Assessment of Cattle Fattening Practices in Kellem Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia

Abstract Beef cattle are one of a few agricultural commodities in Ethiopia and the cattle fattening is an effective tool for poverty alleviation, good opportunity for employment and income generation as a whole via utilizing seasonally available feed resources. This research was carried out in Kellem Wollega Zone of Oromia Regional state, Western Ethiopia, with the objective of the assessment of cattle fattening practices in the zone. It was carried out using structured and semi-structured questionnaire by interviewing a total of 378 cattle fattener households who were proportionally selected from high land, midland and lowland agro-ecologies. The result of the study indicated that, only local cattle breeds were used for fattening where there was highest preference for adult bulls (70.1%), that is followed by oxen (24.1%), old and infertile female cow (5.8%). The major feeding practices of cattle fattening in the study area were (48.4%) stall feeding only, (31.5%) combination of stall feeding and free gazing and (20.1%) free grazing system. The major feed resources used for cattle fattening during dry season in order of commonly used were crop-residues, stubble grazing, non-conventional feeds, grains, hay, natural pasture and browse trees, while during wet season, cut and carry forages, natural grazing, non-conventional feeds, crop residues, grain, stubble grazing and hay were ranking 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th, respectively in order of commonly used. The overall feeding duration of fattening cattle were three months (36.5%), four months (27%), five months (28.6%) and six months and above (7.9%). Separated house types (47.3%) for the animals were the commonest housing system in the study area. It can be concluded that cattle fattening could be one potential strategy to enhance the income of smallholder farmers. Moreover detailed on station research work of cattle fattening practices are required.