




































 

 

 
31 

† Corresponding author 
© 2016 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

 

 

ASSESSMENTS OF MARKET ORIENTED BEEF CATTLE FATTENING SYSTEM UNDER 
FARMER MANAGEMENT CONDITION IN SOUTH OMO ZONE OF SNNPR 

 

Yidnekachew Alemayehu1† --- Asmera Adicha2 --- Mesfin Mengistu3 --- Binyam Eshetu4  
1,2,3,4Southern Agricultural Research Institute, Jinka Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia 

 

ABSTRACT 

A sample survey was conducted in six  districts of three woreda in South Omo zone of SNNPR  to assess smallholder beef cattle 

fattening and  marketing systems under farmer management condition. Using a purposive sampling technique, a total of 120 

households from six districts were included in the survey. The sample respondents indicated that about 97.5% were  castrate 

their animals for fattening purpose while only 2.5%  didn't. About 25.6%  of the sample respondents  had experience in 

fattening of uncastrated animals while 74.4% had not experienced in fattening uncastrated animal. About 90.6%  of the 

fattening system they carry out was outdoors,5.1% was indoor and 4.3% were both indoor and outdoor. About 78.9%  of the 

sample respondents indicated that the establishment of farmers' cooperative organization could help to exploit the existing 

livestock potential in a better way while 21.1% didn't think. About 77.9% Of the respondents indicated that although 

individual farmer tells the selling price for their own product, they were unable to sell at their own selling price. This is because 

market price setting for the product was by trader ,15.9% was by  negotiation,2.7% was  by farmer individually,1.8% 

respondents determined prices through involvement of brokers/middlemen-this offers the lowest profit margin for the producer 

due to the fee paid to the middle men and 0.9% was by both broker and negotiation. According to sample respondents, the 

majority of individual farmer didn’t set the price for their own product, they were price takers. Cattle marketing in the study 

area function at two levels, namely village level and primary markets. Market actors were producers, consumers, middlemen, 

restaurant owners, traders and butchers. The channels of cattle marketing was farmers-to-farmers, farmers-to-consumers, 

farmers-to-traders and farmers-to-butchers. Most of the feed resources were locally available Therefore, to increase the quality 

and number of animals fattened, providing farmers with sufficient training and extension services on improved cattle fattening 

technologies, adaptation and introduction of improved feeds and feeding system, market information are needed. Season and 

market locations were found to affect price of cattle suggesting the need to plan cattle fattening targeting season and market 

location to benefit farmers from better price, so that cattle fattening become sustainable. 

Keywords: Cattle fattening, Marketing, Marketing channel, Middlemen, Price determination. 

 

Received: 25 May 2016/ Revised: 9 June 2016/ Accepted: 23 August 2016/ Published: 19 September 2016 

 

Contribution/ Originality 

The paper's primary contribution is finding that  investigating the existing cattle fattening practices and 

marketing systems, constraints and opportunities, the main actors in marketing of beef cattle fattening  and locally 

available feeds used for beef cattle fattening  in order to plan and develop improved cattle fattening and marketing 

systems. 

 

 

Current Research in Agricultural Sciences 
2016 Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 31-45 
ISSN(e): 2312-6418 
ISSN(p): 2313-3716 
DOI: 10.18488/journal.68/2016.3.3/68.3.31.45 
© 2016 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

 

 
 
 

http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.18488/journal.68/2016.3.3/68.3.31.45


Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 2016, 3(3): 31-45 

 

 
32 

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1. INTRODUCTION 

The agricultural sector plays an important role in the overall developments on the economy of Ethiopia. The 

sector plays a major role in the national economy and it is the source of income and employement for the rural 

population [1].The sector account for 46% of the gross domestic product(GDP) and livestock contributes 30% to 

the agricultural GDP and 19% to the export earnings [2]. Meat production and consumption is important in 

Ethiopian economy and ruminants contribute over 3.2 million tons, representing over 72% of the total meat 

production.   

Cattle production in Ethiopia is an integral part of the   mixed farming, agro-pastoral and pastoral production  

systems. In both rural and urban areas, smallholder cattle fattening is emerging as an important source of income. 

In rural Ethiopia cattle fattening is based on locally available feed resources. 

According to MOA Adugna [3] Cattle fattening practices in  Ethiopia is categorized in to three major 

fattening systems: traditional system, by product based system and  Hararghe fattening system. In traditional 

system, farmers usually sell oxen after the plowing season when they are  in poor condition and too old for the 

draught purposes. By-product fattening system is mainly based on agro-industrial by-product such as molasses, 

cereal milling by-product and oilseed meals. Intensive feeding of the  available feed supply to young oxen used for 

draught  power could best describe the Hararghe fattening  practice. The Hararghe fattening system is 

characterized by the use of the available feed resources to young oxenthrough cut-and-carry feeding system of 

individual tethered animals. 

The most common feed types used for this system are thinning, leaf strip and part of maize and sorghum 

plants. The Marketing of livestock and livestock products an important activity all over Ethiopia. The primary   

reason for selling livestock in the highlands of Ethiopia is  generation of income to meet unforeseen expenses [4]. 

Pastoralists also, besides using livestock as sources of food and as a form of saving and wealth, sell animals at the 

times of cash needs to purchase food and other necessities [4]. According to UNDP-EUE [5] livestock marketing 

in Ethiopia follows a three-tier system: primary, secondary and terminal markets through which animals go into the 

hands of small traders and large traders, final buyers, which include butchers, meat-processing factories, fattening 

farms or live animal exporters. Prices are usually fixed by individual bargaining and depend mainly on supply and 

demand, which is heavily influenced by the season of the year and the occurrence of religious and cultural festivals. 

Livestock marketing systems in Ethiopia is not well developed. It is characterized by markets that lack basic 

infrastructure, facilities like cattle pen, weighing scale, water troughs, feed and market information [6]. Ruminant 

(cattle, sheep and goats) fattening is a well common lucrative business among the smallholders’ farmers of the 

SNNPR.  

Although the Southern Nations and Nationalities Regional State is endowed with huge livestock potential and 

familiar with different livestock production systems including fattening, the resources used, the period of fattening 

and profitability is not yet studied and well documented.  

Traditional backyard cattle fattening is a deep-rooted and widely practiced cattle enterprise in all zones and 

special Woreda in the region, although it is by and large a seasonal undertakings. The practice is synchronized with 

the existing farming system as it most relied up on locally available resources to minimize finishing costs.Sheep and 

goat fattening is also common in Kembata Tambaro and the nearby zones [7-9]. Scarcity of feed, animal in poor 

condition before fattening and improper management prolong the finishing period. Longer fattening periods tie up 

capital, which in turn significantly reduces profit realized from cattle finishing [10]. The farming societies in area 

perform the fattening task by backward system of fattening with the available feeds, in which the availability 

fluctuates from season to season.  

The feed categories used for fattening operation are of local type that by its own prevented the small scale 

farmers not to exploit the benefits from the sector, prolonged the fattening period and reduced the profits earned. 

These by its own calls for introduction of improved feeds and feeding system so as to curtail the fattening period for 



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© 2016 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

finishing and make the operation throughout the year. The fattening operation is run using commonly available 

feed resources of local and processed (agro-industrial by-product). Local feed types like Enset (corms, pseudo stem 

and leaves), Arekeatella (residue of local beverage), grains of haricot bean and maize and sweet potato roots and 

tubers [3].  

In the study area, there is little information available on smallholder cattle fattening and marketing systems. 

Therefore, to plan and develop improved cattle fattening and marketing systems, it is very important to investigate 

the existing cattle fattening practices and marketing systems in the study area. The objective of this study was, 

therefore, to assess smallholder beef cattle fattening and  marketing systems in  south omo Zone. 

 

1.1. Objectives 

1.1.1. General objective 

To assess smallholder beef cattle fattening and  marketing systems in  south omo Zone. 

 

1.1.2. Specific Objectives 

To identify major constraints and opportunities of beef cattle fattening and marketing 

To identify the marketing system and the main actors in marketing of beef cattle fattening 

To identify locally available feeds used for beef cattle fattening 

To derive recommendation for market oriented beef cattle fattening 

 

2.  GENERAL INFORMATION 

2.1. Description of the Study Area 

South Omo Zone is one of the 13 administrative zones found in SNNPRS which covers an area of 25530 km2 

and is located 4.430-6.46’ N and 35.790-36.06’E, and has a human population estimated 472977. The population 

density of the zone is 21 persons per km2 it’s bordering with GamoGofa Zone, Keffa Zone and Konta and Basketo 

special Woreda in north, Kenya in south, konso and Derashe special woredas in east and Sudan & bench maji Zone 

in west. 

 The Zone is divided into 8 woredas and 1 city administration. Generally the altitude of the zone ranges 

between 360  and 3500 m.a.s.l. The traditional agro-ecologies Dega, woinadega, kola and semi-arid cover 0.5, 5.1, 

60, and 34.4 percent respectively of the total area. Rainfall pattern in the area is both unimodal and bimodal. The 

mean annual rainfall ranges between 400 and 1600 mm. The mean annual temperature ranges between 10.1 and 

›270c. 

The zone has a huge animal resource with an estimate of about 906,442 cattle, 497,092 sheep, 846,611 goats, 

311 camels, 453,366 chickens, 322,599 bee colonies and 87510 equines. Whereas Maize, Sorghum, Barley, Wheat, 

Teff, Godore, Millet, Cassava, Haricot bean and field pea are the major crops grow in the area.  

Regarding the land use the proportion of cultivated land, grazing land, forest land, cultivated land and non-

cultivable land and others are 11.22, 29.25, 12.55, 15.69, 10.85, and 20.42 percent respectively.  

There are 16 different ethnic groups found in 8 woredas. Except the Ari ethnic group which covers 2 of the 8 

woredas and a farming system of sedentary farming. The rest of the ethnic groups having a farming system of 

pastoral and semi-pastoral type.  

 

3. METHODOLOGY  

The beef fattening assessment study was undertaken in three potential areas of beef cattle fattening in south 

Omo  zones of SNNPR . These three woredas (Benatsemy, Hammer and Debub Ari) were selected purposively to 

represent the zone (the low land and highlands of zone). 



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 It was intended to take two kebeles  each from Debub Ari , Benetsemay  and Hammer woreda. Secondary 

information was gathered from the  zone and woreda office of agriculture as well as cooperative office. Participant 

Keble were selected based on secondary data of the woreda and consulting experts of the respective woreda offices. 

A total of six kebeles, four From Benatsemy and Hammer woreda (two from each) and two kebeles from Debub Ari 

were selected purposively. A total of 120 respondents, 20 from each kebele were interviewed. 

The respondents were selected based on their pervious experiences of beef cattle fattening and marketing. 

Interview was made with respondents using a Semi structured questionnaire as well as focus group discussions and 

key informants interview were made.  

 

3.1. Type of Data and Methods of Data Collection  

The major data collection methods used in the investigation periods includes group discussion with key 

informant interview. A preliminary assessment was conducted to collect basic information about the woreda in 

order to select representative kebeles of the beef fattening and marketing. Participatory research approach was 

believed as an efficient way to jointly understand beef cattle fattening constraints and jointly identify its upgrading 

strategies. It was believed to generate policy relevant information that can provide guidance for further research, 

development interventions and for guiding formal survey. Thus, discussions with key informants and observation 

were conducted.   

Survey questionnaire was prepared and pre-tested for each sample respondents within the study area. Using the 

questionnaire, interviews were conducted to gather data on household characteristics, socioeconomic and 

demographic characteristics, farm information, management of the fattening cattle, feeds and feeding, marketing 

and market access and information services, market actors and price determination, attitudes and preference 

towards beef cattle production, attitudes and perceptions towards price , challenges and threats of beef cattle 

trading, capital (financial, social), purchase practices, responsibilities, duties and or function of beef cattle marketing 

actors, selling practices, transportation. The check list was prepared in line with structural questionnaire. The 

training was given for the development agent working in the study area in order to acquaint them with all way of 

approaching, steps of requesting, meaning, aims and goals of the research study and others. After training was 

given for enumerators pretest was accomplished and the pre- tested questionnaire of each enumerators way of data 

collection, asking and interviewing system, filling mechanisms, the intended and the actual data matching  were 

checked by interchanging questionnaire  with one another. 

 

3.2. Sampling Procedures and Sample Size 

For this study the main sampling techniques to be used were purposive sampling. The number of sample 

households based on the proportion 5 to 10 % of the total households living in each selected kebeles were included.  

 

 3.3. Data Analysis Technique 

Both descriptive statistical and appropriate econometric analysis with the help of  SPSS were used to analyze 

the data.  

 

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION  

4.1. Farming System 

Of the total, 33.3% of sample respondents were farmers,48.6% of the sample respondents were agro pastoral 

while the remaining 33.3%  was pastoral. 

 

 

 



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4.2. Demographic Characteristics of Farm Households 

Attempts were made to collect information on demographic characteristics of the survey HHs to provide 

information on some of the key variables for the study area. The variables examined in this section are HHs’ sex and 

age structure, and  composition of sample HHs, marital status, and family size of sample HHs. 

The mean age of the sample respondents at the time of the survey was 38.33 years with minimum age of 16 and 

maximum age of 75. Of the 120 sample respondents (88.1 percent) were males and the rest  (11.9 percent) were 

females.  

With respect to the educational status, the highest proportion of the sample agro pastoralists were illiterate 

(58.5 percent). 24.6 %  were primary,13.6% were junior while the remaining only 3.4% had with an educational level 

of  secondary school suggesting that illiteracy rate is higher which has impact on fattening practice. The present 

finding is almost similar with Tollossa, et al. [11] in Yabello district shows that the proportion of pastoralists who 

attended formal education is  (41.7%). 

With regard to the marital status of  agro pastoralists, 95.8 percent were married and 4.2 percent  were single. 

There was no  who divorced and widowed  from the  sample respondents. 

 

Table-1.Demographic Characteristics of Sample Respondents by Agro pastoralist Group 

Characteristics  Percentage 

Gender: Male                                                                                    88.1 
 Female 11.9 

Educational Status   
 Primary                                                                                 24.6 
 Junior 13.6 

 Secondary 3.4 

 Illiterate 58.5 

Marital Status   
 Married   
 Divorced  
 Widowed  
 Single  

Farming System   
 Pastoral  33.3 
 Agro pastoral                                                                             33.3 
 Farmers 33.4 

                                          Source: From Survey Result 

 

4.3. Age and Sex Composition and Family Size 

The composition of family members on the basis of age and gender of the sample pastoralist and agro 

pastoralist are shown in Table 2. The average male family size below the age of 15 years old was 2.24  with  the 

minimum and maximum family sizes were found to be 1and 7 persons respectively. The average male family size 

between the age of 15 and 65 years old is 1.86  with  the minimum and maximum family sizes were also found to be 

1and 7 persons respectively. While the average male family size above 65 years old was 1.00.Also the average 

female family size below the age of 15 years old was 2.45  with  the minimum and maximum family sizes were found 

to be 1and 7 persons respectively. The average female family size between the age of 15 and 65 years old was 2.06  

with  the minimum and maximum family sizes were  found to be 1and 9 persons respectively. While the average 

female family size above 65 years old was 1.29 with minimum and maximum family size of 1 and 3 respectively.As 

indicated below in the table the majority of family members were below 15 years of age.The average family size was 

1.82 with minimum and maximum family size of 1 and 9 person respectively  which is different from the findings of 



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© 2016 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

Kocho [12] reported that that in Eastern Somali regional state, the average family size per house hold was 6.2 

persons. 

 

Table-2.Family Sizes and Age Distribution by Sex of the Household Sampled 

Age Group In Years Male Female Family Size 

 Mean Mean Min Max Av. 
< 15 years old 2.24                   2.45 1 7  

Between 15 and 65 1.86                   2.06 1 9  

> 65 years old 1.00                   1.29 1 3  

   1 9 1.82 

                          Source: Survey Result 

 

4.4. Land Holdings and Land Use Patterns 

The overall average farm size was 2.17 hectares per sample household. 

This study has revealed that the overall average size of land allocated for crop production  was 1.43  and ranges 

from 0.25 to 6.25.The average size of land covered by  trees/forests was 0.92 and ranges between 0.13 and 5.00. 

The majority of sample households had  total land holding/ size in a range of 0.25 to 8.00 with an average of 2.17 

here it was indicated in the table below 

 

Table-3.Land Use Patterns of Sample Respondents 

    Land owned N Range Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation 

Total land holding 112 7.75 0.25 8.00 2.1681 1.42389 
Land size allocated for crop 
production 

111 6.00 0.25 6.25 1.4302 .95847 

Land size covered by 
trees(forest) 

90 4.88 0.13 5.00 .9208 .82266 

Valid N (listwise) 90      

         Source: Survey Results 

 

4.5. Livestock Holding 

Livestock have diverse functions for the livelihood of pastoralist/agro pastoralist in pastoral or agro pastoral 

farming system. Livestock provide food in the form of meat and milk, and non-food items such as draft power,  

transport services ,for reproduction, and for egg. Livestock are also a source of cash income. Furthermore, they used  

as for medicinal value for some disease in the study area particularly goat and sheep. 

Specifically cattle provide draft power for crop cultivation, meat and milk for consumption. Cattle were the 

largest class of livestock owned by surveyed agro pastoralists as shown in Table 4 below. On average, the sample 

agro pastoralists owned 2.32, 5.48 3.69  6.24 , 2.36 ,13.6  ,6.69 ,2.00 ,5.41  improved cow, local cow, improved 

poultry, local poultry and donkeys , local goats, local beehives ,improved sheeps , local sheeps respectively. As 

sample respondents indicated, there were some improved cows, sheeps and poultry. However, indiginous livestock 

types are dominant in the study area. Goat dominate in the study area  compared to sheeps. This could be due to 

type of feed available in the lowlands favoring goat over sheep. Poultry are kept for egg , for cash and home 

consumption purpose. Donkey, provide transport of farm input and produces. The majority of sample respondents 

kept honeybee for the purpose of income and consumption.  

 

 

 

 

 



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Table-4. Types and Average Number of Livestock Owned by the Agro pastoralists 

                     Type of livestock Minimum Maximum Average Holding 

Numbers of improved cows currently owned 1 6 2.32 
Numbers of local cows currently owned 1 50 5.48 
Numbers of improved breeding bulls currently owned 1 1 1.00 

Numbers of local breeding bulls currently owned 1 6 2.22 
Numbers of improved oxen currently owned 1 2 1.25 
Numbers of local oxen currently owned 1 50 3.40 
Numbers of improved heifers currently owned 1 5 2.00 
Numbers of local heifers currently owned 1 25 3.29 
Numbers of improved calves currently owned 1 3 1.64 
Numbers of local calves currently owned 1 14 2.95 
Numbers of improved sheeps currently owned 2 2 2.00 
Numbers of local sheeps currently owned 1 40 5.41 
Numbers of improved goats currently owned -  - - 
Numbers of local goats currently owned 1 80 13.77 

Numbers of improved poultry currently owned 1 14 3.69 
Numbers of local poultry currently owned 1 20 6.24 
Numbers of improved beehives currently owned  -  -  - 
Numbers of local beehives currently owned 1 64 6.69 
Numbers of local donkeys currently owned 1 9 2.36 
Numbers of local horses currently owned 1 2 1.12 
Valid N (listwise)    

               Source: Survey Data Result 

 

4.6. Fattening, Production and Management 

The number of sample respondents currently engaged  in fattening business was 83.8%  and 16.2%  of sample 

respondents was not currently engaged in business due to shortage of capital, shortage  of feeds,  lack  of awareness 

on its  benefit ,existence of unfinished cattle for fattening and some respondents were engaged on crop production 

activities by using their oxen for draft purpose. 

The sample respondents indicated that cattle fattening  experience ranges from 1to 30 years. It averaged to 

6.48 years with a standard deviation of 5.923. 

 

Table-5. The number and species of animals currently set for fattening 

 N Minimum Maximum Mean 

The number of ox set for fattening currently 86 1 10 2.50 
The number of goats set for fattening currently 13 1 5 2.85 
The number of sheeps set for fattening currently 37 1 10 2.73 
Valid N (listwise) 10    

   Source: Survey Result 

 

The number and species of animals that sample respondents currently engaged  on fattening were ox  ranges  1 

to 10 on average 2.50,  goats ranges  1 to 5 on average 2.85 and sheeps ranges 1 to 10 on average 2.73 

 

4.7. Purpose/Reason for Cattle Fattening 

The major  purpose or reasons  of cattle fattening of sample respondents were about 80.5% of the sample 

respondents were fatten their cattle for the purpose of getting better prices for existing aged animals when it was 

sold,4.2%  was engaged as business enterprise,2.6 % was  engaged  both as business enterprise as well as to get 

better prices for their existing aged animals while 12% of the sample respondents  fatten their cattle for the other 

purpose such as to enable their ox to plough well strongly, to purchase more other   cattle and increase the number 

of  the stock, to  buy improved cattle and young ox, to replace with uncast rated one, to increase income ,for meat, 



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for family education, for saving, to construct house. This result was almost similar  with  the findings of Workneh 

and Rowland Kocho [12]. 

As shown in the above the majority of sample respondents fatten their cattle in order to get better price for 

existing aged animals when it was sold. 

The sample respondents indicated that about 97.5% were castrate their animals for fattening purpose while 

only 2.5% didn't. This was due to 38.9% of sample respondents said that the castrated animal stores fat and bitterly 

converts feed recourses to meat and 28.7% of sample respondents said that it simplifies the fattening operation, 

2.8% it makes the animal healthy and appetite-full, 3.7%  was traditionally accepted practices that come from forth -

fathers,9.3% of sample respondents said both it simplifies the fattening operation and traditionally accepted 

practices that come from forth -fathers.  

while 7.4% was for other purpose which is in order to increase its price or income, to reduce the power of cattle  

not to damage people during fattening. As we have seen in the above  castrating the cattle for the fattening 

operation was very important and the majority of sample respondents castrate their animals during the time of 

fattening.  

About 25.6%  of the sample respondents  had experience in fattening of uncast rated animals while 74.4% had 

not experience in fattening uncast rated animals. According to the respondents the difference that they observed in 

terms of time and body weight in comparison with castrated animal was that  the uncastrated one increases time of 

fattening rather than fattening  cast rated one and has lower body weight, the uncastrated one stores low fat  than 

cast rated one, Further more, the uncastrated  one had given less  managements and takes low market price  than 

castrated when fattened. The majority of sample respondents had not experience in fattening of  uncast rated 

animals due to the above mentioned reason. 

 

4.8. The Major Constraints of Fattening Business 

Of the  sample respondents  the major constraints that faced during fattening business were 23.9%  low market 

price of the product,  20.5% high price of feeds used in fattening ,30.7%  diseases and parasites,9.1%  lack of initial 

capital and others. According to sample respondents indicated, other problem that affect during fattening business 

include 72.9% shortage of feeds,2.1% shortage of water and 6.3% shortage of grazing land. Among those shortage of 

feed was the main problem for the sample respondents. Contrary to present findings, Belete, et al. [4] reported that 

shortage of capital was the first constraint to cattle fattening in Amhara region of Ethiopia.  

 

Table-6. Management of  the animal set for fattening purpose 

Management type Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent 

Valid 

Housing 5 4.2 4.3 4.3 
Feeding 55 46.6 47.0 51.3 
Grazing 30 25.4 25.6 76.9 
feeding and 
grazing 

21 17.8 17.9 94.9 

Housing and 
Feeding 

6 5.1 5.1 100.0 

Total 117 99.2 100.0  
Missing System 1 .8   
Total 118 100.0   

                Source: Survey Result 

 

Of the sample respondents that manage the animals set for fattening  47% was prepare shelter  and provide 

feeding,25.6% was tether their cattle on their own grazing land,17.9% was both prepare shelter  and provide feeding 

as well as tether their animals on their own grazing land ,5.1% was both housing and  feeding in the shelter and 

only 4.3% was managed in the house. Similar findings were reported by tesfay [10]. The majority of the sample 



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respondents fed their animals set for fattening  under the shelter prepared  for them in order to prevent loss of 

energy for search of feed and water. Getahun [8] indicated that farmers in east Ethiopia fed oxen for more than one 

year.  

The  sample respondents indicated  that the  average time to fatten ox , sheep and goat were 1.21,0.92 and 0.97 

respectively. According to Jepsen and Creek Habtemariam [13] poor performing cattle are kept for a longer period 

to reach targeted fattening level. 

 

4.9. Housing of Fattening Cattle 

 As indicated in the table 6 below about 90.6%  of the fattening system they carry out was outdoor,5.1% was 

indoor and 4.3% were both indoor and outdoor. The present findings  is inconsistent with shitahun MOA (Ministry 

of Agriculture) [14] reported the three  types of houses which had been used to keep the fattening cattle in 

Harshinwereda of somali region were separated room in the family house (56%), separated house constructed for the 

cattle (32%), andenclosed barn with simple shed (12%) . 

 

Fattening System Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent 

Valid 

Indoor fattening 6 5.1 5.1 5.1 
Outdoor fattening 106 89.8 90.6 95.7 
Indoor and  Outdoor 
fattening 

5 4.2 4.3 100.0 

Total 117 99.2 100.0  
Missing System 1 .8   
Total 118 100.0   

         Source: Survey Result 

 

4.10. Training on Fattening 

Of the sample respondents 39.7%  was trained in fattening while 60.3% of the sample respondents didn't taken 

any trainings on the fattening of animal. According to sample  respondents majority ( 86.7%) of trainings on 

fattening was organized by agricultural office,2.2% was by research center,6.7% was by NGO  while  4.4% was 

organized through both agricultural office and NGO. 

 

4.11. Household Responsibility 

According to sample respondents the responsibility to manage the fattening at household level were 20% by 

husband,4.3% by wife,49.6% by  husband, wife and children,19.1% by husband and wife,4.3% by wife and children 

while 2.6% by husband and children. As the sample respondents indicated all the family members were participate  

while managing the fattening cattle at the house hold level.  

 

4.12. Criteria to Select Animal for Fattening 

According to sample respondents the criteria that they considered while selecting the animals for fattening 

purpose were  33.6 %  by  their body condition, 25% by their skeletal frame confrontation, 0.9% Castration ,10.3%  

by their age,1.7% by their colour,12.9%  was by their body condition  and skeletal frame confrontation. Similar  

findings were reported by Takele and Habtamu [7] and BOARD (Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development of 

Amhara Region) [5] . The majority of sample respondents were consider  the selection criteria by the body 

condition of the animals. 

 

4.13. The Establishment of Farmers' Cooperative Organization 

About 78.9%  of the sample respondents indicated that the establishment of farmers' cooperative organization 

could help to exploit the existing livestock potential in a better way while 21.1% didn't think that the establishment 



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of farmers' cooperative organization that could help to exploit existing livestock potential in a better way.The 

majority of sample respondents  were think that the establishment of farmers' cooperative organization that could 

help to exploit existing livestock potential in a better way. According to sample respondents  the existence of 

cooperative organization  could help them because:- 

 It  enables to get better price from their livestock, facilitates good marketing system and creates market 

opportunity. 

 It improves ways of production through communication  and knowledge as well as experience sharing 

among the members. 

 It provides market information to the members  and enables to achieve their common goals through 

working together. 

 Accessibility to get improved forage,grass,amole salt and  trainings on fattening. 

 It maximizes profit by reducing taxes and other transaction costs. 

 It  enables to change their living standards through maximizing income. 

 It enables  to buy  other more uncastrated animals  inorder to castrate and fatten together  to sell at high 

price.  

 There is good  initiation and motivation while working together  and enables to discuss on problem and 

get solution. 

 It enables to fatten appropriately and sell at reasonable price  in better market.   

 Availability of credit services from cooperative at minimum interest rate to be engaged  in cattle fattening 

business  during the time of  financial shortage. 

 It has good monitoring and evaluation. 

 It  has dividend and other benefit from cattle fattening cooperative. 

 It can assemble and  whole sale to big traders at high price  and ability to attract other customers.  

 

4.14. Types of Feeds and Feeding System of Fattening Cattle 

The major feeds that  sample respondents  feed their animals set for fattening are Crop 

residue,hay,falsebanana,local beverage by product which is in line  with the findings of Takele and Habtamu [7] in 

southern region and Belete, et al. [4] in Amhara region of Ethiopia. Some major feeds are shown  in the table 

below. 

 

Table-7. Some major local feeds and others that are  provided for their animals during fattening in the study area 

Types of feeds 

Cut and carry system Hay 
Banana leafs  Crop residues 
Enset leafs Local beverage by product('Atela') 
Household food left over after milling  Desho grass 
Banana pseudo stem  Egg 
Enset pseudo stem Amole salt 
Fattening tablets  Roots of 'amicha' local 
Cooked maize   Maize grain 
Leafs of sugar cane Apetizer 
residues('shufuro') Cooked coffee  

            Source: Survey Result 

 

According to sample respondents some major  local forage  trees species    that  were  used for fattening 

purpose were mentioned n the table below i. 

 

 



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Table-8. Some Major Local Forage Tree Species used for fattening 

Types of local forage tree species 

Zersi Gandabore Soba Geda 
Wanzaleafs Bereza Gandabore 
Shola Felki Boytako 
Ashelaraki Wuyiyi Dacho 
Tobeke Bitbit Turana 
Ara  Suni Ganaya 
Shafi Gichola Garda 
Mudakale Worwey Damyke 
Banak Gara Mazaz 
Zurguma Gan Shafa 
Kenea Halako Worworo 
Dile Woyba Shekomba 
Berbira Lola    Lucinia 
Danga Gadaka Girawa 

Ateme Daweke Fruits of girar 
GaroBura Mulkaya Girawa with powdered   
Damyek Ganxole maize grain 
Wush Corch girawa with salt 
Wache Soyabeen Luci 

                          Source: Survey Result 

 

4.15. Supplementary Feeds 

Of the respondents only 4.2% used to supplement   'furishka' for fattening purpose while 95.7%  of sample 

respondents didn't use supplements like concentrates and 'furishka' .The majority of sample respondents didn't use 

supplementary food like  'furishka' for the fattening purpose rather they used locally available feeds which is in 

agreement with Takele and Habtamu [7]. 

 

5. MARKETING  

Marketing Channels: The channels of cattle marketing found in the study areas are farmers-to-farmers, 

farmers-to-consumers, farmers-to-traders and farmers-to-butchers. 

Majority( 26.7%) of sample respondents were sell their animals at the farm gate,25.9% of sample respondents 

were sell at village market,15.5% at woreda market,1.7% at zonal market,3.4% both at farm gate and village 

market,6.9% at both village and woreda market, 12.9%  both at farm gate and woreda market and some only 0.9% of 

sample respondents were  sell their animals at all marketing center such as farm gate, village ,woreda and zonal 

market. 

According to sample respondents the major buyers or customers for fattened cattle in the area were 91.2% 

traders,3.5%  brokers,3.5% was every body who has money and only 1.8% was both traders and brokers. 

The sample respondents indicated that the major livestock product marketing actors were  about 38.4% was 

farmers,4.5% was middlemen/brokers,31.3% was traders , 18.8% was both farmers and traders and only 0.9% was 

both farmers and brokers. 

 

5.1. Market Distance 

The average distance between their house and village,woreda and zonal  livestock marketing was found to be 

8.21,16.95 and 43.31 respectively as shown in the table below. According to sample respondents there was great 

problem regarding to the distance of livestock marketing. The sample respondents indicated that the fattened  

animals'   market price was being declined due to long distance traveling while taking to the livestock market. This 

in turn decreased their income  from selling of fattened cattle. 

 



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Table-9. The distance between their house and fattened cattle marketing place 

Distance between their house and market N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation 

The distance between house and village market in 
kilometer 

70 0 28 8.21 8.030 

The distance between house and woreda market 
in kilometer 

82 7 35 16.95 7.228 

The distance between house and zonal market in 
kilometer 

29 16 100 43.31 22.008 

Valid N (listwise) 23     

         Source: Survey Result 

 

5.2. Price Determination  

About 77.9% Of the respondents indicated that although they tell the initial selling price for their own product, 

they unable to sell at their own initial selling price . This is because market price setting for the product was by 

trader ,15.9% was by  negotiation,2.7% was  by farmer individually,1.8% respondents determined prices through 

involvement of brokers/middlemen-this offers the lowest profit margin for the producer due to the fee paid to the 

middle men and 0.9% was by both broker and negotiation. According to sample respondents , the majority of 

individual farmer didn’t set the price for their own product ,they were price takers due to:- 

 Lack of information on market price  and weak bargaining practice between buyers  and sellers. 

 Market distance and  absence of  alternative market and entrance of new traders. 

 Disease of animals. 

 Lack of awareness.  

 Expectation on price decline and no need to incur lose in other marketing time. 

 In order to buy more other cattle for fattening purpose. 

 To proceed according to  their  fattening and selling schedule. 

 To sell according to market condition through price negotiation. 

 

5.3. Market information 

Market information is crucial to reduce information gaps and uncertainties that exist in the agricultural sector. 

It is required by producers in their planning of production and way of marketing the product.42.6% of sample 

respondents get market information from their neighbors,22.6%  by visiting market,11.3% from traders, 13% was 

both visiting market and from neighbors .As indicated the majority of sample respondents in the study area were 

get market information from their neighbors informally before they sell which is almost   similar with the findings 

of  Daniel Jepsen and Creek [15]. 

 

5.4. Market Price 

 According to sample respondents , they indicated that    the maximum and minimum market price for their  

fattened animals for the last two years. Accordingly, average maximum  and minimum price for the fattened  ox in 

the study area was 9,631.77 ETB and 5,794.86 ETB respectively. As shown below in the table 10 an average 

maximum  and minimum price for the fattened  sheep  was 1,353.96 ETB and  734.89 ETB   respectively. Also 

average maximum  and minimum price for the fattened  goat   was 1,421.43 ETB and  840.48 ETB   respectively. 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Table-10.Market price for the fattened animals 

        Market Price N Minimum Maximum Av.  Std. Deviation 

Maximum market price  for ox 107 3,000.00 26,000.00 9,631.7757 3,547.19124 
Minimum market price  for ox 107 1,000.00 18,000.00 5,794.8598 2,438.95213 
Maximum market price  for 
sheep 

92 15.00 5,000.00 1,353.9674 777.96421 

Minimum market price  for sheep 92 60.00 2,000.00 734.8913 341.45936 
Maximum market price  for goat 42 650.00 2,500.00 1,421.4286 477.43508 
Minimum market price  for goat 42 200.00 1,800.00 840.4762 440.09950 
Valid N (listwise) 40     

             Source: Survey Results 

 

5.5. Marketing Constraints 

The major marketing constraints in the area were :- 

 Lack of well organized traders that enter into the market and no support from concerned body. 

 Market fluctuation and low demand for the product  as well as low payment. 

 Lack of market information, infrastructure  and awareness on fattening. 

 Existence of drought as well as low crop productivity and supply  to the market. 

 Existence of robbers. 

 There is price decline during Ethiopian festivals and absence of regular market days 

 Frequent payment of tax was made by the single fattened cattle even if it is not sold.   

 Low market price for fattened animals  during dry season due to high supply to the market. 

 Low price payments  made by the traders at the farm gate and problems of brokers. 

 Absence of competent traders and limited number of local traders in the study  area. 

 Inability to sale their product at other big market  and absence of receivers. 

 Traders and brokers set the market price and  producers had no bargaining power 

 Absence of livestock marketing place and marketing process benefits off only the traders rather than 

producers. 

 Absence  of network and  problems of transportation cost. 

According to sample respondents, they provided and suggested their own possible solution for the above 

constraints that they mentioned. These are:- 

 There should be government support, infrastructure and educational accessibility particularly for the 

young generation. 

 There should be enough traders entrance into the market ,organized body on livestock who buy and  

establishments of cooperatives by organizing those who engaged on cattle fattening.  

 Trainings on fattening system, market information and awareness creation. 

 There should be existence of regular market days and the municipality should deal with the problems of 

tax . 

 Increased agricultural production and productivity. 

 When there is brokers in the market not selling the product.   

 There should be control of illegal traders as well as facilitating for legal traders to compute and wholesale 

in the market. 

 Not selling at low price when they come to their house or farm gate and in the market. 

 Payment for the tax should be made after the selling the product and avoiding alcoholic drinking in the 

area. 

 There should be financial institution for credit and saving service at the time of difficulty period. 

 The government should facilitate livestock market in their surrounding or nearest. 



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 Not selling the product at the time of festivals and searching for  better market at other time. 

 The government should facilitate market access and  business license . 

 

6. CONCLUSIONS 

It was concluded that smallholder farmers in the study area practice traditional cattle fattening practices. There 

was no practice of using improved forages and supplementary food like concentrates or 'furishka' for their fattening 

purpose in the study area. Most of the feeds are locally available. Shortage of feeds, low market price, disease and 

parasite, high price of feeds were the main constraint factors to fatten cattle. 

They believe  establishment of farmers' cooperative organization in the study area that could help to exploit 

existing livestock potential in a better way. Cattle marketing in the study area mainly function at two levels, namely 

village level and primary markets. Market actors were producers, consumers, middlemen, restaurant owners, 

traders and butchers. Market information is crucial to reduce information gaps and uncertainties that exist in the 

agricultural sector. However, in the study area  there was no access to formal market information before sale. They 

get market information informally from neighbor, visiting market and traders. Most of the producers were unable 

to determined price for their own products . There was weak bargaining between buyers and sellers and majority of  

them were price takers. Cattle marketing outlets were farmers-to-farmers, farmers-to- consumers, farmers-to-

traders, farmers-to-restaurant owners and farmers-to-butchers.In order to increase the quality and number of 

animals fattened, providing farmers with sufficient training and extension services on improved cattle fattening 

technologies ,market information are very important. Because of lack weighing facilities, cattle are marketed based 

on visual judgment and this could affect the actual price of the animal reducing the profitability of agro pastoralists. 

Season and market locations were found to affect price of cattle suggesting the need to plan cattle fattening 

targeting season and market location to benefit farmers from better price, so that cattle fattening become 

sustainable. 

 

7. RECOMMENDATION 

On the bases of the empirical findings of this study, the following recommendations are 

Forwarded:  

There should formulation of appropriate marketing and pricing policies 

which enable agro pastoralists earn higher incomes, and provision of timely up to date market 

information to agro pastoralists. 

There should be adaptation and introduction of improved feeds and feeding system. 

There should be strong market linkage  with different market chain actors. 

There should be establishment of  market oriented beef cattle fattening  cooperative association and  infrastructural 

development. 

The research center together with extension office should provide training on the beef cattle fattening system. 

The government should facilitate organized  market access  in their surroundings . 

There should be practicing of intensive  fattening system and provision of supplementary feeds. 

Improving of animal feeds by different treatment technologies should be introduced. 

The adaptation of improved forage seeds and forage development should be practiced.  

 

Funding: This study received no specific financial support. 
 

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. 
 

Contributors/Acknowledgement: All authors contributed equally to the conception and design of the study.  

 

 



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