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Ethiopian Livestock Feed (ELF) Project FEAST Field Report - Sheep. By Beneberu Teferra, Solomon Gizaw, Lemma Yohanis, Shenkute Goshime, Aschalew Tsegahun. Introduction. Survey Methodology: PRA and Individual interviews Name of site/village: Godino Wegitu Name of district: Ada
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Ethiopian Livestock Feed (ELF) Project FEAST Field Report - Sheep By Beneberu Teferra, Solomon Gizaw, Lemma Yohanis, Shenkute Goshime, Aschalew Tsegahun
Introduction • Survey Methodology: PRA and Individual interviews • Name of site/village: GodinoWegitu • Name of district: Ada • Country: Ethiopia • Number of participants present: 4 males and 1 female • Date: 14/03/2012 • Start time of PRA: 10:55 a.m • Finish time of PRA: 12:25 p.m • Total time: 1:30 hr
General Farming System Description • The average farm size (cultivable land) is 1.5 ha • The average household size is 7 persons
Rainfall Pattern • Rainfall pattern scored from 0 (not available) to 5 (highly available)
Cropping Seasons at Godino District Irrigation is available to 85% of households through different land acquisition arrangements (rent, share, etc.)
Labour • Labour is available, mostly family labour is used • Labour requirement peaks during October – January (peak harvest time) • Wage rate ranges from 34 to 50 Birr per manday • About 4% of the household members leave the farm for off-farm work or education daily
Management of Livestock Species • Housing: traditional livestock houses • Feeding practice: open grazing in communal areas and stall-feeding • Feed processing: chopping of maize stover, preparation of mixed rations composed of molasses, noug cake and atela. • Management practices vary according to the season; e.g. oxen are supplemented during Feb. to April
Input and services • There is no credit service in the area • The local credit and saving cooperative is yet to build its capacity to give credit services • There is land shortage due to high population pressure • There is no fallowing practice in the area • More than one cropping per year is practiced • Inputs like fertilizer (Urea and DAP), cement and irrigation equipments are available in the market • However, services are not timely and of standard quality
Veterinary Services • Generally veterinary services are inadequately supplied to the area • Only one assistant veterinarian for the Kebele • Cost of Government Veterinary service is fair • Private vet services are too expensive for the farmers
Breeding Services • Availability of AI – not available adequately, serving large population with one technician and few equipments • Price of semen and AI service – Gov’t it is 23Birr/cow • Private it is 210 Birr/cow • Rate of repeat services – at least 3 times • Price of bull services – it is about 100Birr but mostly with free if the farmer friendship is well recognized and the bull is mostly local
3. Problems, Issues, Opportunities within the Livestock System Major problems faced by farmers and opportunities: Problem 1: Artificial insemination service (AI) Opportunity: • AI service should be available in time and AI technicians need to be on their work place as they are sometime not available when they are needed. • AI kit should be provided to farmer AI technicians who are already trained Problem 2: Improved breeding stock (cow, heifer) Opportunity: • High blood level of improved cow/heifer from known sources
Problem 3: Feed Opportunity: • Forage Seed with affordable price • Feed (concentrate) with good quality Problem 4: Advisory service Opportunity: • Working with research and extension • Training and experience sharing Problem 5: Milk market Opportunity: • Improving the capacity of local cooperative towards working in provision of input and use as the outlet of outputs • Support from government to alleviate market problems
Pairwise Comparisons Summary The marketing of milk as considered the most important problem, while livestock feeds was the least of their problems. Advisory service was not considered a problem at all.
