6oC respectively. The area is located at an altitude of 2400 masl. The land used for the experiment was a field planted to oats for seed production Testing crops: Three perennial forage grasses, namely Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana variety Massaba), Colored Guinea grass (Panicum coloratum) and Phalaris grass (Phalaris aquatica, variety Sirossa) were used. Barley variety HB-42 was used as a test cereal in this experiment. The grasses were sown at the rate of 15 kg ha-1 and barley was 125 kg ha-1. Experimental Design and field management: The trial was laid out under two experimental sets. In the first set the grasses were established as crops on the fallow land in pure stands. In the second set the grasses were intercropped with the barley (simultaneous sowing date of barley and grasses) on lands to be fallowed in the following one, two and three years. The cropping calendars for the two establishment methods are indicated in Figure 1. In each set there were 4 treatments with and without fertilizer recommended level for barley. The treatments were, three perennial grasses and pure barley planted on a plot area of 3.5x5 m2 arranged in randomized complete blocks (RCB) in three replications. The performance of the forage grasses established by both methods and the barley were assessed. The forage grasses then evaluated during the entire fallowing period of one, two and three years. Re-growth of the grasses was harvested at the stage of early heading to 50% blooming. All forage samples dried to a constant weight using forced draft oven to determine dry matter percentage and yield. Barley was harvested at maturity for grain and straw yield determination. Statistical Analysis: Analysis of variance procedures were used to compare treatment means. Combined and separate analysis were made using SAS statistical package (SAS, 1996) for the measured parameters including yield (forage, barley grain and straw) and agronomic data. 258 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Figure 1. Cropping calendar of barley and grasses used in the trial for the two grass establishment methods, by intercropping with barley and pure stands on lands to be fallowed for one year. BgBgBgBgggggggggggggggggggggbbbbbbbbbbb Intercropped BBBBBBBffffffffffffffggggggggggggg bbbbbbbbbbb Pure Year 1 Jan Apr Jul Year 2 Oct Jan Apr Jul Year 3 Oct Jan Apr Jul Year 4 Oct Jan Apr Jul Oct Bg – is barley and grass intercropped, g – grass pasture, f – traditional fallow land, B – pure barley before fallowing the land, and b – barley after forage grass pasture (fallow) Results and Discussion Establishment methods of grasses and their effect on the companion crop Establishment methods of grasses when intercropped with barley or pure stands had an impact on the dry matter forage yield of grasses. When grasses were established by intercropping with barley their performance was significantly lower in comparison when they were established in pure stands during establishment in the first year (Table 1). Nevertheless, the total forage biomass produced over the fallowing period was higher for grasses intercropped as it stayed longer and hence many harvests for similar length of fallowing period compared to grasses established in pure stands (Tables 2 and 3). The establishment method determines the length of fallowing period in which the cultivated grasses stay on the field. Intercropping helps to use the land for forage production up to 20 months during the actual one year fallowing practice of farmers (Figure 1). While pure grass establishment reduces this period to only 10 months. Barley grain and straw yields did not showed any significant yield reduction due to the effect of intercropping with grasses as compared to the control, pure barley (Table 1). This reveals that the grasses had very little or no effect as a weed in the barley crop. As grasses are not sensitive to broadleaf herbicides, it is also simple to weed broad leaves easily either by hand or using herbicides. Undersowing experiments of four temperate grasses (Phalaris, Lolium, Setaria and Fescue) in wheat at Holetta and Ginchi also showed non-significant effect on wheat grain yields but still the vigorous growth of Lolium had a tendency of depressing wheat grain yield (Lulseged Gebrehiwot etal, 1987) Intercropping grasses with barley was found to be advantages in such a way that grasses would re-grow and continue to be a pasture after the barley crop had been harvested and provide soil coverage and protect soil erosion during the whole fallowing period. Moreover, while harvesting the barley some amount of forage was also produced together with the straw (Table 1). Among the grasses Rhodes grass was the highest producer followed by Colored Guinea and Phalaris grasses during the establishment year under both establishment methods of grasses as pure and intercropped (Table 1). Even though it was not statistically significant Phalaris, which is a typical temperate grass, had a tendency of depressing the barley grain and straw yield. This might be due to the vigorous and competent growth of Phalaris grass with barley at the initial stage of growth compared to other grasses, which are slow and not vigorous. However, the vigor of Phalaris towards the maturity of the barley and the end of the rain season was weak while that of Rhodes and Colored Guinea grasses were very good, which resulted in high herbage yields. Various experiments revealed that forage yield during the establishment year is usually higher for Phalaris than Rhodes and Colored Guinea grasses in cooler highlands (Lulseged et al 1997) The response of barley to fertilizer application was not significantly different to that of the control, which might be the low response of barley to fertilizer. Even though the overall forage yield was low, fertilizer had a significant effect on the intercropped grasses for better establishment. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 259 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Performance of grasses during the fallowing period The first harvest of grasses (both the pure and intercropped) was made at the same time when the barley was harvested in December. After the first harvest the grasses were harvested usually once after the short rains (April to June), and twice during the main rainy season (in August and November/December) every year. The performance of the grasses during the short rains was highly dependent on the amount of moisture available. In 1999 the amount of rainfall in the short rains was very low and hence there was no any harvest. The performances of grasses established by intercropping with barley and in pure stands during the fallowing period indicated that establishment of grasses in pure stands was not advantageous if the land is planned to be fallowed only for one year. This was because the test grasses generally require very long establishment period, as they were very slow in growth due to the cool temperature in the highlands. As a result they produced very low amount of herbage during the entire fallowing period. Hence if fallowing is for one year and establishment is in pure stands, it is advantageous to use highly productive and fast growing annual legumes and grasses such as vetches and oats. The cumulative effect was also similar when grasses were established in pure stands for a fallowing period of two and three years. However, when grasses established in pure stands seedlings were vigorous with good ground cover, which in turn gave high herbage yield during the first and subsequent harvests. In spite of that the total number of harvests during the fallowing period was few compared to grasses established by intercropping, which reduces the actual total yield. Five harvests were made in a one year fallow when established by intercropping on the other hand similar number of harvests were made in a two years fallow period when grasses established in pure stands (Table 2). Similarly Table 3 shows forage yields when grasses established by intercropping (two years fallow period) and in pure stands (three years fallow period). The performance of the different grasses showed similar trend to the effect of establishment methods. Intercropping grasses in barley had more impact on the productivity of grasses than the barley. The average forage yield of grasses were about five times higher when sown in pure stands compared to intercropping in the establishment year. However, the wide differences in forage yield between the different establishment methods were highly reduced in the second year and then after. A well-established perennial pasture performs very well during the subsequent production seasons and years. This experiment also revealed such trend. Grass establishment by intercropping was found poor compared to the pure stands. Hence the performance was also poor during the fallowing period. But generally grasses established by intercropping stayed longer in the field and many harvests made during the fallowing period compared to the pure stands. Due to this the actual herbage yield during the fallowing period was higher when established by intercropping. On the other hand the grass species produced significantly different dry matter forage yield during the fallowing period (Tables 2 and 3). Rhodes grasses, which reproduced by many stoloens and rhizomes rapidly covers the ground and performed very well, especially during the short rains. Coloured Guinea grass had also fairly covered the ground by creeping and reseeding. Phalaris grass however was very poor in extending and covering the ground and highly determined by the condition of establishment. This indicates that grasses like Rhodes and Coloured Guinea could be less affected during the subsequent growing period by the condition of establishment such as by intercropping with barley than the bunch/tuft type of grasses like Phalaris. All the three grasses had response to fertilizer application on their average forage yield of the second and third harvests but did not show much response in the fourth, fifth and sixth harvests. Boonman (1993) in his study of tropical grasses in Kenya indicated seasonality of grass growth. Yield and quality of the first harvest and its response to N fertilizer are considerably high. Growth rates are reduced before rising again. Yield is not constant over the years either. Yields of Rhodes were at their best in the first 12-18 months and then drop due to decreasing N availability. These conditions are in agreement with this experiment. 260 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Residual effects of grasses on the subsequent barley crop The residual effects of grasses grown as a pasture on fallow lands for a period of one, two and three years on the subsequent barley grain and straw yields are shown in Table 4. Generally the residual effect of the different grasses showed similar trends for both the establishment methods and lengths of fallowing period. Average barley grain and straw yields were significantly higher when fertilizer was applied. In spite of that performance of the barley crop varied over the years due to the seasonal variations of rainfall and climate. Residual effect of a one year fallow on the barley grain and straw yield was not statistically significant except for the straw yield under unfertilized condition. Grain and straw yields were lower on plots of Rhodes grass followed by the control while it was higher on plots of Colored Guinea and Phalaris plots. The over all average grain and straw yield of barley planted after two years fallowing period established in pure stands and by intercropping with barley was generally low compared to the other cropping years. In spite of that the residual effects of grass species showed highly significant differences. Where Rhodes grass had resulted in lower barley yield while Colored Guinea and Phalaris gave higher yields similar to the oneyear fallow. The residual effect of the grasses stayed for three years and fertilizer levels were very similar to the one and two years fallowing period. Increased in barley grain yields after Colored Guinea and Phalaris grasses might be due to improvement in soil conditions. Simpson (1961) reported that deep rooting grasses pump up N, P and K from subsoil resources to be deposited ultimately in the upper soil. N accumulation under grass, unlike under legumes, is accompanied by an increase in pH due to upward transfer of subsoil cations and nitrate. By contrast continuous cropping decreases pH (Stephens, 1969). Foster (1971) in his study on the effect of Napier grass leys used for grazing and cut and removed on the following crop yields indicated that maize and beans yields were increased compared to continuous cropping. The increased yield could also partly be attributed due to the reductions in the incidences of pests, diseases and weeds where their life cycles are usually broken by the grass pastures (Bonnman, 1997) The depressing effect of Rhodes grass could be explained due to the shorter fallowing period under pasture. It was produced high amount of forage, which requires high amount of nutrients and hence may exhaust the nutrients in the soil very fast. Bonnman (1997) suggested that the crop: pasture duration ratio is to be chosen for balancing costs against benefits. In a study on the effectiveness of grasses and dicots to interrupt yield depression Paul et al (1997) conclude that the closely related grasses such as sorghum and Sudan grass were relatively ineffective rotation crops for corn Generally the trend showed that Colored Guinea and Phalaris grasses had improved the barley grain and straw yields compared to the control. However, the high forage producing Rhodes grass had depressed the performance of barley especially on shorter fallowing periods. Both establishment methods were shown similar trends and effects on the subsequent barley crop. The results of this experiment strongly justified that one year fallowing should be made if the grasses are established by intercropping from a point of view of acquiring adequate amount of forage and protect the soil from erosion than pure stands. The total yield advantage of grasses established in pure stands was not beneficial due to very short growing period and very slow growth. Hence if pure stand establishment of forages is required in a one-year fallow very productive annual legumes such as vetch or grasses like oats or their mixtures are advisable. Moreover, one should consider the over all biological productivity of the land rather than analyzing the level and effect of each grass on the barley grain yield per se. Seasonal yield variation of barley crop could be attributed by many biotic and abiotic factors. The greatest advantage of residual effects of the grasses is especially in low input farming and on poorer soils. Including a grass pasture phase within the rotation is an easier way to replenish the soil with organic matter. Immediate benefits, easier and appropriate options are understandably more convincing especially to smallholder farmers. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 261 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production References Boonman J.G. 1993. East African grasses and fodders: Their ecology and husbandry. Kluwer Academic Publisher. The Netherlands. Boonman J.G. 1997. Farmers’ success with tropical grasses: Crop-pasture rotations in mixed farming in East Africa. Netherlands Development Assistance (NEDA) The Hague. The Netherlands. Chilot Yirga and Mohammed Hassen. 2001. Crop livestock farming systems in the highlands of Ethiopia: Smallholder farmers management practices and constraints. In Wall P.C. (ed). Wheat and weeds: Food and feed. Proceedings of two stakeholders workshops. Santa Cruz, Bolivia, CIMMYT pp 145-165 Crowder and Chheda. 1982. Tropical grassland husbandry. Longman Inc. New York USA. Dobereiner, Johanna, J.M. Day and P.J. Dart. 1972. Nitrogenous activity and oxygen sensitivity of the Pspalum notatum Azotobactor paspali complex. J. gen. microbiol. 71:103-116 Foster. H.L 1971.Crop yields after different elephant grass ley treatments at Kawanda Research Station, Uganda East Africa. Agric. For. J 37:63-72 Getnet Assefa, Abreham Gebeyehu, Fekede Feyissa and Tadesse Tekletsadik. 2002 . On-farm performance of forage crops and assessment of natural pasture productivity in west Shewa zone. Proceedings of a workshop on client oriented research (Oct 16-18, 2001), Holetta Research Center, Ethiopia Lulseged Gebrehiwot, Gebremedhin Hagos and Tadesse Tekletsadik.1987. Undersowing of forage crops in cereals some achievements. Proceedings of the first National Livestock Improvement Conference (NLIC). Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Lulseged Gebrehiwot, McGraw R.L and Getnet Assefa. 1997. Dry matter yield and forage quality of perennial grasses interseeded with annual legumes in the tropical highlands of Ethiopia. Trop. Agric. (Trinidad) 74(3): 173-179 SAS Institute Inc. 1996. SAS/STAT Users Guide, Release 6.12. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute Inc. Cary, NC, USA Seitzer J.L., M.J. Butt and H.A. Mulamula. 1970. Fertilizer response to wheat in Kenya. East Afr. Agric. For. J. 36: 131138 Simpson J.R. 1961. The effects of several agricultural treatments on the nitrogen status of a red earth in Uganda. East Afri. Agric. For. J. 28: 158-163 Stephen D. 1969. The effects of fertilizer manure and trace elements in continuous cropping rotations in Southern and Western Uganda. East Afri. Agric. For. J. 34: 401-417 Table 1. Effect of establishment methods of grasses by intercropping with barley and in pure stands on croplands to be fallowed in the following year(s) on grass dry matter (DM) forage and barley (grain and straw) yields (t ha-1) during the establishment year. Grass intercropped with barley (Jun-Dec) Fertilizer Treatments Barley Grain F1 F0 Mean LSD (0.05) Straw Pure stand grasses (Jun-Dec) Grass Grass H#1 H#1 Control (Pure barley) 1.91 2.04 - Phalaris 1.96 2.52 0.16 Rhodes 2.39 2.02 0.50 2.34a Colored Guinea 2.06 1.96 0.23 0.92b 1.12b1 Control (Pure barley) 1.92 2.43 - - Phalaris 1.60 1.89 0.03b 0.71b 1.86a Rhodes 1.98 2.07 0.13a Colored Guinea 1.99 2.22 0.03b 0.85ab F1 2.08 2.14 0.30 1.46 F0 1.87 2.15 0.06 1.14 F1 0.87 1.47 0.50 0.61 F0 1.01 1.44 0.05 1.14 H#1 - the first harvest of grasses, F1 – 41/46 N/P2O5 kg ha-1 fertilizers for barley and F0 – Zero fertilizer level 1 - DM forage yield means within a column and fertilizer level with different letters are significantly different 262 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Table 2. Average dry matter (DM) forage yield (t ha-1) of grasses during the fallowing period when established by intercropping with barley (for one year fallow) and in pure stands (for two years fallow) after establishment at Holetta. Fertilizer Treatments Intercropped with barley in the first year One year fallow H#2 Jun F1 F0 Mean LSD (.05) Control H#3 Aug f H#4 Jan f Pure stand Two years fallow Total H#5 Apr f H#3 Aug H#2 Jun f Total H#4 Jan H#5 Apr f f f f * 5.36 1.88b 0.14c 7.38 10.40 3.05 4.80 3.33a 1.05a 12.23 7.26 3.84 5.24 2.72ab 0.50b 12.30 f f f f 1.17 * 3.32b 2.82 0.20c 6.34 7.61 2.13 4.52ab 3.45 1.28a 11.38 Phalaris * 0.15b1 1.05b 0.12c 3.32 Rhodes 1.42 4.97a 2.82a 1.19a Colored Guinea 1.29 3.93a 1.59ab 0.45b Control f f f f Phalaris * 0.45b 0.39b 0.33b Rhodes 0.76 2.46a 2.94a 1.45a Colored Guinea 0.45 2.83a 1.94a 0.56b 5.78 2.34 5.11a 3.20 0.62b 11.27 F1 1.36 3.68 1.82 0.59 7.45 3.45 5.13 2.64 0.56 11.78 F0 0.60 1.91 1.76 0.78 5.05 2.24 4.32 3.16 0.70 10.42 F1 1.38 1.33 1.30 0.20 2.92 1.49 1.38 0.21 F0 0.44 1.20 1.45 0.76 0.82 1.41 1.02 0.31 H#2-5 - second to fifth harvest of grasses, *= no harvestable forage yield, f –natural fallow F1 – 41/46 N/P2O5 kg ha-1 fertilizers for barley and F0 – Zero fertilizer level 1 - DM forage yield means within a column and fertilizer level with different letters are significantly different Table 3Average dry matter (DM) forage yield (t ha-1) of grasses during the fallowing period when established by intercropping with barley (on two year fallow) and in pure stands (on three year fallow) after establishment at Holetta. Fertilizer Treatments Intercropped with barley in the first year Two years fallow H#2 Jun F1 F0 Mean LSD (.05) H#3 Aug H#4 Jan H#5 Apr Pure stand Three years fallow Total H#6 Dec H#2 Jun Control f f f f f Phalaris * 0.94b1 0.71b 0.93b 1.30 3.32 Rhodes 1.63 4.57a 2.95a 4.17a 2.01 10.40 Colored Guinea 1.75 4.61a 2.45a 4.77a 1.43 7.26 Control f f f f f Phalaris * 1.10b 1.09b 1.63b 2.01 Rhodes 1.42a 3.62a 3.28a 4.18a 2.18 H#3 Aug H#4 Jan Total H#5 Apr H#6 Dec f f f f f * 3.71b 1.73b 2.69b 1.72 7.38 3.81 .51ab 3.50a 4.18ab 2.24 12.23 4.07 6.23a .56ab 5.51a 1.82 12.30 f f f f f 1.17 * 4.28 2.91b 4.07b 1.94ab 6.34 7.61 2.34b 4.45 3.78a 3.76b 2.42a 11.38 Colored Guinea 0.72b 3.44a 2.46a 4.92a 1.73 5.78 3.09a 4.34 3.20b 5.25a 1.70b 11.27 F1 1.69 3.37 2.03 3.29 1.58 7.45 3.94 5.15 2.60 4.12 1.93 11.78 F0 1.07 2.72 2.28 3.58 1.97 5.05 2.72 4.36 3.30 4.36 2.02 10.42 F1 1.46 1.61 1.39 1.37 1.03 1.84 2.25 1.24 2.05 1.23 F0 0.56 1.89 2.06 2.18 1.38 0.48 2.18 0.49 0.90 0.65 H#2-6 - second to the sixth harvest of grasses, *- no harvestable forage yield, f – natural fallow F1 – 41/46 N/P2O5 kg ha-1 fertilizers for barley and F0 – Zero fertilizer level 1 - DM forage yield means within a column and fertilizer level with different letters are significantly different Table 4.Effect of different grass species established by intercropping with barley and in pure stands on fallow lands for one, two and three years on the subsequent barley grain and straw yields (t ha-1) at Holetta. Intercropped One year Pure Two years Intercropped Two years Pure Three years Fertilizer Treatments Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw Grain Straw F1 Control 0.88 1.81 0.88c1 1.22b 2.41ab 4.35 2.00b 3.06b Phalaris 1.20 2.41 1.67a 3.15a 2.35ab 3.40 2.98a 4.15a Rhodes 0.78 2.20 0.92bc 2.46a 1.74b 3.39 1.90b 3.40ab Colored Guinea 1.22 2.34 1.55ab 2.91a 2.56a 4.30 2.42ab 3.61ab Control 0.47 1.13ab 0.37b 0.59c 1.82a 2.62b 1.63a 2.58b Phalaris 0.60 1.23ab 1.21a 2.21a 1.52ab 2.74ab 1.96a 2.75ab Rhodes 0.23 0.65b 0.15b 0.72bc 1.04b 2.23bc 1.00b 1.98b Colored Guinea 0.54 1.34a 0.71ba 1.60ab 2.02a 3.32a 1.90a 2.76a F0 Mean LSD(.05) F1 1.02 2.19 1.26 2.44 2.40 3.86 2.57 3.88 F0 0.46 1.09 0.61 1.28 1.62 2.73 1.70 2.53 F1 0.59 0.93 0.66 0.76 0.68 1.70 0.70 0.76 F0 0.42 0.62 0.76 0.98 0.52 0.68 0.68 0.77 F1 – 41/46 N/P2O5 kg ha-1 fertilizers for barley and F0 – Zero fertilizer level, Control – Natural fallow 1 – Grain and straw yield means within a column and fertilizer level with different letters are significantly different 10th ESAP-Proceedings 263 Potential of forages legumes to replace the traditional fallow-barley rotation system in the cool - high land of bale Teshome Abate, Tekleyohannes Berhanu, Solomon Bogale and Dagnachew Worku Oromia Agricultural Research Institute Sinana Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box 208, Bale-Robe Abstract The study was conducted in between 1997 - 2000 at upper Dinsho (3125ma.s.l) in cool Bale high lands to assess the potential of forage legumes-barley rotation systems. Two forage legumes (vetch and Snail medics) were planted in 1997/98 and 1998/99 including, barley with and with out fertilizer as a first phase rotation crop. A fallow plot was also taken as a control. In 1998/99 and 1999/2000, the local barley ’falibaye’ was sown on the fallow and on all plots which were under the precursor crops (Vetch, Snail Medics, barley with and without fertiliser, and fallow) in 1997/98 and 1998/99. Result indicated that both forage legumes (vetch and snail medics) successfully established and gave mean dry matter yield of 2.0 and 0.7t/ha, respectively. There was significant (P<0.05) variation in barley grain and straw yield due to the effect of the first phase rotation crops. The combined analysis of the two years indicate that barley grain and straw yield increased by 30.29 and 27.38 % over the fallow, respectively, in vetchbarley rotation system. Barley grain and straw yields were also relatively higher in medics-barley and fallow-barley rotation system than after the barley- barley rotation systems. Therefore, forage legumes such as vetch and snail medics have the potential to replace the traditional fallow rotation system in the cool highlands of Bale. Introduction Livestock production in highlands of Bale is mainly dependent on communal grasslands, weedy fallow and crop residues. These feeds resources are generally low in quality and quantity as a result livestock production like milk, meat are poor (Tekeleyohannes and Worku, 2000). On the other hand, farmers particularly at Upper Dinsho district practice fallowing land to restore soil fertility. According to Bekele et al.(1998), in this area barley is a sole subsistence crop primarily produced by small holder farmers under low input management . Barley fields are fallowed to maintain soil fertility every other year. One of the strategies for solving feed inadequacy and soils fertility maintenance through integration of forage crops with food crops. Therefor, introduction of forage legumes into the existing barley based cropping system would provide an opportunity to substitute the fallow lands and to produce more quality feed and also accelerate fertility building through nitrogen fixation and decomposition of the leguminous root (Nnadi and Haque, 1996). Several improved forage crops have been tested at upper Dinsho among which vetch and snail medics are productive and well adapted. The objective of the study was to assess the potential of forage legume to replace the traditional fallowbarley rotation system in the cool highlands of Bale. Material and methods The experiment was undertaken for three years from 1997/98 to1999/2000 at Upper Dinsho (3120 ma.s.l) in the cool highlands of Bale. According to Bekele et al. (1998), the area is characterised by cool or Dega type of climate (65%), 1200-1300mm of rainfall per annum, the absolute maximum temperature is below 20°c. The soil type is clay- loam with vertic property. The first experimental phase of the precursor treatments was conducted from May to December, 1997/98 while the second phase of the precursor treatments was undertaken at the same time in 1998/99. The precursor treatments were vetch (Vicia dasycarpa), snail medics (Medicago scutellata), and barley with fertiliser, barley with out fertiliser application and fallow (control plot). Two annual forage legumes vetch and medics, and barley (under fertiliser and with out fertiliser) were planted as precursor crops leaving a fallow plot as a control in 1997/98 and 1998/99. Ethiopian Society of Animal Production The local barley cultivar ‘falibaye’ was planted on May 18, 1998 and May 14, 1999 on all plots which were under precursor treatments in 1997/98 and 1998/99 respectively. The trial site was cultivated three times with local ox-plow ”marasha” prior to sowing. The plot size was x 5m,and laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Sowing method was broadcasting using seed rate of 30, 15, and 100 kg/ha of Vetch, Medics and Barley, respectively. The fertilized barley plots received 100 kg/ha DAP and 50 kg/ha Urea. Fertilizer was not applied for the rest of the year or after the precursor treatment phases. Weeding was done once for all seasons as the same as farmers’ practice. Data on barley grain and straw yield, legumes dry matter yield and agronomic parameters were recorded for analysis from the net plot of 3m x 3m. All data were subjected to analysis of variance using MSTAT-C software, and means were separating using the LSD test. Result and Discussion Two Precursor treatments of forage legumes vetch and medics were harvested in October for both years 1998 and 1999. Yield and other agronomic parameters of precursor treatments were presented in (Table1). Forages were successfully established during experimental periods. Mean dry matter yields of forage legumes (vetch and medics) were 2.0 and 0.7t/ha respectively. Plot cover and canopy height for vetch was relatively better than medics (Table1), due to vigorous growth habit of vetch which has implication for erosion minmization and weed competitiveness. Subsequent harvests of barley first and second phases were done in December 1999 and 2000 for 1997/98 and 1998/99 precursor treatments, respectively. The effect of precursor treatments on barley grain, straw yield and other agronomic parameters were presented in (Table 3&4). Analysis of variance showed that barely grain and straw yield was significantly higher (P<0.05) in 1999/2000 than 1998/99 cropping seasons as shown in the (Table 3). This was perhaps due to the waterlogging problem at the early stage that might create a difficulty in soil aeration and nutrient absorption might account for reduction grain and straw yields and moisture stress during the late growing period of the crops in 1998/99 cropping year. In both years barley grain and straw yields responded significantly (p<0.05) to the precursor crops effects in the respective preceding years, except straw yield in1998/99. On the first phase of forage legumes - barley rotation study (1998/99), grain yield of barley after vetch (8.4 q/ha) was significantly (p< 0.05) higher than barley after fertilised barley (6.7 q/ha) or barley after unfertilised barley (5.5 q/ha) and barley after medics (6.67). But there was no significant (P>0.05) grain yield difference between vetch and fallow (8.2q/ha) precursor treatments. On the second phase of forage legumes - barley rotation study (1999/2000) barley after vetch (25.4t/ha) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than barley after fallow, medics and barley with and with out fertiliser application treatment with mean yield of 15.4, 19.9, 12.4 and 15.2 t/ha respectively (Table 3). Combine analysis of variance revealed that barley grain and straw yield was significantly difference at (P<0.05) among the treatments. The highest barley grain and straw yield was recorded in barley after vetch treatment with mean grain yield of 16.9q/ha&5.56 t/ha respectively, followed by snail medics with mean yield of 13.3 q/ha & 4.24 t/ha. While the lowest yield was obtain after barley fertiliser application treatment with mean grain and straw yield of 9.55 q/ha & 3.44t/ ha (Table3). Adamu (1991) also reported the highest barley grain and straw yields after vetch precursor treatments for the work done at Sheno. Result indicated that barley grain and straw yield after fallow was comparably higher than barley with and without fertiliser application treatments. In precursor treatment barley grain and straw yield with fertiliser application treatment significantly higher than (P<0.05) barley with out fertiliser with mean grain and straw yield of 19.0,11.5 q/ha and 8.4, 6.0 t/ha, respectively (Table2). Most of the barley agronomic parameters such as spike length, seed per spike, plot cover, were not significantly (p >0.05) affected by the precursor treatments except plant height and thousand-kernel weight (Table4). Generally the performance of barley agronomic parameters were higher for forage 266 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use legumes plots than plots previously fertilised or unfertilised. The over all result of the experiment indicated that vetch-barley rotation system, increased grain and straw yields of barley by 30.3% and 27.38% respectively over the fallowing system (control plots). This revealed the contribution of forage legumes to the yield of subsequent cereal crops which is in line with Zewdu Yilma and Tanner (1996). In all agronomic and yield parameters measured, higher results were obtained after forage precursor crops especially for Vetch. This was due to leguminous nature of Vetch as well as Medics and their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, maintain soil organic matter and improve physical condition of the soil (ICARDA, 1997; Zewdu Yilma and Tanner, 1996) than when the land left fallow or mono-cropping effects. Hence, fallowing of land favours soil erosion, invasion of unwanted weeds and occurrence of crop diseases. Conclusion According to the result obtained planting of forage legumes as a precursor crop in rotation with barley increased barley grain and straw yield when compared to the fallowing practice. Therefore, forage legumes such as vetch and snail medics have the potential to replace the traditional fallow barley rotation system in the cool highlands of Bale. Acknowledgement The authors would like to thank Mr. Gulilat Jara, Mr. Tesfaye Dhaqaba, and Mr. Feseha Siyoum for their assistance during the trials. References Adamu Molla.1991.Effect of preceding crops and N, P fertilizer on barley yield in North eastern Ethiopia. Rachis: Barley and wheat newsletters10 (2), ICARDA. Bekele Hundie, Worku Jima, Feyisa Tadase, Mulugrta Amsalu, Mengistu Yadesa and Arfasa Kiros (1998). The Dinsho farming system of Bale Highlands. In Chilot Yirga, Fikadu Alemayehu and Woldeyesus Sinebo (eds.). Barley- based farming system in the highlands of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organisation, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 117pp. ICARDA, (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas) Germplasm Legume Program Annual Report.1997. 241pp Nnadi, L.A and Haque, I. 1986. Forage legume-cereal systems: Improvement of soil fertility and agricultural production with special reference to sub-saharan Africa. In: Hailu Gebre and Joop van Leur (eds.). Potentials of forage legumes in farming systems of sub-saharan Africa. proceedings of a workshop held at ILCA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 16-19 September 1985.ILCA, Addis Ababa. Tekelyohannes Berhanu and Worku Jima, 2000. The effect of undersowing barley with forage legumes on grain and straw yields of barley and herbage yield of forage legumes in the high lands of Bale. ESAP (Ethiopia Society of Animal Production). 2000. Livestock Production and the enviroment-implications for sustainable livelihoods. Proceedings of the 7th annual conference of Ethiopia Society of Animal Production (ESAP) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26-27 may 1999. ESAP (Ethiopia Society of Animal Production), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.442pp. Zewdu yielma and D.G. Tanner, 1996. An evaluation of double cropping of forage legumes and bread wheat in Bale Region of Southeastern Ethiopia. In: Tanner, D.G., Payne, T.S., and Abdalla, O.S. eds.1996. The Ninth Regional Wheat Workshop for Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: CIMMYT. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 267 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 1. Dry matter yield (t/ha) and agronomic parameters of forage legumes used in the forage legumes -barley rotation system at upper Dinsho district (3125 ma.s.l) in 1997/98and 1998/99 years. Types of forage DM Yield ( t/ha ) Canopy height (cm) 1997/98 1998/99 Mean V. dasycarpa 1.284 2.74 2.0 Medicago scutellata 0.896 0.42 0.7 Mean 1.09 1.58 1997/98 Plot cover % 1998/99 mean 1997/98 1998/99 mean 77.7 103.4 90.5 76.0 80.0 78.0 26.0 36.0 31.0 50.0 36.0 44.0 54.6 69.7 63.4 58 Table 2. Grain (q/ha) and straw (t/ha) yield of barley planted as first rotation crops at upper Dinsho district (3125 ma.s.l) in 1997/98and 1998/99 years. 1997/98 Precursor Crops Barley with Fertilizer application 1998/99 Mean GY SY GY SY 24.5 10.3 13.9 6.5 GY SY 19.0 8.4 Barley with out Fertilizer application 14.0 6.7 8.9 5.4 11.5 6.0 Mean 19.25 8.5 11.4 5.95 15.25 7.2 LSD5% * * NS * * * Fertilazer =(100 DAP & 50 kg Urea): GY = Grain Yield; SY = Straw Yield ; LSD = Least Significant Difference; NS = Non Significant, * = P<0.05, Means within the column followed by the same letter or by no letter do not differ significantly at the 5% level of LSD test. Table 3. Grain (q/ha) and straw (t/ha) yield of barley under different crop rotation systems at upper Dinsho district (3125m a.s.l) in 1998/99 and 1999/2000 years. 1998/99 Rotation Systems 1999/2000 Mean GY SY GY SY GY SY Barley 8.18ab 2.62 15.39 c 5.44 b 11.78 bc 4.03 b Barley F1- Barley 6.70 bc 2.69 12.40 c 4.18b 9.55 d 3.44 b Barley F0 - Barley 5.45 c 2.05 15.21 c 5.24 b 10.33 cd 3.65 b Vetch- 5.56 a Fallow- Barley 8.42 a 3.13 25.39 a 7.98 a 16.91 a Snail medics- Barley 6.67bc 2.90 19.93b 5.57b 13.30 b 4.24 b Mean 7.08 2.68 17.66 5.68 12.37 4.18 9.4 14.15 10.75 15.93 CV 12.49 LSD 5% 18.28 1.666 NS 3.125 1.514 1.628 0.8146 GY = Grain Yield; SY = Straw Yield; LSD= Least Significant Difference; NS = Non Significant at 5%, CV = Coefficient of Variation. Barley F1=Barley with Fertiliser (100 DAP & 50 kg Urea): Barley F0= Barley without Fertiliser application Means within the column followed by the same letter or by no letter do not differ significantly at the 5% level of LSD test. Table 4. Agronomic parameters of barley under different crop rotation systems at upper Dinsho district (3125 ma.s.l) in 1998/99 and 1999/2000 years. 1998/99 Rotation systems PH (cm) SL (cm) 1999/2000 S/S PC% TK W (gm) PH (cm) SL (cm) S/S Mean PC % TKW (gm) PH (cm) SL (cm) S/S PC% TKW (gm) Fallow- Barley 84.9 6.13 40.67 89.67 23.33 96.33b 5.67 39.3 3 78.33b 38.23a 90.6b 5.9 40 84 30.8a Barley F1-Barley 81.57 6.23 44.23 87.50 22.33 91.00b 5.97 51.0 0 71.67b 33.73b 86.3b 6.1 47.6 79.6 28.03b Barley F0- Barley 80.23 6.00 45.47 83.50 21.33 96.67b 6.63 52.0 0 80.00b 33.27b 88.5b 6.3 48.7 81.8 27.3b Vetch- Barley 91.8 5.93 46.00 80.00 21.67 114.00 6.63 50.3 3 93.33a 35.07b 102.9a 6.3 48.2 86.7 28.4b 6.17 46.3 3 91.67a 34.50b 98.1a 6.1 48.6 85.3 28.9ab 101.67 6.21 47.7 1 83 34.96 93.3 6.1 46.6 83.5 28.68 a Snail medics- Barley 85.90 6.03 50.80 78.83 23.33 110.33 a Mean 84.88 6.06 45.43 83.90 22.30 CV 6.95 2.74 9.22 7.00 7.56 6.01 7.79 9.99 7.46 4.28 6.33 6.02 9.96 7.23 5.57 LSD5% NS NS NS NS NS 11.51 NS NS 11.66 2.814 7.221 NS NS NS 1.954 PH = Plant height; SL = Spike Length; SS = Seeds per spike; PC = Plot cover; TKW = Thousand Kernel Weight CV = Coefficient of Variation; LSD = Least Significant Difference; NS = Non Significant; * = significant; Barley F1=Barley with Fertilazer =(100 DAP & 50 kg Urea): Barley F0= Barley without Fertiliser application Means within the column followed by the same letter or by no letter do not differ significantly at the 5% level of LSD test. 268 10th ESAP-Proceedings Effects of intra-row spacing and cutting height of Calliandra calothyrsus on maize grain yield in alley cropping system Abebe Yadessa Bako Agricultural Research Center, Forestry Research /Agroforestry Research Division P.O. Box 03, Bako, Oromia, Ethiopia. Abstract A field experiment on Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner alley cropped with maize was conducted for four cropping seasons (1997/98 – 2000/01) at Bako Agricultural Research Center in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to assess the effects of intra-row spacing and cutting height of C. calothyrsus on maize grain yield in alley cropping system, and also to estimate the effect of alley cropping on maize yield in comparison to maize yield under no hedge-plot. Three intra-row spacings (25, 50, and 75 cm) were combined with four cutting heights (25, 50, 75 and 100 cm) factorially in randomized complete block design (RCBD) plus control (no hedge) plot with three replications. Results showed that the grain yield of maize was significantly (p=0.05) affected by intra-row spacing, but not by cutting height. The interaction between intra-row spacing and cutting height was not significant. Wider spacing gave higher maize grain yield, which might be due to less competition with maize as compared to those closely planted ones. On the other hand, the non-significant effect of hedge cutting height on maize yield might be due to systematic hedge pruning; that is, totally leaving the hedge intact during off-season but carefully monitoring it during the growing season to minimize the shading problem. This suggests the need for giving more attention to Calliandra planting space than its cutting height. Combined across years, maize grain yield showed significant (p=0.001) variation; it was lower at the beginning and the end of the experimental period, higher during the second and third years. But the interaction between treatments and year was not significant. Although it was generally low, the yield under alley cropping was not significantly different when compared with no-hedge plot, indicating that the wood obtained from Calliandra hedge was additional benefit resulting in better overall production efficiency the system. The low yield obtained in this finding could be attributed to lower biomass from hedges and lack of some inorganic fertilizer to supplement the tree biomass. There is a case for integrated nutrient management study (prunings together with some inorganic fertilizer) for sustaining maize production in the area. Key words: Calliandra, cutting height, intra-row spacing, Kulani. Introduction Farming systems in most African countries are under serious threat due to increasing population growth and environmental degradation. These difficulties have highlighted the need to take an overall view of land management that is not limited only to livestock and crop production systems but also includes the need to conserve natural resources on which production is based (CTA, 1994). Alley cropping is one of such farming systems that combine production with conservation of natural resources, and it holds promise for sustainable crop production. It is an intercropping system in which arable crops are grown in between hedgerows of planted trees which are usually leguminous (Karim et al, 1993). The hedges are pruned regularly to prevent excessive shading to the companion crop and the prunings are used as green manure (Kang et al, 1984). It is about integrating multipurpose tree species like Calliandra into existing land use systems so as to improve soil fertility, fodder quality, and wood availability and make food production sustainable from both environmental and economic standpoints. Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner is a small leguminous browse species native to Central America and Mexico (Macqueen, 1991). It is a versatile tree species currently receiving international attention because of its multiple values. The species has the capacity to biologically fix free atmospheric nitrogen and hence provides nitrogenous fertilizer for the companion food crop production and quality fodder for livestock production. In addition, it has good coppicing ability, rapid growth, dense foliage and deep root system, and hence particularly suitable for erosion control and for rejuvenating degraded soils (Tomaneng, 1990). Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Calliandra foliage can be used either as fodder (animal feed) for livestock production or as green manure (soil ameliorant) for crop production. To exploit the potential of this species as animal feed, the Animal Feeds and Nutrition Research Division at Bako Agricultural Research Center has been doing research on Calliandra and tested its potential for this purpose (Diriba et al, 2001). But its potential for soil improvement and enhancing crop production including in alley cropping has not been assessed so far in the area, and currently the Agroforestry Research Division at Bako is conducting trials to address the research gap in this area. In species selection trial conducted at Bako for about four years, this multipurpose tree species showed an impressive growth performance (Abebe et al, 2000). Concerted research effort on the spacing and cutting height was not conducted on this important species. Specing and cutting height are very important management techniques by which woody perennials are manipulated in alley cropping in order to harmonize the interaction between the woody and non-woody components of the system. The objective of this study is therefore to assess the effect intra-row spacing and cutting height of C. calothyrsus on maize yield in alley cropping system, and also to estimate the effect of alley cropping on maize yield under Bako site conditions. Materials and methods Site characteristics The study was conducted at Bako Agricultural Research Center in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, located at about 9o07' N latitude and 37o05' E longitude. The area is mid-altitude, sub-humid with unimodal rainfall pattern (Figure 1) experiencing an average annual rainfall of 1270 mm and an average annual temperature of 21oC, with the maximum and minimum values of 28oC and 13oC, respectively. 300 24 250 23 22 200 21 150 20 100 19 50 18 0 Temperature, Oc Rainfall (mm) (c). Long-term rainfall and temperature data 17 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Rainfall Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Temperature Figure 1. Mean monthly rainfall and mean monthly temperature of Bako area The topography of the area ranges from gently undulating to dissected hills, and the geology is characterized by Tertiary and Quaternary age rhyolite and basalt volcanics (MoWR, 1996). Soils are dominantly reddish brown Nitosols and generally clay dominated and characterized by low available phosphorus, with pH of 5-6 in surface soils (Legesse et al, 1987; Abebe, 1998). Some properties of the soil at Bako Agroforestry Research Site is shown in Table 1. Experimental design and data analysis Intra-row spacing (spacing between plants) and pruning height were the experimental treatments. The intra-row spacing had three levels (25, 50 and 75 cm) and pruning height four levels (25, 50, 75 and 100 cm), and they were arranged in 3x4 factorial set of treatments in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications plus a control plot (no hedge). The intercropped maize variety was Kulani, a popularly used open pollinated variety at Bako. Plot size was 7 mx12 m (gross) and 6 mx12 m (net). The hedge width was 6 m. Maize was planted at spacing of 0.25 m between plants and at 0.75 m between rows. 270 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use The data were subjected to the general linear model analysis of variance using MSTAT-C and SPSS computer software programs. All comparisons of treatment means were made at P<0.05 level of significance using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT). And at the end, yield data under alley cropped plots were pooled and compared with that of the control plot to estimate the effect of alley cropping on maize yield. Table 1. Some physical and chemical properties of the topsoil (0-15 cm) at Bako Agroforestry Research site. Soil property † Mean Standard deviation Minimum Maximum Organic carbon, % 2.294 0.693 2.254 2.374 Total nitrogen, % 0.159 0.0404 0.154 0.161 Available P, ppm 2.353 0.257 2.06 2.54 pH 5.36 0.3204 5.10 5.72 CEC, meq/100 gm 18.4 0.6928 17.6 18.8 Base saturation, meq/100 gm 47.33 6.807 42 55 Clay, % 47.33 4.163 44 52 Silt, % 18.67 3.055 16 22 Sand, % 34 3.464 32 38 CEC = Cation exchange capacity † These values are only for control plots, and are averages of three samples Source: Abebe et al (in press) Results and Discussion Results showed that maize grain yield was significantly (p<0.05) affected by Calliandra intra-row spacing (Figure 2), but not affected by its cutting height (Figure 3). The interaction between intra-row spacing and cutting height was also not significant; that is, the effect of intra-row spacing did not depend on the cutting height. Thus, both factors can be considered separately. Effect of intra-row spacing Higher intra-spacing of Calliandra plants within hedgerow gave significantly higher maize yield. This may be because once planted, the influence of spacing can't be changed and difficult to manage as opposed to that of the cutting height, which can be managed by devising systematic pruning cycle. As a result, the closely spaced plants might have competed more for growth resources with maize than those widely spaced ones even though closely spaced Calliandra plants gave relatively higher biomass for soil amelioration. This shows that the competition for resources due to closer planting of Calliandra was more important for maize than the advantage of getting higher mulch/green manure from closely spaced Calliandra plants. This argument is also supported by weak and non-significant correlation between maize grain yield and Calliandra foliar biomass yield. 2000 Maize grain yield, kg/ha 1750 1500 1250 1000 750 500 25 50 75 Intra-row spacing (cm) Figure 2. Maize grain yield as influenced by intra-row spacing. Mitiku and Abdu (1995) also reported significant effect of intra-row spacing on sorghum yield in Hararghe, Ethiopia, which is in agreement with this study. But study by Karim et al (1993) indicated that maize grain yield was not significantly affected by alley width, nor by intra-row spacing or by their interaction. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 271 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production 2000 Maize grain yield, kg/ha 1750 1500 1250 1000 750 500 25 50 75 100 Cutting height (cm) Figure 3. Maize grain yield as influenced by hedgerow cutting height. Effect of cutting height Though not statistically significant, sorghum yield was higher when lower pruning height was used, and vice versa (Figure 3). The probable reason for the non-significant effect of cutting height on maize yield may be due to systematic hedge pruning regime practiced during the experimental period. The Calliandra hedges were totally left intact during off-season (when maize was not in the field) but carefully monitored during the growing season (when maize was in the field) to minimize the shading effect of the hedge on maize crop. This scenario might have masked the effect of cutting height on maize yield obtained in this study even though increasing the cutting height normally increases the shading problem on food crops Therefore, intra-row spacing of C. calothyrsus is more important management factor deserving due consideration than the cutting height for maize production in alley cropping system at Bako. Brook (2000) also recommend that pruning cycles should be timed to minimize shading effect on the sweet potato, and this conforms with the present finding. Alley cropping versus monocropping Generally, maize yield was low as compared to what was previously reported under monocropping system where fully recommended inorganic fertilizer rate normally used (Benti et al, 1993). But compared with local check (where no Calliandra hedges), maize yield under alley cropping (under Calliandra hedge) could not differ significantly (Figure 4). This indicates that the fuel wood obtained from alley cropping is additional benefit of the hedges without adversely affecting maize yield as compared with that of the control plot. This agrees with the results reported by Mitiku and Abdu (1995) in Hararghe and Kidane et al (1989) at Melkassa and Sirinka areas. Another study by Dhayni and Tripathi (1999) agrees with the present finding. But Okorio et al (1994) report that in most cases trees tend to negatively affect the growth and consequently the yield of crops grown in association with them. The low maize yield could be attributed to lower biomass from hedges, wildlife pressure on the trial and lack of some inorganic fertilizer to supplement the tree biomass. When combined across years, maize yield was significantly (p < 0.001) varied, but the interaction between treatments and year was not significant (Figure 5). Maize yield was lower during the first (1393.67 kg/ha) and fourth (989.91 kg/ha) years of the experimental period, but higher during the second (2374.16 kg/ha) and the third (2485.41 kg/ha) years. It exhibited an increasing trend up to third year, and started to decline thereafter. This may be because during the first year, the hedgerow was at establishment stage and it might have contributed no or little biomass for the soil. After two or three years, the biomass from Calliandra hedge might have contributed for higher maize yield, but thereafter aging of stumps probably have reduced the biomass production and consequently lowered maize yield together with the ill-effects of cropping maize after maize for four years continuously without any crop rotation. The alley cropping results suggest that the prunings from trees alone might not sustain maize production, and there might be a need for supplementing the Calliandra prunings with some amounts of inorganic 272 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use fertilizer, notably at the beginning and after some years of hedges establishment (Figure 4). Thus the need for integrated nutrient management deserves due consideration in the future. 3000 Maize grain yield, kg/ha 2500 2000 1500 1000 Cropping system 500 Monocropping-control Alley cropping 0 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 Figure 4. Maize yield as influenced by cropping system 3000 Maize grain yield, kg/ha 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 Figure 5. Maize grain yield as influenced by cropping season Conclusion Although hedge-row cutting height could not significantly affect maize grain yield, intra-row spacing significantly affected maize yield. Higher intra-row spacing of Calliandra plants within a hedge gave better maize yield. If the cutting cycle is systematically planned, the problem of shading on maize yield by hedgerow heights can be minimized. Thus, intra-row spacing is more important silvicultural management factor for Calliandra in alley cropping system than that of cutting height under Bako site condition. As maize yield under alley cropping was not significantly lower than the control plot (no hedge), the wood obtained from Calliandra hedge was additional benefit, and this resulted in better overall production efficiency of 'tree + crop' situation (alley cropping) compared to 'tree only' situation (monocropping). Maize yield showed an increasing trend up to the third year and declined thereafter; maize yield exhibited the order of: first year < fourth year < second year < fourth year. The low maize yield obtained in this study (alley cropping) as compared to what was previously reported under high input system (monocropping with the use of recommended inorganic fertilizer) may be more related to the need for additional inorganic fertilizer to supplement the biomass from hedges rather than the shading effects of Calliandra hedges on maize. But the amount additional inorganic fertilizer required has to be determined by research in the future, and this deserves special attention in the future. Another 10th ESAP-Proceedings 273 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production important area for further investigation is to determine the stage of the maize at which the addition of prunings would be most beneficial (appropriate time of pruning application). Reference Abebe Yadessa and Diriba Bekere. (in press). Determination of optimum nursery soil conditions for propagation of Leucaena pallida: a promising browse species at Bako. In: Proc. of the 7th Annual Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), August 30-31, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Abebe Yadessa, Diriba Bekere and Taye Bekele (in press). Maize grain yield under taungya with different multipurpose trees at Bako. Paper presented at the Tenth Bi-annual Conference of Crop Science Society of Ethiopia, June 19-21, 2001, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Abebe Yadessa, Diriba Bekere and Taye Bekele. 2000. Growth Performance of Different Multipurpose Tree and Shrub Species at Bako, Western Oromia. In: Nutrient Management for Improving Soil /Crop Productivity in Ethiopian Agriculture. Proceedings of the Fifth Biennial Conference of Ethiopian Society of Soil Science (ESSS), March 30-31, 2000, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Abebe Yadessa. 1998. Evaluation of the contribution of scattered Cordia africana Lam. trees to soil properties of cropland and rangeland ecosystems in western Oromia, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis from Swedish University of Agricultural sciences, Sweden. Benti Tolessa, Tasew Gobezayehu, Mosisa Worku, Yigzaw Desalegne, Kebede Mulatu and Gezahegne Bogale. 1993. Genetic improvement of maize in Ethiopia: a review, pp. 13-22. In: Benti and Ransom (eds.), Proc. of the First National Maize Workshop of Ethiopia, May 5-7 1992, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Brook, R.M. 2000. Hedgerow intercropping with sweet potato in the humid lowlands of Papua New Guinea. Tropical Agriculture (Trindad), 77(3): 137-143. CTA (Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation). 1994. Spore: Bi-monthly bulletin of the CTA, No. 53. Wageningen, the Netherlands. Dhyani, S.K. and Tripathi, R.S. 1999. Tree growth and crop yield under agrisilvicultural practices in north-east India. Agroforestry Systems, 44: 1-12. Diriba Geleti, Temesgen Diriba, Lemma Gizachew and Adane Hirpha. 2001. Planting density and cutting interval effects on productivity of Calliandra calothyrsus Meissn. Ethiopian Journal of Animal Production, 1(1): 25-31. Kang B.T., Wilson G.F., and Lowson, T.L. 1984. Alley cropping: a stable alternative to shifting cultivation. IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria. Karim, A.B.,Savill, P.S., and Rhodes, E.R. 1993. The effects of between-row (alley widths) and within-row spacings of Gliricidia sepium on alley cropped maize in Sierra Leone: Growth and yield of maize. Agroforestry System, 24: 81-93. Legesse Dadi, Gemechu Gedeno, Tesfaye Kumsa and Getahun Degu. 1987. Bako mixed farming zone, Wellega and Shewa regions. Diagnostic survey report No. 1. Institute of Agricultural Research, Department of Agricultural Economics and Farming Systems Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Macqueen, D.J. 1991. Exploration and collection of Calliandra calothyrsus as a foundation for future genetic improvement. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Research Reports 9: 96-98. Mitiku Haile and Abdu Abdulkadir. 1995. Potential and limitation of alley farming in a sorghum - chat based cropping system in Hararghe highlands, eastern Ethiopia, pp. 87-92. In: Sebil vol 6: Proceedings of the 6th Annual Conference of Crop Science Society of Ethiopia, 3 - 4 May 1994. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. MoWR (Ministry of Water Resources). 1996. Omo-Gibe River Basin Integrated Development Master Plan Study. Final Report, Vol. VII Land Resource Surveys. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Water Resources, Richard Woodroofe & Associates with marcott, UK. 274 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Okorio, J., Byenkya, S.N., Wajja, N., and Peden, D. 1994. Comparative performance of seventeen upperstorey tree species with crops in the highlands of Uganda. Agroforestry Systems, 26: 185-203. Tomaneng, A.A. 1990. Calliandra calothyrsus: observations on coppicing characteristics. Agroforestry Today 2(2): 15. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 275 Strategy of leguminous fodder tree seedlings to cope with poor nursery growing media Abebe Yadessa Bako Agricultural Research Center, Agroforestry Research Division P.O. Box 03, Bako, Oromia, Ethiopia. Abstract A comparative study on six important multipurpose tree species, raised under different nursery soils (growing media) (three leguminous fodder species and three other non-leguminous species) was conducted at Bako tree nursery. The objective of the study was to investigate the response of these leguminous fodder tree seedlings to nursery growing media (potting substrates). Parameters considered were growth, biomass yield, survival and coping mechanisms under poor nursery soil conditions. The growing media consisted of four soil mixtures. Different proportions of local soil, sand, forest soil and farmyard manure were included based on volume. Seedling height, root collar diameter, survival, and shoot and root dry weights were measured. Results showed that seedling survival of leguminous fodder species was significantly (p = 0.000) affected by type of the nursery growing media. Seedling survival was lower in growing substrates with higher farmyard manure for the legume browse species, but no apparent difference was noticed for the non-legumes. Generally, the growth of seedlings in poor substrates was relatively better for the legumes than for the non-legumes, the former thriving more in substrates without farmyard manure, whereas the latter in substrates containing higher farmyard manure. This may be due to their biological nitrogen fixation and their capacity to compensate for N. This is an adaptation strategy of leguminous fodder tree seedlings to cope with poor nursery soils, as this was evidenced by significantly higher number (p = 0.000) and weight (p = 0.003) of nodules in substrates without farmyard manure as compared to those with farmyard manure. Therefore, growing media without farmyard manure are suitable and are recommended for leguminous fodder species, whereas those containing farmyard manure are suited for non-leguminous tree species in nurseries, and using farmyard manure for raising leguminous fodder tree seedlings is simply incurring an opportunity cost. Key words: Coping strategy, growing media, leguminous fodder tree, nodulation and non-leguminous tree. Introduction Nitrogen is a key constituent element in all organisms. It is one of the essential nutrient elements upon which plants and animals depend for completing their life cycles (Legesse, 1995). But currently soils are getting depleted in nitrogen and other nutrients due to accelerating deforestation, intensive agriculture, overgrazing and other factors. Nitrogen-fixing trees have a potential for land reclamation and soil enrichment (Högberg, 1982), and nitrogen fixation increases soil N (Bofa, 1999). The number of woody legumes forming nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbioses with Rhizobium species is very high in tropical areas, reaching some thousand species (Allen and Allen, 1961: as cited in Högberg, 1982). The trees considered for this study Acacia mearnsii, Calliandra calothyrsus and Leucaena pallida belong to this category, and they are important fodder species in Bako area. Nitrogen, despite its abundance in the atmosphere, is not available to plants in a form that is suitable for metabolism until it is converted to ammonia or other reduced forms. This task of converting molecular nitrogen in to its corresponding reduced forms is accomplished by a special partnership (symbiosis) established between a group of bacteria (rhizobia) and leguminous plants like A. mearnsii, C. calothyrsus and L. pallida. In this association the leguminous plant provides energy in the form of photosynthetic products (carbohydrates) to the rhizobium, while the rhizobium supplies the plant with the reduced forms of nitrogen. When the symbiosis is a success, the amounts of N fixed are considerable - between 50 and 100 kg/ha per annum and even sometimes more (Dupriez et al, 1998). The industrial fixation of nitrogen (Haber-Bosch process), in which N2 is made to react, at high temperature, with H2 to produce NH3 is an expensive venture consuming large amounts of energy (petroleum-dependent), and it also requires foreign currency. Consequently, the process of biological nitrogen fixation should be encouraged and it is comparable to a localized small-scale fertilizer industry, Ethiopian Society of Animal Production especially in poor countries like Ethiopia. But little information about this potential nitrogen source exists. Thus, systematic study on the propagation of these nitrogen-fixing leguminous fodder species should be analogous to the establishment of life-supporting industry. Leguminous plants are rarely fertilized with nitrogenous fertilizers because they contain root nodules in which the complex process of nitrogen fixation occurs. If at all they are fertilized, they usually do not yield significantly more than the control plots. On the other hand, most non-leguminous plants respond well if they are fertilized with inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers or with organic fertilizers having high nitrogen content (Legesse, 1995). Many tree seedlings (both leguminous and non-leguminous) are raised in different tree nurseries of the country. In this vast area, these nurseries use different soil substrates (growing media) for raising seedlings. But currently substrates containing higher organic matter like farmyard manure are getting scarce because of other uses of farmyard manure (as fuel). This calls for the need to search for other options as nursery growing substrates. The leguminous fodder tree seedlings may respond differently from that of other non-leguminous. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the response of these leguminous fodder tree and other non-leguminous tree seedlings to different nursery growing media (potting substrates) and assess their coping mechanisms under poor nursery growing media. Materials and methods The study site The study was conducted at the tree nursery of Bako Agricultural Research Center, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The Center is situated at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level with a mean annual rainfall of about 1270 mm and mean temperature of 21oC (minimum 13oC, maximum 28oC). The dominant soil type is Nitosol with soil pH of 5-6 and clay dominated texture (Legesse et al, 1987; Abebe, 1998). Table 5. Some chemical and physical properties of the nursery growing media used for the study. Soil property Local soil Forest soil Sand Manure Organic C, % 2.174 5.426 0.279 15.162 Total N, % 0.196 0.448 0.028 Available P, ppm 7.88 4.7 5.7 C/N 11 12 1.589 136 10 10 Na, meq/100g 0.86 0.34 0.09 K, meq/100g 2.82 1.13 0.13 8.47 Ca, meq/100g 14.17 17.51 2.17 32.39 7.83 0.92 45.9 5.2 58.04 Mg, meq/100g 5.41 CEC, meq/100g 31.4 43.4 BS (%) 74 62 pH(H20 6.9 2.14 64 5.86 153 6.82 6.07 6 8 Clay 56 34 Silt 26 40 2 18 Sand 18 26 92 74 CEC = Cation exchange capacity BS = Base saturation percentage Tree species Six important multipurpose tree species (three leguminous fodder species and three other non-leguminous species) were used for this study, as indicated in Table 2. These trees were selected based on their importance in the area. Table 6. Details of the tree species used for the study. Scientific name Family Category Habit Calliandra calothyrsus Meissner Fabaceae - mimosoideae Legume Shrub Acacia mearnsii De Wild Fabaceae - mimosoideae Legume Tree Leucaena pallida Britton and Rose Fabaceae - mimosoideae Legume Shrub Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. Ex R. Br. Proteaceae Non-legume Tree Melia azederach L. Meliaceae Non-legume Tree Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. Myrtaceae Non-legume Tree 278 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Source of materials The materials used for the study were obtained from different sources. Seeds of L. pallida and C. calothyrsus were collected locally from the already existing stands, while others were obtained from Forestry Research Center /National Tree Seed Project. The polyethylene bags were purchased from market. The forest soil was collected from the remnant patches of natural forest dominated by Acacia tortilis and Albizia gummifera at Maqi Bafano (nearby area of Bako Agricultural Research Center), the sand along Gibe river, the farm yard manure (fairly decomposed) from the Livestock Research Department of the Center, and the local soil directly from the agricultural land of the Center. The soil was sieved, mixed in different proportions and then filled into different pots. Some chemical and physical properties of the substrates used for the experiment are indicated in Table 1. Treatments and experimental design The treatments were tree category (legume and non-legume) and soil mixture proportions based on volume (3 part local soil: 2 part sand:1 part forest soil; 3 part local soil:1 part sand:2 part forest soil; 3 part local soil:2 part sand:1 part farm yard manure; and 3 part local soil:1 part sand:2 part farmyard manure), and handled as factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Sampling procedure, data collection and analysis Seedling height, root collar diameter, percent survival, shoot dry matter, and root dry matter were directly measured, while sturdiness index and root/shoot ratio were calculated from the other parameters. Sturdiness index was determined by dividing the seedling height in cm by root collar diameter in mm as described in Jaenicke (1999), and root/shoot ratio (carbon allocation to both root and shoot) by dividing root dry weight by shoot dry weight as described in Otieno et al (2001). All the seedlings were assessed for determining percent survival, but seedlings from the inner of the plot were assessed for height growth and root collar diameter. The number of seedlings contained in each plot and those sampled from each plot for each species is indicated in Table 3. Table 7. Number of total and sampled seedlings per plot for each tree species. Tree species Seedling per plot Seedling sampled A. mearnsii 40 (10*4) 16 (8*2) E. camaldulensis 40 (10*4) 16 (8*2) C. calothyrsus 40 (8*5) 18 (6*3) L. pallida 40 (8*5) 18 (6*3) G. robusta 36 (6*6) 16 (4*4) M. azedarach 36 (6*6) 16 (4*4) Numbers in brackets indicate the way the pots are arranged. The inner seedlings were used for destructive sampling to determine average shoot biomass, and root biomass. Seedling height was measured by using ruler, and root collar diameter by caliper. The seedling biomass was partitioned into shoot and root components and their fresh weights taken. Each component was oven-dried and weighed. Percent survival values were log transformed before the analysis of variance. All data were analyzed using SPSS. Means of treatments that showed significant difference were identified using Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference Test (Tukey's-HSD test). Results and Discussion Seedling growth response For both leguminous and non-leguminous seedlings the index values for height, root collar diameter and sturdiness were significantly affected by quality of growing media. Compared to non-leguminous seedlings, leguminous seedlings showed greater height growth under poorer nursery growing media (no farmyard manure). However, under higher farmyard manure, leguminous seedlings showed lower height growth compared to the non- leguminous (Figure 1). The higher concentration of N in farmyard manure (1.589%) might have depressed nodulation in leguminous seedlings, whereas lower N in forest soil (0.448%) might have enhanced nodulation (Table 1). Thus, higher rate of growth in poorer growing media for legumes could be due to higher N availability though biological N fixation. Significantly higher number of nodules were 10th ESAP-Proceedings 279 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production observed in substrates with no farmyard manure (Table 4). This argument is in line with earlier works by Roskoski (1982). Leguminous plants are rarely fertilized with nitrogenous fertilizers because they contain root nodules in biological nitrogen fixation occurs. Fertilization does not increase yield significantly. Most non-leguminous plants, however, respond well to fertilizers having high nitrogen content like farmyard manure (Legesse, 1995). The better performance of leguminous seedlings in poorer growing media could be explained as an adaptation mechanism to low substrate quality by enhancing biological N fixation. Seedling height (cm) 40 30 20 Tree category Non-legume Legume 10 3LS:2SD:1FS 3LS:2SD:1FYM 3LS:1SD:2FS 3LS:1SD:2FYM Figure 4. Growth height of leguminous and non-leguminous seedlings as influenced by soil mixture; LS = Local soil, SD = Sand soil, FS = Forest soil, FYM = Farmyard manure. Seedling dry weight As indicated in Tables 4 and 5, shoot and root dry weight did not respond differently to nursery growing media. Leguminous and non-leguminous seedlings dry weight per individual plant was significantly higher in substrates containing farmyard manure. There was no significant difference in root/shoot ratio in both leguminous and non-leguminous seedlings as affected by the quality of growing media. This suggests that carbon partitioning (allocation to both root and shoot) is not affected by growing media quality. This may be more related to the genetic factor rather than the environment (substrate quality in this case). Seedling survival Seedling survival in the nursery was significantly affected by the composition of the growing media for leguminous seedlings (Tables 4 and 5). When no farmyard manure was used for pot filling, legumes showed higher seedling survival compared to non-legumes. The opposite trend was observed, however, when higher farmyard manure was used (Figure 2). Generally, increasing the forest soil in the soil mixture was favorable for legumes. Increasing the farmyard manure content favored the growth of the non-legumes. Forest soil increased the survival of non-leguminous seedlings (10%), whereas increasing the amount of farmyard manure decreased the survival of legumes seedlings by about the same amount (10%). Both type of legume seedlings responded similarly in growing media containing more sand and some farmyard manure (3 part local soil: 2 part sand: 1 part farmyard manure). 280 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use 100 Survival (%) 90 80 Tree category Non-legume Legume 70 3LS:2SD:1FS:0FYM 3LS:2SD:0FS:1FYM 3LS:1SD:2FS:0FYM 3LS:1SD:0FS:2FYM Figure 5. Survival of leguminous and non-leguminous seedlings as influenced by soil mixture; Abbreviations as indicated in Figure 1. Table 8. Mean values for different parameters measured for leguminous fodder tree seedlings as influenced by soil mixture. Soil mixture Survival (%) 3LS:2SD:1FS 97.94a 3LS:1SD:2FS 96.58a 3LS:2SD:1FYM 84.23b RCD (mm) Sturdiness quotient (Q) Shoot DM (gm/seedling) Root DM (gm/seedling) 25.15c 3.48b 6.97b 1.22b 0.29b 26.51bc 3.59b 7.31b 1.36b 0.30b 0.21 74.33a 32.94ab 4.11ab 8.01a 2.05a 0.43ab 0.23 22.63b Height (cm) Root/shoot ratio 0.22 3LS:1SD:2FYM 78.73b 35.18a 4.38a 8.09a 2.43a 0.45a 0.19 Mean 89.16 29.94 3.89 7.59 1.77 0.38 0.21 SE ± 1.43 0.98 0.10 0.13 0.09 0.02 P value 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.005 0.000 0.004 CV (%) LS = Local soil 14.38 FS = Forest soil 31.35 23.79 SD = Sand 17.46 40.09 55.53 0.09 NS 43.55 Nodule number per seedling 69.78a 6.74b 43.37 4.88 0.000 37.63 FYM = Farmyard manure Table 9. Mean values for different parameters measured for non-leguminous tree seedlings as influenced by soil mixture Soil mixture Survival (%) Height (cm) RCD (mm) Sturdiness quotient (Q) Shoot DM (gm/seedling) Root DM (gm/seedling) Root/shoot ratio 3LS:2SD:1FS 91.90 17.32b 3.13b 5.72b 1.04b 0.21b 3LS:1SD:2FS 86.11 18.27b 3.17b 5.81b 1.15b 0.30ab 0.21 0.26 3LS:2SD:1FYM 85.19 31.31a 4.26a 7.63a 2.16a 0.44a 0.23 3LS:1SD:2FYM 88.19 34.52a 4.39a 8.05a 2.38a 0.43a 0.20 Mean 87.85 25.35 3.74 6.80 1.68 0.35 0.22 SE ± P value CV (%) 1.24 NS 14.72 1.07 0.11 0.22 0.10 0.03 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.002 33.11 26.48 30.47 34.13 65.29 0.02 NS 64.23 Means followed by similar letters within each column are not significantly different by Tukey's-HSD test; NS =Not Significant. Abbreviation as in Table 6. Number and weight of nodules Number of nodules were significantly affected by type of growing media. Higher number of nodules were observed in less fertile growing media than in more fertile media (Table 6). Nodule weights were significantly higher in nursery substrates without farmyard manure compared to those with farmyard manure (Figure 4). This may be due to higher N in growing media containing farmyard manure as compared to those containing no farmyard manure. High N content in the soil normally reduces the extent of nodulation by leguminous browse plants because the plant utilizes the already existing N in the soil (Roskoski, 1982). Dupriez et al (1998) also noted that the soil should be fairly poor in mineral nitrogen for enhancing nodulation. There was also significant difference in number of nodules between species; it was significantly higher for Acacia than for Calliandra and Leucaena (Figure 3). But there was no significant difference in nodule number and nodule weight between Calliandra and Leucaena seedlings. This shows that nodulation is a coping strategy of leguminous fodder tree seedlings to grow in poor nursery growing media. Although nodule number 10th ESAP-Proceedings 281 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production significantly differed for the different growing media, the effectiveness of nodulation (ability of nitrogen fixation) has to be studied in the future and this needs due consideration. 80 Average nodule number per seedling 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Calliandra Leucaena Acacia Figure 6. Number of nodules in leguminous seedlings as influenced by species. .6 Nodule weight (mg/seedling) .5 .4 .3 .2 .1 0.0 3LS:2SD:1FS 3LS:2SD:1FYM 3LS:1SD:2FS 3LS:1SD:2FYM Figure 7. Average nodule weight of Calliandra and Leucaena seedlings as influenced by growing substrate (p = 0.003). Conclusion The effect of quality of growing media on seedling survival was more evident in leguminous species than in non-leguminous ones. Under higher farmyard manure (more fertile growing media), the non-leguminous seedlings grew and survived better than the leguminous ones. In this case, non-legumes appeared to take advantage of soil fertility (substrate quality) to grow faster and survive better than the legumes. But under less fertile growing media (no farmyard manure), the opposite trend was observed. The ability of leguminous fodder seedlings to grow and survive better under poor nursery growing media because of their biological N fixation to compensate for N was an adaptation strategy that may be important in species survival under poor soil situations. Thus, using farmyard manure for legumes is just incurring an opportunity cost. The practical significance of this study is that growing media without farmyard manure are suitable and are recommended for leguminous fodder species, whereas those containing farmyard manure are suited for non-leguminous tree species in nurseries. 282 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use However, the increase in the number of nodules in poorer growing media due to the symbiotic association between legumes and rhizobial bacteria alone may not warrant higher nitrogen fixation. There may also be rhizobial specificity for effective nodulation and N-fixation. Thus, further study might be required in understanding the contribution of leguminous seedlings to the nitrogen economy of the soil. References Abebe Yadessa. 1998. Evaluation of the contribution of scattered Cordia africana Lam. trees to soil properties of cropland and rangeland ecosystems in western Oromia, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis from Swedish University of Agricultural sciences, Sweden. Abebe Yadessa and Diriba Bekere. (in press). Determination of optimum nursery soil conditions for propagation of Leucaena pallida: a promising browse species at Bako. In: Proc. of the 7th Annual Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), August 30-31, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Bofa, M.J. 1999. Agroforestry parklands in sub-Saharan Africa. FAO Conservation Guide 34. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. Dupriez, H and De Leener, P. 1998. Trees and multistorey agriculture in Africa. CTA and Terres et Vie, Brussels, Belgium. Högberg, P. and Kvarnström, M. 1982. Nitrogen fixation by the woody legume Leucaena leucocephala in Tanzania. Plant and Soil 66: 21-28. Jaenicke, H. 1999. Good tree nursery practices: Practical guidelines for research nurseries. ICRAF. Nairobi, Kenya. Legesse Dadi, Gemechu Gedeno, Tesfaye Kumsa and Getahun Degu. 1987. Bako mixed farming zone, Wellega and Shewa regions. Diagnostic survey report No. 1. Institute of Agricultural Research, Department of Agricultural Economics and Farming Systems Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Legesse Negash. 1995. Indigenous trees of Ethiopia: biology, uses and propagation techniques. SLU Reprocentralen, Umeå, Sweden. Otieno, D.O., Kinyamario, J.I., and Omenda, T.O. 2001. Growth features of Acacia tortilis and Acacia xanthophloea seedlings and their response to cyclic soil drought stress. East African Wildlife Society, Afr. J. Ecol., 39: 126-132. Roskoski, J.P. 1982. Nitrogen fixation in a Mexican coffee plantation. Plant and Soil, 67: 283-291. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 283 Feed Production and Use Effect of undersowing annual forage legumes on grain and dry matter stalk yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and dry matter forage yield in the Eastern Amhara region Samuel Menbere and Mesfin Dejene Sirinka Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 74, Woldia, Ethiopia Abstract Three annual forage legumes (Lablab purpureus, Vigna unguiculata and Vicia dasycarpa) were undersown at three different dates (10, 25 and 40 days after emergence of sorghum) on two spacing (every and every two rows of sorghum) to evaluate the effect of forage legumes, undersowing dates and row spacing on sorghum grain, DM stalk and DM forage yield. The trial was conducted at Sirinka and Chefa trial sites of northeastern Amhara region for two consecutive years (1999 and 2000). Among tested forage legumes, undersowing Vigna unguiculata and Vicia dasycarpa respectively, gave significantly (P<0.01) highest grain yield of 29.2 and 61.8q/ha, which were higher than sole sorghum grain yield by 13.6 and 4.5% at Sirinka and Chefa. Also significantly (P<0.01) higher DM stalk yield of 8.1 and 7.3t/ha were obtained from Vicia dasycarpa and Vigna unguiculata at Chefa respectively, which were lower by 0.8 and 10.5% than sole sorghum DM stalk yield. However, Lablab purpureus that gave significantly (P<0.01) lower grain yield (23.7 and 53.6q/ha) at Sirinka and Chefa respectively gave significantly (P<0.01) higher DM forage yield of 3.0 and 1.2t/ha. The interaction effect of forage legumes and date of undersowing had only shown significant (P<0.01) effect on DM forage yield of each locations. As a result indicated, undersowing Lablab purpureus at 10 days after emergence of sorghum gave highest DM forage yield of 3.9 and 2.3t/ha at Sirinka and Chefa respectively. Therefore, based on the result obtained from this study, undersowing Vicia dasycarpa at 40 DAES at Sirinka, and Vigna unguiculata at 10 DAES at Chefa on every rows of sorghum were found to be the best for its higher grain and DM stalk, and optimum DM forage yield. Further study is required to evaluate the impact of these forage legumes on the N economy of companion and subsequent main crop. Key words: date of undersowing, row spacing, annual forage legumes, grain yield, dry matter stalk yield, dry matter forage yield, days after emergence Introduction The main source of livestock feed in Ethiopia comes from natural pasture which are low in quality and quantity. Moreover, these areas are also diminishing in size due to conversion into farm land because of high human population growth. Rugged topography and high population pressure are causes of farm-land shortage. Due to this critical problem, growing forage crops as sole crop for animal feed is difficult. The only possibilityis the use of land for food and forage production. Growing of forage legumes through undersowing/intercropping is one way of introducting forage crops so as to use the small farm land for both crop and feed production. The system offers a potential for increasing fodder without appreciable reduction of grain production. One of the conspicuous advantages of undersowing is to get a variety of returns from land and labor to increase efficiency of resource use and to reduce risks which may be caused by bad weather, disease and pests (Tessema Zewdu et al., 1995). Intercropping annual forage legumes with row crops has been proposed as a strategy to control erosion, suppress weeds, and contribute biological N to companion or subsequent crops (Jeranyman et al 1998). The production of the companion crop will also increase and the quality of crop residue will improve. Moreover, biologically fixed N is transferred in to leguminous protein and this may be consumed directly by animals to meet their protein requirements and the excess returned to the soil via animal wastes. Very high yielding leguminous crop can add up to 500kg of N to the soil per ha/year. The biologically fixed N by these legumes are critical to maintain the N balance in the nature (Gutteridge and Shelton 1994). In similar studies, the decomposition of leguminous roots may contribute between 5 and 15kg N/ha to the soil N (Tekalign et al. 1993, Nnadi et al. 1988) and the return of nutrients in the aerial part of the forage 10th ESAP-Proceedings 285 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production after grazing would increase this considerably. Moreover, the undersown forage legumes can also help in suppressing weed growth (Tessema Zewdu et al. 1995) and control the rate of available moisture evaporation on the cropland by their canopying effect. In the past few years screening and adaptation trial of different forage legumes were carried out to identify promising forage species for further use. Among tested forage legumes Lablab purpureus (lablab), Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) and Vicia dasycarpa (vetch) were identified for their adaptability and good DM forage yield (SARC 1999). Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of producing forage legumes and to identify suitable forage legumes with its best undersowing date and spacing, which could successfully establish when undersown in sorghum with out greatly affecting the grain and DM stalk yield. Materials and methods The study was conducted for two years (1999 and 2000) in northeastern part of Amhara region at two trial sites of Sirinka Research Center (Sirinka and Chefa). Sirinka represent the midland with an altitude of 1850m.a.s.l and Chefa represent lowland with an altitude of 1450m.a.s.l. Details about rainfall, temperature and soil type of the testing sites is presented in table 1. Sorghum was sown on tie ridge with a spacing of 75cm between rows and 20cm between plants on a plot size of 6 X 4m. Each plot consisted of 8 rows of sorghum. Three species of forage legumes (lablab, cowpea and vetch) were sown at three different undersowing dates (10 days after emergence of sorghum (DAES), 25DAES and 40DAES) on two types of row spacing (on every and every two rows of sorghum). Recommended rate of fertilizer 100 and 50kg/ha DAP and Urea were applied at planting and at knee height of main crop respectively. Seeding rate of 12kg/ha for lablab and 6kg/ha each for cowpea and vetch were used. The design was 3 by 3 by 2 factorial combinations in RCB with three replications. Including the control (sole sorghum), the trial consists 19 treatments. Table 1: Mean rainfall (mm), maximum and minimum temperature (OC), and soil type of Sirinka and Chefa trial Sites. Parameters Sirinka Chefa Soil type Mean annual RF Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Eutric vertisole 950 26.34 13.43 Vertisole NA NA NA N.B: NA is data not available The forage legumes were undersown according to their undersowing dates and spacing. Prior to crop harvest, soil sample was taken at 20 and 40cm depth starting from 10 days after the crop emergence with an interval of 15 days for soil moisture availability determination. Weeding was done by hand pulling, and weed biomass was measured fresh for determination of weed controlling potential of undersown forage legumes. Sorghum was harvested at physiological maturity. The middle rows were harvested for grain and stalk yield estimation. Moreover, the middle rows of undersown forage legumes were harvested when they reach 50% flowering. Fresh sub sample were taken from stalk, forage and soil sample and put in drought oven at 105OC for 24 hours to determine forage and stalk dry matter and moisture content in the soil. Data was analyzed using ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) by Genstat statistical software (Genstat, 1993). Results and discussions Grain yield. The mean grain yield of undersown and control (sole sorghum) treatment of each location is presented in table 2. Difference among treatments in combined mean grain yield of the two locations was significant (P<0.01). The highest mean grain yield of 47.8 and 45.1q/ha were harvested from treatments on which cowpea and vetch were undersown on every two rows at 40 and 10 DAES respectively. These two treatments gave 9.4 and 3.3% higher mean grain yield compared with control (sole sorghum) treatment, which gave a mean grain yield of 43.7q/ha (table 2). 286 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Moreover, as the result in table 2 indicates significant (P<0.05) mean grain yield difference was obtained at Chefa among the control and undersown treatments. Treatment on which vetch was undersown on every rows at 20DAES of sorghum gave highest mean grain yield of 64.8q/ha, followed by mean grain yield (64.3q/ha) obtained from cowpea undersown on every two rows at 40DAES of sorghum. The mean grain yield harvested from control treatment was less by 8.4 and 7.6% respectively, compared with the first and second treatments that gave highest mean grain yield in the location (table 2). However, the differences among treatments were not significant at Sirinka. Type of undersown forage species had also shown significant (P<0.01) effect on the combined mean grain yield of the two locations. The highest mean grain yield of 44.6q/ha was harvested from treatments on which vetch was undersown, followed by cowpea with a mean grain yield of 43.7q/ha (table 3). The mean grain yield obtained from vetch and cowpea was higher by 5.7 and 3.6% respectively than sole sorghum (43.7q/ha) mean grain yield (table 4). Similarly, the effect of forage species was also significant (P<0.01) on each location mean grain yield. Accordingly, vetch and cowpea gave the highest mean grain yield of 29.2 and 61.8q/ha at Sirinka and Chefa respectively (table 3). The mean grain yield obtained from these forage species (vetch and cowpea) were higher than sole sorghum by 13.6 and 4.5% with a mean grain yield of 27.7 and 59.8q/ha at Sirinka and Chefa respectively. Unlike these species, undersowing lablab decrease the mean grain yield by 9.0 and 9.6% compared with control treatment at Sirinka and Chefa respectively. Moreover, lablab decreases the mean grain yield by 9.3% than control treatment of both locations (table 4). The interaction effect of forage species and date of undersowing has also shown significant (P<0.05) effect on the mean grain yield of the two locations. Highest mean grain yield of 45.7q/ha was obtained from cowpea undersown at 40DAES. Moreover, vetch undersown at 40 and 10DAES gave the next highest mean grain yield of 45.0 and 44.6q/ha respectively (table 3). In the above forage species and date of undersowing cases, cowpea undersown at 40DAES and vetch undersown at 40 and 10DAES increases the mean grain yield by 9.8, 6.2 and 3.2% than control treatment respectively (table 4). Table 2: Mean grain (q/ha), DM stalk (t/ha) and average weed biomass (t/ha) of undersown and Control (sole sorghum) treatments at Sirinka and Chefa, 1999 and 2000. Treat. No. Forage Species Row Spacing Sowing Date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Control (sole sorghum) Vetch ER Vetch ER Vetch ER Vetch ETR Vetch ETR Vetch ETR Lablab ER Lablab ER Lablab ER Lablab ETR Lablab ETR Lablab ETR Cowpea ER Cowpea ER Cowpea ER Cowpea ETR Cowpea ETR Cowpea ETR 10DAES 25DAES 40DAES 10DAES 25DAES 40DAES 10DAES 25DAES 40DAES 10DAES 25DAES 40DAES 10DAES 25DAES 40DAES 10DAES 25DAES 40DAES Mean LSD Grain yield Sirinka Chefa DM stalk yield Grain yield DM stalk yield Weed biomass 27.7 26.9 25.2 29.1 29.6 23.8 30.0 21.2 23.6 22.7 20.3 29.0 25.2 29.4 24.8 30.9 32.7 26.2 31.3 6.4 7.0 8.1 7.6 8.1 7.6 6.6 5.8 6.1 8.1 6.7 5.4 5.9 7.9 6.5 7.0 8.3 6.9 7.2 7.1 6.1 7.1 7.7 6.4 6.9 6.4 5.6 6.4 6.1 6.6 7.8 6.8 5.9 6.8 5.6 6.2 7.1 6.5 59.8ABC 61.1AB 64.8A 60.8AB 60.6ABC 63.0A 60.1ABC 42.6D 57.9ABC 52.2BCD 50.3CD 59.3ABC 59.1ABC 55.2ABC 60.3ABC 56.1ABC 55.6ABC 57.3ABC 64.3A 8.1 7.5 7.9 8.2 8.5 8.3 8.3 7.0 7.0 7.6 6.8 7.4 7.5 6.7 7.0 8.5 7.5 7.0 7.0 26.8 NS 7.0 NS 6.6 NS 57.9 0.05 7.6 NS Location mean Weed biomass 8.6 10.1 9.7 8.2 7.0 7.5 8.4 6.2 9.9 8.1 6.6 8.3 8.8 8.4 7.4 6.2 8.5 8.5 9.2 8.2 NS Grain yield DM stalk yield 43.7ABC 44.0 AB 45.0AB 45.0AB 45.1AB 43.4ABC 45.0AB 31.9D 40.8ABC 37.5BCD 35.3CD 44.1AB 42.2ABC 42.3ABC 42.5ABC 43.5ABC 44.1AB 41.8ABC 47.8A 7.3 7.3 8.0 7.9 8.2 8.0 7.5 6.4 6.5 7.8 6.8 6.4 6.7 7.3 6.8 7.8 7.9 7.0 7.1 7.9 8.1 8.4 8.0 6.7 7.2 7.4 5.9 8.2 7.1 6.6 8.1 7.8 7.1 7.1 5.9 7.3 7.8 7.9 42.4 0.01 7.3 NS 7.4 NS Weed biomass N.B: ER (Every rows), ETR (Every two rows), DAES (Days after emergence of sorghum), Means in the column followed by different letters are significantly (P<0.05 and 0.01) different 10th ESAP-Proceedings 287 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 3: Effect of undersowing date and forage species mean grain (q/ha), DM stalk (t/ha) and DM forage (t/ha) yield at Sirinka and Chefa, 1999 and 2000. Sirinka Forage species Vigna unguiculata (Cowpea) Sowing date Grain yield DM stalk yield Location mean DM forage yield Grain yield DM stalk yield DM forage yield 31.0 8.1 0.8 D 55.4 7.1 1.3 B 43.2 AB 7.6 1.1 CD 25DAES 25.5 6.7 1.0 D 58.8 7.0 0.6 CD 42.1 AB 6.9 0.6 EF 40DAES 31.1 7.1 1.1 D 60.2 7.8 0.2 D 45.7 A 7.4 0.2 F 29.2 A 7.3 1.0 B 58.1 AB 7.3 B 0.7 B 43.7 A 7.3 AB 0.8 B 10DAES 20.7 6.3 3.9 A 46.5 6.9 2.3 A 33.6 C 6.6 3.1 A 25DAES 26.3 5.8 3.1 B 58.6 7.2 0.9 BC 42.5 AB 6.5 2.0 B 40DAES 23.9 7.0 2.0 C 55.7 7.6 0.4 D 39.8 B 7.3 1.2 C 23.7 B 6.3 3.0 A 53.6 B 7.2 B 1.2 A 38.6 B 6.8 B 2.1 A 10DAES 28.3 7.5 0.8 D 60.9 8.0 0.3 D 44.6 A 7.7 0.5 EF 25DAES 24.5 7.9 1.2 D 63.9 8.1 0.2 D 44.2 AB 8.0 0.7 DE 40DAES Forage mean Vicia dasycarpa (Vetch) Chefa DM forage yield 10DAES Forage mean Lablab purpureus (Lablab) Grain yield DM stalk yield 29.5 7.1 1.3 CD 60.5 8.3 0.2 D 45.0 A 7.7 0.7 DE Forage mean 27.4 AB 7.5 1.1 B 61.8 A 8.1 A 0.2 C 44.6 A 7.8 A 0.7 B Forage LSD 0.01 NS 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 NS NS 0.01 NS NS NS 0.05 NS 0.01 6.4 - 59.8 8.1 - 7.3 - Forage * Sowing date LSD Control mean 27.7 43.7 N.B. Means in the column followed by different letters are significantly (P<0.05 and 0.01) different Table 4: Comparison for the effect of undersowing date and forage species on mean sorghum grain and DM stalk yield with mean grain and DM stalk yield of control (sole sorghum) (%) at Sirinka and Chefa, 1999 and 2000. Sirinka Forage species Sowing date Grain yield Cowpea 10DAES 25DAES Grain yield DM stalk yield Grain yield 20.0 42.7 (7.4) (15.0) 6.3 AB 2.5 18.5 (0.3) (11.8) 1.1 AB 3.3 40DAES 18.4 32.6 1.1 (4.7) 9.8 A 14.0 13.6 A 31.3 (10.5) B 5.7 A 10.4 AB 10DAES (22.6) 8.3 (22.9) (17.0) (22.7) C 25DAES (0.4) 3.2 (0.4) (12.2) (0.4) AB (4.5) 40DAES (3.9) 31.1 (5.6) 12.2 (9.0) B 14.2 (9.6) B Forage mean Vetch Location effect DM stalk yield Forage mean Lablab Chefa (2.2) AB DM stalk yield 13.8 (4.4) (6.7) (4.8) B (12.0) B (9.3) B 2.7 (2.7 3.2 AB 15.1 1.1 B 10DAES 3.6 33.0 25DAES (5.0) 36.4 7.7 (0.4) 1.4 AB 18.0 40DAES 9.2 26.5 3.1 0.6 6.2 AB 13.6 Forage mean 2.6 AB 32.0 4.5 A (0.8) A 3.6 A 15.6 A Forage LSD 0.01 NS 0.01 0.01 0.01 NS NS NS 0.05 Forage * Sowing date LSD NS 0.05 NS Note: Numbers that are found in the parenthesis are negative values Stalk yield As the mean DM stalk yield in table 2 indicates, differences among sole sorghum and undersown treatments were not significant for mean DM stalk yield obtained at each location and combined mean yield of these locations. Like the mean grain yield, the mean DM stalk yield obtained were significantly (P<0.01) affected by type of forage species in the combined mean yield of the two locations. As a result, the mean DM stalk yield obtained from treatments undersown by lablab was lowest (6.8t/ha). However, vetch gave the highest mean DM stalk yield of 7.8t/ha, followed by cowpea with mean DM stalk yield of 7.3t/ha (table 3). As compared with control mean DM stalk yield (7.3t/ha) undersowing vetch and cowpea increases the DM stalk yield by 15.6 and 10.4% (table 4). Moreover, mean DM stalk yield differences obtained among tested forage species were only significant (P<0.01) at Chefa. Accordingly, the highest mean DM stalk yield of 8.1 and 7.3t/ha were harvested from vetch and cowpea respectively (table 3). However, vetch and cowpea decreases the mean DM stalk yield by 0.8 and 10.5% compared with mean DM stalk yield (8.1t/ha) of control treatment (table 4). 288 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Forage yield Dry matter (DM) forage yield differences among undersown treatments were not significant at each location and in combined mean. However, the mean DM forage yield obtained among tested forage species were significant (P<0.01) for both locations. Unlike the mean grain yield, the highest mean DM forage yield of 2.1t/ha was harvested from lablab, followed by cowpea with mean DM forage yield of 0.8t/ha (table 3). As the mean DM forage yield of each location indicates in table 3, the DM forage yield differences among tested forage species were also significant (P<0.01) at each location. Accordingly, lablab gave the highest mean DM forage yield of 3.0 and 1.2t/ha at Sirinka and Chefa respectively. However, vetch and cowpea respectively gave the second highest mean DM forage yield of 1.1 and 0.7t/ha at Sirinka and Chefa (table 3). The interaction effect of forage species and date of undersowing had shown significant (P<0.01) effect on the mean DM forage yield obtained at each location and in the combined mean of both locations. Among the tested combinations of forage species and date of undersowing, lablab gave the highest mean DM forage yield of 3.1, 2.0 and 1.2t/ha when it was undersown at 10, 25 and 40DAES of sorghum respectively (Table 3). Highest mean DM forage yield of 3.9 and 2.3t/ha were harvested from lablab that was undersown at 10DAES at Sirinka and Chefa respectively (table 3). Similar to the combined result of the two locations, the second highest mean DM forage yield (3.1 and 2.0t/ha) at Sirinka were obtained from lablab when it was undersown at 25 and 40DAES respectively. Unlike to Sirinka, the second highest mean DM forage yield of 1.3t/ha at Chefa was obtained from cowpea undersown at 10DAES (table 3). In general, this result indicates that as the date of undersowing delays the mean DM forage yield would decreases significantly. Results are similar to those reported by Stute and Posner (1993) Soil Moisture Content Undersowing forage legumes had a great role for increasing soil moisture availability. The canopying effect of those forage legumes protect the solar radiation to not increase the rate of evaporation from the ground. In related with this fact, the role of undersown forage legumes for the control of soil moisture availability for the main crop could be affected by the type of forage species (leaf area and growth habit), plant density and stage of growth. Especially, the type of forage species in related with its canopy effect, and growth stage of the forage at which the solar radiation become intensive plays a significant effect towards soil moisture availability. The interaction effect of forage species type and date of undersowing had shown significant (P<0.01) effect for soil moisture availability of both locations. Accordingly, a treatment that was undersown by cowpea and vetch at 40 and 10DAES has the same highest moisture content of 26.4% (table 4). These forage species had erect growth habit and they tend to cover more ground surface than lablab with a climbing growth nature. On the other hand, the interaction effect of date of undersowing and forage species where significant (P<0.01) for soil moisture availability at Chefa. Among the tested undersowing date and forage species combinations, undersowing (cowpea and vetch) at 40 and 25 DAES showed highest moisture availability of 30.6 and 30.2% respectively at Chefa (table 4). Weed biomass Undersowing forage legumes with food crop play a great role for suppressing weed growth. Tessema Zewdu et al (1995) also indicate that the use of undersown forage legumes for the control of weed infestation. Even if the weed biomass difference of undersown and control (sole sorghum) treatments were not significant, the result obtained from this study indicated that the average fresh weed biomass of most undersown treatments were less than the mean average weed biomass obtained from control (sole sorghum) treatment at each locations (table 2). 10th ESAP-Proceedings 289 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Table 4: Effect of forage legume and date of undersowing on fresh weed biomass (kg/ha) and soil moisture content (%) at Sirinka and Chefa, 1999 and 2000. Sirinka Forage species Sowing date Cowpea Av. Weed biomass Moisture content 10DAES 6.0 21.8 8.4 29.1 B 7.2 25DAES 7.0 21.0 8.0 29.5 AB 7.5 25.3 B 40DAES 6.0 22.2 7.7 30.6 A 6.9 26.4 A Forage mean Moisture content 25.5 AB 6.4 21.7 8.0 29.7 7.2 25.7 6.1 22.4 6.4 29.6 AB 6.3 26.0 AB 25DAES 7.1 21.7 9.1 30.2 AB 8.1 25.9 AB 40DAES 6.5 22.1 8.4 30.1 AB 7.4 26.1 AB 6.6 22.0 8.0 30.0 7.3 26.0 10DAES 6.3 22.8 8. 6 30.0 AB 7.4 26.4 A 25DAES 7.0 21.3 8.6 30.2 AB 7.8 25.8 AB 40DAES 6.6 21.4 8.3 29.5 AB 7.7 25.5 AB 5.8 21.9 8.5 29.9 7.6 25.9 Forage LSD NS NS NS Forage * Sowing date LSD NS NS NS Control mean Av. Weed biomass 10DAES Forage mean Vetch Location mean Moisture content Forage mean Lablab Chefa Av. Weed biomass 7.1 22.3 8.6 NS 0.01 28.9 NS NS 7.9 NS 0.01 25.6 N.B. Means in the column followed by different letters are significantly (P<0.01) different Conclusions and recommendations Undersowing forage legumes with cereals offers a potential for increase forage production through effective use of available resource such as labor, land and time. However, in such system the yield depression of cereal grain yield should be minimal, possibly not more than 15%, for it to be acceptable to the farmers. The time of sowing of cereal and forage legume is critical for the yield of each crop (Nnadil and Haque, 1986). Lulseged Gebrehiwot et al. (1987) also showed that the right choice of both food and forage crop and the right time of planting also important factors. In spite of this fact, from our study the maximum reduction for grain yield at Sirinka and Chefa was 22.6 and 22.9% respectively, and for DM stalk maximum yield reduction of 17.0% was obtained at Chefa as compared with sole sorghum mean grain and DM stalk yield. However, at Sirinka no DM stalk yield reduction was observed in all possible forage species and undersowing date combinations. These maximum grain and DM stalk yield reduction was obtained from treatments on which lablab was undersown at 10DAES. Unlike lablab, undersowing vetch and cowpea at 25 and 10DAES at Sirinka and Chefa respectively maximize the obtained grain yield by 20.0 and 7.7% than sole sorghum mean grain yield. Based on the results, undersowing vetch at 40DAES and cowpea at 10DAES on every rows of sorghum would give better DM forage yield without affecting sorghum grain and DM stalk yield at Sirinka and Chefa respectively. However, additional study is required to identify the economic feasibility of undersowing these forage legumes as compared to growing sole sorghum in terms of efficient use of resource and contribution of these forage legumes to soil N for the companion and subsequent food crop. Acknoledgment We would like to extend our thanks to Ato Mesfin Lakew, Ato Yohannes Alemu, Ato Ayalew Wudu and Ato Belay Tadesse for their assistance and collaboration in data collection during the execution of the experiment. We would like also to thanks all staffs of Forage Genetic Resource Department (ILRI) especially Ato Abate Tedla for their great collaboration in providing us the required planting materials and their assistance in timely completion of the experiment. Our thanks also goes to Ato Getenet Assefa (Holetta Research Center) and other individuals at different research centers, who provided us technical assistance during the course of the experiment. References Genstat 5, Committee of the statistics department, 1993. Roth Amsted Experimental Station. Lawes Agricultural Trust. Oxford Science Publications, CLAENDON press Oxford. 290 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Gutteridge R.C. and H.M. Shelton, 1994. The Role of Forage Tree Legumes in Cropping and Grazing System. Forage Tree Legumes in Tropical Agriculture. CAB International, Oxford, UK. Pp 3-11. Jernanyama P., Hesterman O.B. and Sheaffer C., 1998. Medics Planting Date Effect on Dry Matter and Nitrogen Accumulation when Clear seeded or intercropped with Corn. Agronomy Journal. 90 (5): pp 616-622. Lulseged Gebre Hiwot, Gebre Medhin Hagos and Tadesse Tekle Tsadik, 1987. Undersowing Of Forage Crops in Cereals: Some Achievements. Proceeding of 1st National Livestock Improvement Conference. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Pp 151154. Nnadi, L. A. and Haque I., 1988. Forage Legumes in African Crop-Livestock Production System. ILCA Bulletin. No 30. pp 10-19. SARC, (Sirinka Agricultural Research Center), 1999. Annual Research Progress Report. Sirinka, Ethiopia. Stute J. K. and Posner J.L., 1993. Legume Cover Crop Options for Grain Rotations in Wisconsin. Agronomy Journal, 83 (6). Pp 1128-1132 (CAB Inter.) Tekleyohannes Berhanu and Worku Jima, 1999. The Effect of Undersowing Barley with Forage Legumes on grain and straw yield of Barley and herbage yield of forage legumes in the Highlands of Bale. Proceeding of 7th Annual Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, pp 245-249. Tessema Zewdu, Getenet Assefa and Yohanes Tereffe, 1995. Effect of Undersowing of Annual Forage Legumes and fertilization on Wheat grain, straw and forage production at Adet. Proceeding of 3rd Conference of Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), pp 245-249. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 291 On-farm evaluation of different seeding rates of Oat and Vetch mixtures in barley-based double cropping system of the Bale highlands Tekleyohannes Berhanu, Teshome Abate, Solomon Bogale and Dagnachew Worku Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Sinana Agricultural Research Center P.O.Box 208, Bale-Robe Abstract An on-farm experiment was conducted over six seasons, from March 1999 until December 2001, around Sinana Agricultural Research Center to evaluate six seeding rates of oat/vetch mixtures (80/30, 60/7.5, 40/15, 20/22.5, 80/0[sole oat] and 0/30[sole vetch] (kg/ha)) for forage yield. Effect of the oat/vetch seeding rates on the yields of the subsequent crop was also studied in a barley-based double cropping system. The results indicate that dry matter (DM) yield increased with increasing oats seed rate in the mixture but decreased with increasing vetch seed rate. The highest mean DM yield (7.0 t/ha) was recorded in the 80/30 (kg/ha) oat/vetch seeding rate followed by the sole oat (6.5 t/ha DM). However, DM yield difference in the 60/7.5, 40/15, and 20/22.5 (kg/ha) oat/vetch seeding rates was not significant (P>0.05). Barley grain and straw yields in the subsequent season increased with an increase in vetch seed rate in the precursor oat/vetch mixture. The highest mean barley grain (20.8 q/ha) and straw yields (72.1 q/ha) were recorded in barley after the sole vetch precursor. On the other hand, lower grain and straw yields of barley were observed when barley was sown after sole oat , after fallow and after the 80/30 (kg/ha) oat/vetch seeding rate. However, the 60/7.5, 40/15 and 20/22.5 (kg/ha) oat/vetch seeding rates sustained significantly (P<0.05) higher barley grain and straw yields in the subsequent season than the fallow, sole oat and the 80/30 (kg/ha) oat/vetch seeding rate. Therefore, oat/vetch mixtures could be cultivated in fallow seasons at a seeding rates of 60/7.5, 40/15 or 22/22.5 (kg/ha) to maximize both forage and food crop production in Bale highlands. However, more information on the effect of seeding rates on growing good quality oat-vetch mixture is required. Introduction In Sinana district of Bale zone, rainfall is distributed bimodal with the annual total of approximately 850 mm being split roughly equally between two season; the first or ‘belg’ rains from March to July and the second or ‘meher’ rain from August to December (Alemayehu and Franzel, 1987). Both seasons are suitable for crop production. However, few farmers utilize both rainy seasons to produce sequentially two crops on the same piece of land. Most farmers prefer to fallow their land in one of the two annual cropping seasons (Alemayehu and Franzel, 1987), probably due to the narrow time gap that exists between the two production seasons. In view of the feed shortage in Bale highlands, forage crops can be established in the fallow seasons. Zewdu and Tanner (1996) also confirmed it that a double cropping system based on bread wheat and forage legumes in areas of Bale highlands receiving bimodal rainfall distribution is feasible. Among the forage species tested and selected in Bale highlands, fodder oats (Avena sativa) and vetches (Vicia species) have received acceptance by the small holders. Cultivation of oat and vetch in mixture for livestock feed would benefit farmers by increasing the quantity and quality of the feeds (Getnet, 1999; Mesfin and Samuel, 2001). It also maintains soil fertility. Hence, cultivation of oat/vetch mixtures has the potential to integrate food and forage crop production in Bale highlands where the traditional fallow/food crop system have remained a dominant practice. However, under such a system, attention should be given in the identification of the compatible oat/vetch variety combination or seeding rates that could sustain crop yields in the succeeding season. The objective of the current experiment was, therefore, 1. 2. To investigate the effects of different seeding rates of oat/vetch mixtures on forage yield of the mixtures To assess the residual effect of the oat/vetch mixtures on the yield of succeeding crop (food barley) in an oat/vetch-barley double cropping system Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Material and methods The experiment was conducted for six seasons, from March 1999 until December 2001, under on-farm condition around Sinana Agricultural Research Center, in Sinana-Dinsho district of Bale Zone. The soil in this district is generally classifieds as pellic vertisol, and the mean altitude is 2400m a.s.l (Alemayehu and Franzel, 1987). The trial consists seven treatments, representing six different seeding rate combinations of oat (Avena sativa cv, CI-8251) and vetch (Vicia dasycarpa cv ‘lana’), and a fallow treatment (Table 3). The sixoat/vetch mixtures were sown in 1999, 2000 and 2001 “belg” (March to July) seasons according to recommended practices (IAR, 1980). The trial area including the plots designated for fallow was plowed by the traditional ox-plow (“maresha”) three times prior to sowing. Plots measured 3m*4m, and were laid out in randomized compete block design with four replications. All the oat/vetch crops received a uniform application of 100kg Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)/ha (18-20kg N-P/ha) broadcast at sowing (IAR, 1980). No fertilizer was applied to the fallow plots. Subsequent to broadcasting seed and fertilizer, the trial area was raked once to cover the seed. All crops were hand weeded twice. On the fallow plot, weeds were harvested manually before they flowered. Subsequent to the harvest of oat/vetch mixtures during July, the entire area was plowed twice for seedbed preparation using a local plow. In the “meher” (August to December) season of 1999, 2000 and 2001, all plots were sown to food barely cv. ‘Aruso’ at seed rate of 150 kg/ha. Seed and fertilizer (100 kg/ha DAP) were then broadcast, and covered by one pass with the plow. Weeds were controlled twice by hand weeding. Data collected on a plot basis for the “ belg” crops each year consisted of seedling count, plant height and forage yield. For the “meher” barley crop, data collected included plant height; spike length, tillers per plant and grain count per spike. A net plot of 3m*3m was harvested at ground level and weighed, excluding weeds, to facilitate the measurement of straw and barley grain yield. Thousand-grain weight was measured from the grain harvested from each net plot. All data were subjected to analysis of variance using MSTAT -C soft ware, and means were separated using the LSD test. Result and Discussion First cropping “Belg “ season (Oat/Vetch mixtures) Data of the treatments was presented on Table 2. There was a significant (P<0.05) variation in seedling count, plant height, and dry matter yield among the treatments. Seedling count/0.25m2 of oats was significantly (P<0.05) higher when oats was sown at a seed rate of 80 kg/ha either in pure stands or in mixture with vetch than sown at seed rates of 60, 40 and 20 kg/ha. However, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in seedling count when oats sown at seed rate of 60 and 40 kg/ha. A significantly (P<0.05) higher seedling counts at emergence of vetch was observed when vetch was sown at a seed rate of 30 kg/ha either in pure stands or in mixture with oats (Table 2). There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in seedling counts at emergence of vetch and oats when both vetch (30 kg/ha) and oat (80 kg/ha) were sown in pure stands or in-mixture. The variation in seedling counts of oats and vetches observed due to the seed rate variation in oat/vetch mixtures also can have an effect on the quality of forage from oat/vetch mixtures even though this was not quantified by the present study. Plant height at harvest of vetch was affected significantly (P<0.05) due to the seed rate variation in oat/vetch mixtures compared with oats. A significantly lower height of vetch was observed in the lowest vetch proportion (60/7.5 oat/vetch seeding rate) (Table 2). This is probably due to the reduction in competitiveness of vetch compared with oats in response to the lower vetch seed rate. Dry matter yield from the oat/vetch mixtures increased with increasing oats seed rate in the mixture (Table 2). This is as expected since oats has higher DM content than vetches. The oat has also showed suppressive effect on vetch at higher seeding rates. The highest mean dry matter yield (7.0 t/ha) was recorded in the 80/30 (kg /ha) oat/vetch seeding rate followed by the sole oat (6.5 t/ha DM). However, there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in dry matter yield among the 60/7.5, 40/15 and 20/22.5 (kg/ha) oat /vetch seeding rates. 294 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Average dry matter yield was significantly (P<0.05) lower in the years 1999 and 2000 compared with the mean DM yields of “belg” 2001, the values being 2.6, 1.1 and 13.4 t/ha, respectively for the years. This was due to the sub-optimal rainfall in the “belg” cropping season of the years 1999 and 2000 compared with the rainfall in the “belg” 2001 season (Table 1). Second cropping “Meher” season (Food Barley) Yield and agronomic data of the treatments was presented on Table 3 and 4. There was a significant (P<0.05) variation in barley grain and straw yields in the subsequent season due to variation in seeding rates of oat/vetch precursor mixtures planted in the first “belg” cropping season of 1999, 2000 and 2001. Barley grain and straw yields increased with an increase in vetch seed rate in the precursor mixture (Table 3). This can be attributed to the role legumes play in the restoration of soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. Accordingly, the highest mean barley grain (20.8 q/ha) and straw yields (72.1 q/ha) were recorded for barley after vetch precursor. On the other hand, lower grain and straw yields of barley were observed in barley after sole oat, after fallow and after the 80/30 (kg/ha) oat/vetch seeding rate. However, compared with barley after fallow and after sole oat precursors, both grain and straw yields of barley increased significantly (P<0.05) when barley planted after oat/vetch mixtures sown at a seeding rate of 60/7.5, 40/15 and 20/22.5 (kg/ha). Daniel (1993) reported that wheat yield can be improved by 35 to 65 % with fertilizers and by incorporating vetch or oat/vetch mixtures in forage legume-wheat rotations. However, information on the effect of seeding rates of oat/vetch mixtures on forage yield of the mixtures and on the yields of food crops in the subsequent season is meager. The mean barley grain yield in the1999, 2000 and 2001 “meher” cropping seasons was 13.6, 22.4 and 14.1 q/ha and straw yield was 50.4, 74.2 and 51.2 q/ha, respectively. The amount and distribution of rainfall in the “meher” 1999, 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons was comparable (Table 1). Therefore, the variation in mean barley grain and straw yields among the three cropping seasons can be regarded as mainly due to soil variation within the site selected. Among the agronomic parameters, significant (P<0.05) variation was observed only in barley plant height due to the various precursor effects (Table 4). Conclusion Seeding rates of oat/vetch mixtures can significantly affect forage production from oat/vetch mixtures and the yields of food crops in the subsequent seasons. According to the study, oat/vetch mixtures could be cultivated in fallow seasons at a seeding rates of 60/7.5, 40/15 or 22/22.5 (kg/ha) to maximize both forage and food crop production in Bale highlands. However, more information on the effect of seeding rates on growing good quality oat-vetch mixture is required. Acknowledgement The authors would like to acknowledge the technical assistance of Mr. Gulilat Jara, Mr. Tesfaye Dekeba and Mr. Fiseha Seyoum in all aspect of the trial. References Alemayehu Mamo and Franzel S., 1987. Initial Results of Informal Survey: Sinana Mixed Farming System Zone. Working paper No. 1/87. IAR, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 52pp. Daniel Keftasa. 1996.Research on the integration of forage legumes in whet-based cropping system in Ethiopia: A Review. In: Ntikumana J. and de Leeuw P. 1996. Sustainable Feed Production and Utilization for Smallholder livestock enterprise in Sub-Saharan Africa. Proceedings of the Second African Feed resources net work (AFRNET), Harare, Zimbabwe, 6-10 December 1993. AFRNET (African Feed Resource Network), Nairobi, Kenya. 201 pp. Getinet Assefa, 1999. Feed resource assessment and evaluation of forage yield, quality and intake of oats and vetches grown in pure stands and in mixture in the highlands of Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition and Management. Uppsala. Sweden. IAR, 1980. Handbook on pastures and fodder crops for animal feeding in Ethiopia. 1st ed. Addis Ababa. Ethiopia. 10th ESAP-Proceedings 295 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Mesfin Dejene and Samuel Menbere, 2001. Compatibility and yield performance of different oat/vetch mixtures during fallow period in the highlands of Wello. In: ESAP (Ethiopian Society of Animal Production) 2001. Pastoralism and Agro-Pastoralism-which way Forward. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Conference of ESAP held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24-26 August 2000. ESAP, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 358pp. Zewdu Yilma and D.G. Tanner, 1996. An evaluation of double cropping of forage legumes and bread wheat in Bale Region of Southeastern Ethiopia. In: Tanner, D.G., Payne, T.S., and Abdalla, O.S. eds. 1996. The Ninth Regional Wheat Workshop for Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: CIMMYT. Table 1. Air temperature and seasonal rain fall around Sinana Research Center during the Experimental period. 1999 2000 2001 731.3 662.7 874.4 “Belg”(March to July) 357.8 310.5 508.0 “Meher”(August to December) 371.7 340.1 354.3 Total rain fall per annum (mm) Seasonal rain fall (mm): Air temperature (0c): Maximum 20.74 19.54 21.35 Minimum 9.39 8.54 7.59 Table 2. Effect of different seeding rates of oat /vetch mixtures on dry matter yield and other agronomic parameters of the mixtures in the first cropping (“belg”)season of 1999, 2000 and 2001 Oat/vetch seeding rates (kg/ha) Seedling Count/0.25m2 1999 2000 2001 23.5a 11.1a 96.2 81.1bc 3.2a 1.7a 16.0a 7.0a 60/7.5 16.5b 4.0d 90.4 76.5c 2.0b 1.2bc 13.5c 5.6c 40/15 13.7b 6.8cd 88.0 89.0a 2.8ab 1.0bcd 13.8bc 5.9bc 6.6c 7.5bc 83.9 88.2ab 3.0a 0.8cd 12.4c 5.4c - 91.8 2.7ab 1.4ab 15.5ab 6.5ab 82.2abc 1.9b 0.7b 9.4d 83.4 2.6 1.1 Sole oat (80kg/ha) 26.5a Sole vetch (30kg/ha) Mean LSD (P<0.05) CV % Vetch Oat Dry matter yield (t/ha) 80/30 20/22.5 Oat Plant height (cm) - 10.6ab - 17.4 8.0 90.1 5.238 36.5 3.32 50.1 NS 12.8 Vetch - 7.414 10.7 0.957 24.2 0.464 26.8 13.4 1.921 9.5 Mean 4.0d 5.7 0.691 14.6 Means with in the same column followed by the same letter or by no letter do not differ significantly at the5%level of LSD test. NS= Non significant (P>0.05) Table 3. Effect of different seeding rates of oat /vetch precursor mixtures on the grain and straw yield of barley in the second cropping (“meher”)season of 1999, 2000 and 2001. Oat/vetch seeding rates in precursor mixture (kg/ha) Grain yield of barley (q/ha) 1999 2000 Mean 1999 2000 2001 Mean 80/30 10.3c 21.0bc 12.0c 14.4d 41.5cd 70.0b 38.0c 49.8e 60/7.5 15.9a 23.2ab 10.3c 16.5bc 62.1a 77.8b 44.7c 61.5bc 40/15 15.6a 22.6b 12.5c 16.9bc 55.1ab 77.8b 41.9c 58.3cd 20/22.5 15.4ab 26.3a 12.8c 18.1b 55.7ab 92.4a 53.4bc 67.2ab Sole oat (80kg/ha) 11.6a 23.7ab 11.7c 15.7cd 45.5bc 70.1b 40.2c 51.9de Sole vetch (30kg/ha) 17.7a 21.3bc 23.6a 20.8a 63.4a 75.7b 77.1a 72.1a 8.7c 19.0c 15.7b 14.4d 29.6d 55.4c 63.0ab 49.3e 13.6 22.4 14.1 16.7 50.4 74.2 51.2 58.6 Fallow Mean LSD (P<0.05) CV % 3.807 18.7 3.224 9.7 2001 Straw yield of barley (q/ha) 2.653 12.7 1.797 13.1 12.11 8.277 15.93 16.2 7.5 20.9 6.888 14.4 Means within the same column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at the 5% level of LSD test. 296 10th ESAP-Proceedings Feed Production and Use Table 4. Effect of different seeding rates of oat /vetch precursor mixtures on the agronomic parameters of the barley crop grown in the second cropping (“meher”) season of 1999, 2000 and 2001(mean of the three years). Oat/vetch seeding rates In precursor mixture (kg/ha) Plant height (cm) Spike length (cm) No. of Tillers per plant 80/30 92.0bc 6.6 4.3 35.5 35.5 60/7.5 95.2b 6.6 4.2 34.2 34.9 40/15 93.7bc 6.7 4.3 33.4 34.8 20/22.5 90.8c 6.4 4.5 32.0 34.6 Sole oat (80 kg/ha) Sole vetch (30 kg/ha) No. of grains per spike Thousand grain weight (gm) 91.9bc 6.8 4.3 33.5 36.0 101.5a 6.7 4.2 36.9 34.3 Fallow 91.0c 6.7 3.8 34.8 35.7 Mean 93.7 6.6 4.2 34.3 35.1 LSD (P<0.05) 3.856 CV % 5.03 NS 7.1 NS 16.6 NS 16.8 NS 4.3 Means within the same column followed by the same letter or by no letter do not differ significantly at the5%level of LSD test. NS= Non significant (P<0.05) 10th ESAP-Proceedings 297 ANIMAL NUTRITION Effect of plant height at cutting on rumen organic matter and neutral detergent fibre degradation of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schumach.) and their relationship with in vitro dry matter digestibility Tessema Zewdu1*, R. M. T. Baars2 and Alemu Yami3 1Adet Agricultural Research Centre, P.O. Box 8, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia 2Alemaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia Agricultural Research Organisation, PO Box 32, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia 3Ethiopian Abstract An experiment to investigate the effect of plant height at cutting on in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in sacco rumen Organic matter degradability (OMD) and neutral detergent fibre degradability (NDFD) of Napier grass were conducted at Adet Agricultural Research Centre, North western Ethiopia. Five by three factorial experiments arranged in RCBD with three replications were used and the treatments were five fertiliser applications (0, 46 and 92 N kg ha-1, and 1 and 2 t ha-1 cattle manure) and three plant heights at cutting (0.5, 1 and 1.5 m). The fertiliser treatments did not yield any significant difference on OMD, NDFD or IVDMD. Plant height at cutting had a significant (P<0.05) effect on rumen OMD for all incubation times and NDFD beyound 24 h as well as on their degradability characteristics. There was a reduction in OMD and NDFD and their degradability characteristics as plant height increased at cutting. Similarly, as plant height at cutting increased there was a decline in IVDMD. There was a positive linear correlation between IVDMD and both OMD and NDFD at 48, 72, 96 and 120 h (r = 0.896, 0.921, 0.933 and 0.809 for OMD; r = 0.937, 0.994, 0.978 and 0.988 for NDFD). Hence, further study on intake and animal performance is suggested to develop Napier based diets for smallhoder farmers. Introduction One of the major constraints, which strongly limit livestock production in tropical countries, is unavailability of both high quantity and quality feeds (Osuji et al., 1993). Like anywhere in the country, the main feed resources for livestock in north western Ethiopia are natural pastures, crop residues and to a lesser extent fallow lands and stubble grazing (BOA and CEDEP, 1999). These feed resources are poor in quality (Daniel, 1990) and animals are dependent predominantly on high-fibre feeds that are deficient in nutrients essential for microbial fermentation (Osuji et al., 1993). This results in slow growth rates, poor fertility, high rates of mortality and weak draught power, and consequently reduces the production and productivity of livestock. However, the cultivation of high quality forages with a high yielding ability, adaptable to biotic and abiotic environmental stresses is one of the possible options to increase livestock production under small holder farmers conditions (Tessema, 1999; Tessema and Halima, 1998). Amongst the improved forage crops promoted in Ethiopia, Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum (L.) Schumach.) could play an important role in providing a significant amount of high quality forage. It is highly adaptable and popularly used in the Ethiopian highlands (Ndikumana, 1996; Seyoum et al., 1998; Tessema and Halima, 1998). Based on chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), Napier grass could be categorised as high quality forage (Tessema et al., 2002b). For determining the nutritive value of feedstuffs, digestibility ranks next to intake in importance (Minson, 1990). Accurate data on the digestibility of forages would greatly assist diet formulation and economic valuation of different forages (Weiss, 1994). One of the best methods currently available for estimating the digestibility of feedstuffs is the in vitro dry matter digestibility (Van Soest and Robertson, 1980; Van Soest, 1982; Weiss, 1994). Laboratory in vitro methods digest feedstuffs by preparation of micro-organisms or of enzymes which are similar in function to those present in the digestive tract of ruminants and sensitive to undetermined factors that influence rate and extent of digestion (Tilley and Terry, 1963; Van Soest and * Corresponding author 10th ESAP-Proceedings 301 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production Robertson, 1980; Van Soest, 1982). An understanding of the factors which affect rumen degradability of low quality basal diets and microbial protein production will assist in designing diets that will be utilised more efficiently. The nylon bag technique is one of the available techniques for evaluating rumen degradability of feedstuffs. It is the best currently available method for estimating digestibility similar to in vitro disappearance in terms of accuracy, and is easier to perform than the in vitro method (Weiss, 1994). In sacco digestion of feed samples in the actual rumen environment is probably of the most accurate non in vivo procedures (Kitessa et al., 1999). Management of forage through appropriate harvesting will result in improved productivity of Napier grass of a reasonably good quality (Annido and Potter, 1994). Therefore, an experiment was conducted to assess the effect of plant height at cutting on IVDMD, in sacco rumen organic matter degradability (OMD) and in sacco rumen neutral detergent fibre degradability (NDFD) of Napier grass. Materials and Methods Location of the study In sacco rumen OMD and NDFD as well as IVDMD experiments were conducted in the 1999/2000 crop season at Adet Agricultural Research Centre (AARC), north-western Ethiopia, 445 km from Addis Ababa. The centre is laid between 11o 17’ N latitude and 37o 43’ E longitude at an altitude of 2240 m above sea level. The area is characterised by alluvial soil and to some extent by red and black soils. The research activities reported here were conducted on red soil representing the typical soil type of the region. The annual rainfall of the area is 1285 mm with a range from 860 to 1771 mm and 109 rainy days per year (average of 14 years, 1986-99). There is one main rainy season extending from June to September. The average annual minimum and maximum air temperatures are 8.8 and 25.4 oC, respectively (AARC, 1999). In 1999, the annual rainfall was 1215 mm and the average monthly minimum and maximum air temperatures were 7.5 and 26.1 oC, respectively. Experimental design and management practices The experiment was carried out using a 5 x 3 factorial experiment arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications. One high yielding Napier grass accession (ILRI accession no. 14984) was selected and vegetatively propagated using root splits on a well prepared red soil under rainfed conditions on 21st July 1999 when the soil was moist. The treatments were five fertiliser applications (0, 46 and 92 N kg ha1, and 1 and 2 t ha-1 cattle manure) and three plant heights at cutting (when height of the grass reached 0.5, 1 and 1.5 m). The plot size was 3 by 5 m. The spacing between replications and plots were 2 and 1 m, respectively, and 0.5 and 1 m for individual plants within rows and between rows, respectively. Diammonium phosphate fertiliser was applied at planting at a rate of 100 kg ha-1 for establishment according to the recommendation. Data collection and analytical procedures Samples representing the whole plant in each treatment were taken randomly and sun dried until the moisture has been lost for partial dry matter analysis. The partially dried samples were then oven dried overnight at 105oC for final analytical processes. The dried samples were ground to pass through a 1-mm sieve for IVDMD and a 2-mm sieve for the in sacco rumen degradability determinations. The ground samples were stored individually in airtight containers until analysis. Duplicate samples of each treatment were analysed and the average was taken as the final result. In vitro dry matter digestibility was determined by the modified Tilley and Terry system (Van Soest and Robertson, 1985) at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Analytical Services Laboratory in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. OMD and NDFD were determined at the ILRI Debre Zeit Research Station by incubating 2.4-2.5 g of the dry samples in a nylon bag (41 µm pore size and 6.5 x 14 cm dimension) in two 6 years old rumen fistulated Boran x Holstein Friesian steers. The steers were fed ad libitum grass hay and mineral block and 2 kg cotton seed cake once per day. The steers were kept indoors and water was offered ad libitum. The bags were incubated one hour after the steers were offered feed and withdrawn sequentially after 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h, washed 5 times for 6 minutes in a washing machine and 302 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Nutrition dried for 48 h at 60 oC. Washing losses were determined by soaking three bags per sample in warm tap water at 60 oC for 48 h followed by washing and drying. The OMD and NDFD or disappearance data for each incubation time were calculated as follows (Kabuga and Darko, 1993 and Osuji et al., 1993): OMD% = (OM in forage – OM in residue x 100)/OM in forage NDFD% = (NDF in forage – NDF in residue x 100)/ NDF in forage The OMD and NDFD data were fitted to the exponential equation Y= a + b (1–e–ct) (Ørskov and McDonald, 1979) where Y is OMD and NDFD (%) at time t. Since washing losses (A) were higher than the estimated rapidly soluble fraction (a), the lag time was estimated according to McDonald (1981) by fitting the model Y = A for t < to, Y = a + b (1 - e-ct) for t > to and the degradation characteristics were defined as A is equal to washing loss (readily soluble fraction); B = (a + b) – A, representing the insoluble but fermentable material; c = the rate of degradation of B per hour and the lag phase (L) = (1/c) loge [b / (a + b – A)]. The effective degradability (ED) was calculated using the formula, ED = A + [Bc / (c + k)] (Dhanoa, 1988) where A, B and c are as described above and k is rumen outflow rate which was assumed to be 0.03 h-1 (Ørskov et al., 1988). The potential degradability (%) was calculated as A + B. Statistical analyses Analyses of variance (ANOVA) were done using SAS (1998) for IVDMD, in sacco rumen OMD and NDFD by the General Linear Models (GLM) procedure. The model included plant height at cutting, N fertiliser and replications. Because of the non-significance of N treatments on OMD and NDFD, only the plant height at cutting was considered in the analyses. Before subjecting the degradability data to ANOVA, the data were tested by multiple curve analysis. Mean separation was tested using the least significance difference (LSD). The relationships between IVDMD and in sacco rumen OMD and NDFD were determined by correlation analysis. Rumen degradability characteristics of OM and NDF were also calculated. Results and Discussion In sacco rumen organic matter degradability Plant height at cutting had a significant effect on rumen OMD (%) and OMD characteristics for each incubation time (Figure 1 and Table 1). There was a reduction in OMD and NDFD and their degradability characteristics as plant height increased at cutting. Increased plant height at cutting of Napier gras increases fibre content, which contributes to a decrease in digestibility of cell wall constituents. The maximum OMD of Napier was obtained at 96 h of incubation and reduced thereafter. There was no significant difference in the rate of degradation (c) of insoluble but gradually degradable fraction among the three heights at cutting. Potential (PD) and effective degradabilities (ED) at 0.03 h-1 rumen outflow rate were higher for Napier grass cut at 0.5 m height (86.38%) than at 1.0 (80.36%) and 1.5 m height (76.85%). This might be explained by the higher leaf to stem ratio (LSR) of the grass at 0.5 m height (3.04 LSR) than at 1.5 m height (1.33 LSR) (Tessema et al., 2002c). The OMD (%) and its degradability characteristics in this study is higher than the DMD of Napier grass at different plant height at cutting as reported by Tessema et al. (2002a). Similarly, Kabuga and Darko (1993) indicated that DMD declines with increasing age of growth of grass species in the tropics which is generally attributed to the increase in structural components (cell walls), a decline in the leave to stem ratio and to an increase in the level of senescent plants. The OMD result observed for Napier grass in the present study follows the general trend reported for in vitro and in vivo of forages (McDonald et al., 1988; Minson, 1990; Vieira et al., 1997; Kabuga and Darko, 1993; Tessema et al., 2002a). The DMD (%) and its degradability characteristics of Napier grass increased as plant height at cutting reduced (Tessema et al., 2002a). The nutritive value of Napier grass remained unchanged from 76 cm to 137 cm height. The point of significant change lay between 137 and 183 cm height in Kenya (Odhiambo, 1974). Digestibility decreases as plants mature and differences in digestibility of grasses are influenced by leaf to stem ratio (McDonald et al., 1988). In very young grass the stem is more digestible than the leaf, whereas with advancing maturity the digestibility of the leaf fraction decreases slowly and that of the stem fraction falls rapidly (Minson, 1990). Minson (1990) also indicated that the 10th ESAP-Proceedings 303 Ethiopian Society of Animal Production organic matter digestibility varies with the proportion of cell contents and cell wall constituents. The cell contents are digestible, while cell wall digestion depends on the degree of lignification, the activity of rumen microbes and the time retained in the rumen. The potential degradable and undegradable fractions and the duration of the lag time of grasses are affected by cutting age (Vieira et al., 1997). The slowly degradable fraction (B), PD and ED of Napier grass DMD harvested at 0.5 m height in Kenya were 458, 713 and 498 g kg–1 DM, respectively (Kariuki et al., 1998). The slowly degradable fraction (656.0 g kg-1 DM), PD (863.8 g kg-1 DM) and ED (627.3 g kg-1 DM) of Napier grass OMD in the present study harvested at the same height were greater. The difference might be due to bag characteristics, particle size of the feed sample, species of animal used, washing procedures, basal ration fed to the cannulated animal, poor reproducibility of the nylon bag results between laboratories, or the variation in the chemical constitution of dry matter and organic matter, or the change in environmental factors during the growth of Napier grass. In sacco rumen neutral detergent fibre degradability Neutral detergent fibre degradability (%) after 24 h incubation and NDFD characteristics were significantly affected by plant height at cutting. However, NDFD beyond 24 h incubation did not show any significant difference by Napier grass cutting height (Figure 2 and Table 2). The maximum NDFD of Napier grass is obtained at 120 h incubation. This was similar for N degradability of Napier grass at different cutting height (Tessema et al., 2002a). The NDFD at 6 h incubation was lower compared to other incubations in all heights at cutting. There was a reduction in NDFD and NDFD characteristics with increased height at cutting. The reason for NDFD reduction with increasing in height at cutting might be that a high fibre content could contribute low digestibility of Napier grass (Tessema et al., 2002b). There was no significance difference in washing loss (A) and lag time (L) among the three heights at cutting. Higher lag time of NDFD was observed in all heights at cutting compared to OMD in this study. A lag time of greater than 7 h in maize DMD studies at different stages of maturity was observed in Ethiopia (Adugna et al., 1999). The long lag time in NDFD of Napier grass could be a reflection of its higher lignocellulose content. Ørskov (1991) explained the lag time in the degradation of fibrous feeds is caused by the time taken for adherence of cellulolytic micro-organisms to the substrate. Van Soest (1988) also mentioned a long lag time is one of the factors limiting intake and utilisation of fibrous feeds. The PD and ED harvested at 0.5 m were higher than at 1.0 and 1.5 m height. The decline in NDFD and NDFD characteristics observed in this study with advancing plant height at cutting might be explained by the increase in structural components (cell wall) that could be obtained in Napier grass (Kabuga and Darko, 1993). Correlation of rumen degradation and their degradability characteristics Table 3 and 4 show the linear correlation between rumen OMD and NDFD at 48 h and their degradability characteristics. Organic matter and NDFD at 48 h showed positive correlation with washing loss (A), the insoluble but fermentable fraction (B), potential degradability and effective degradability of Napier grass. On the other hand, the rate of degradability and lag time in OMD and lag time in NDFD had negative correlation. The rate of degradability and lag-time were negatively correlated with the other degradability characteristics in OMD. The rate of degradability had positive correlation for all NDFD characteristics. However, the lag time was negatively correlated with 48h NDFD and its degradability characteristics. The 48h DMD was positively correlated with the washing loss, degradation rate and effective degradability and the effective degradability was negatively correlated with the insoluble but fermentable fraction, washing loss (A) and degradation rate (c) in a maize DMD study (Adugna et al., 1999). In vitro dry matter digestibility Plant height at cutting had a significant effect on IVDMD content. As plant height at cutting increased from 0.5 to 1.5 m, there was a decline in IVDMD content from 71.74 to 61.03 %, respectively (Table 2). This was supported by Taliafero et al. (1975) who reported that grasses harvested at a relatively advanced stage of development depressed IVDMD contents in general. 304 10th ESAP-Proceedings Animal Nutrition Relationships were higher between IVDMD versus 48, 72, 96 and 120 h OMD with correlation of 0.896, 0.921, 0.933 and 0.809, respectively (Table 5). Lower correlation were recorded between 6, 12 and 24 h OMD and IVDMD with values of 0.325, 0.479 and 0.637, respectively. The relationship between IVDMD and NDFD showed a similar trend to that of IVDMD and OMD. The highest correlation between IVDMD and NDFD was observed after 48 h incubation. The relationship between IVDMD and NDFD of Napier grass at 48, 72, 96 and 120 h of incubations were 0.937, 0.994, 0.978 and 0.988, respectively. However, the relationship between IVDMD and NDFD before 48 h incubation time was low compared to other incubation times. The difference in correlation coefficient before and after 48 h OMD, NDFD and IVDMD could be due to the duration of fermentation of feed samples in the rumen. When estimates of maximal digestibility are desired, longer incubations are usually required. longer incubations are associated with reduced variation between duplicate samples (Nocek and Kohn, 1988). Therefore, the correlation between OMD, NDFD and IVDMD values after 48 h to be higher. The particle size difference between the in sacco and in vitro samples might also explains the difference. Increasing particle size may increase lag time and decrease the extent of disappearance for short term incubations (Nocek and Kohn, 1988). Conclusions Plant height at cutting had a significant effect on IVDMD and in sacco rumen OMD and NDFD (%) and their degradability characteristics of Napier grass. Ther