1. BY DR. SOLOMON MENGISTU ADDISU ABERA SOLOMON ABEYI FANTAHUN DEREJE FEAST Beef group presentation

2. Introduction Name of Kebele: Godino Name of Woreda:Ada’a Country: Ethiopia Number of participants: 5 (males=4, females=1) Date: March 14, 2012 Start time: 10:50 amFinishing time: 1:45 pm Total time taken = 2:55hrs

3. Description of the farming system The average farm size = 2ha or 8 kert; [1ha= 4 kert] The typical (or average) household size? 5 persons The rainfall pattern vary over a years 0-5, where 5 = heavy rainfall levels and 0=no rainfall)?  Heavy RF= July and August  Medium RF= June and September  Small RF = April, May and October  No RF= November through March There are two cropping seasons  Kiremet:June - July, August & September  Bega:October - May Most of the area is suitable for irrigation About 65% of the HH are using irrigation

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5. Availability of labour There is shortage of labour due to seasonality of the work load When is it most required? During October to January which is the main cropping season Price of (daily-paid) labour : between 45 to 50 birr/ day Labour is highly demanded & very expensive during the cropping season Some Agricultural inputs: Credit & land are not readily available Other Agricultural inputs : urea, plastic sheeting, irrigation equipment's are not readily available in the local market so farmers are forced to search for them at big towns

6. 6 Types of Livestock raised in the area Livestock speciesUse% of HH that own the species. Average number of animals per HH Local Dairy cowsMal calf, milk, manure902 Improved dairy cows Milk for sale, calf, manure,101 Draught cattleDraught, threshing, transport wood 902 Fattening cattleTo fiche more money for oxen replacement 101 SheepFor sale, meat753 GoatsFor sale, meat654 Poultry – villageFor sale, for egg & meat905 Poultry – commercial For sale, for egg & meat152 HorseCart & saddle transport51 DonkeysPack agricultural goods, fetch water, thresh crops 951

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8. Management of livestock Housing – separate housing, rarely in coral Feeding of cattle (stall fed, tethered, open grazing) – open grazing dominant for local & stall feeding for cross breed lactating. Feed processing (chopping, urea treatment, mixing etc.)- Combination of all. The veterinary services are there but the service is not adequate in most of the cases it is difficult to get drugs; the prophylactic method is not applicable. More over, the cost of treating animals is unaffordable by farmers. With regard to methods of livestock reproduction: AI & natural mating is being practiced. However, the availability of AI – service is very problematic; also the rate of repeat services – 2 to 3 times per conception. Farmers are resort to cross bred bull services

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10. 10 The summary of farmers’ view, identified problems & solutions Main problems Problem 1Availability of feed SolutionProduce by their own, procure the deficit from other sources Problem 2Veterinary services SolutionProvision of the service by the public & privet Problem 3Lack of improved animal breed SolutionProduce from own herd Problem 4Shortage of AI services SolutionProvision of the service by the public & privet technician Problem 5Lack of technical knowledge SolutionProvision of the capacity building by extension agents

11. 11 Complete pair-wise comparisons of these problems ComparisonWhich problem is more Important to farmers? Problem 1 v Problem 21 Problem 1 v Problem 31 Problem 1 v Problem 41 Problem 1 v Problem 51 Problem 2 v Problem 32 Problem 2 v Problem 44 Problem 2 v Problem 52 Problem 3 v Problem 43 Problem 3 v Problem 53 Problem 4 v Problem 54

12. 12 Problem 1 Problem 2 Problem 3 Problem 4 Problem 5 Number of times the problem was considered the most important 42220 Summary of the observation: o Feed is the most critical problem affecting livestock production as farmers notified it,