Assessment of Livestock Production System in Selected Districts of East and Horro Guduru Wellega Zones, Oromia, Ethiopia

  

    
Livestock types
    
Gobu Seyo
    
Diga
    
Horro
  
  

    
Wet season
    
Dry season
    
Wet season
    
Dry season
    
Wet season
    
Dry season
  
  

    
Cattle
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing
  
  

    
Sheep
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing & browsers
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing & browsers
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing & browsers
  
  

    
Goat
    
Free grazing & browsers
    
Browsers
    
Free grazing & browsers
    
Browsers
    
Free grazing & browsers
    
Browsers
  
  

    
Poultry
    
Scavenger, supplementary feeding
    
Scavenger
    
Scavenger, supplementary feeding
    
Scavenger
    
Scavenger, supplementary feeding
    
Scavenger
  
  

    
Bee
    
Visiting
    
Visiting, supplementary
    
Visiting
    
Visiting
    
Visiting, supplementary
    
Visiting
  
  

    
Fish
    
Scavenger
    
Scavenger
    
Scavenger
    
Scavenger
    
Scavenger
    
Scavenger
  
  

    
Equine
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing
    
Free grazing & supplement
    
Free grazing & supplement
  
  

    
Source: Survey result (2023). 
  

Table 5: Common feeding system in the study areas by season.

Grazing lands: Availability of grazing is very important for animal feed resources. Communal grazing lands have been important for livestock forage in the western Oromia. However, several communal and private grazing lands have been severely degraded due to crop expansion, and free and uncontrolled grazing systems. Similarly, Ebro et al. [17] reported that grazing lands are used as a major livestock feed resource in Ethiopia, but, it's diminishing from time to time because of crop expansion and heavy grazing pressure on the remaining grazing lands [50]. The current scenario of the government's agenda for wheat production has been extremely computed with communal grazing lands. The result is supported by Mekuria et al. [35] who reported that devastating grazing land for wheat production consequences, lack of animal feed, reduced crop-livestock integration, and reduced natural vegetation coverage.

Animal feed conservation methods: Seasonal variations of available feed, both in quantity and quality are suffering in Ethiopia [27]. Conservation of surplus animal feed is essential in livestock production [37]. Discussants responded that animal feeds were preserved as crop residues, aftermath collection, and area enclosing. But, no silage-making had been practicing the community level. This result was supported by Balehegn et al. [8] reported smallholder farmers rarely make silages, even though, repeated recommendations were provided. This happened because awareness and adoption of forage conservation practices at the farmer's level are low [5]. For instance, grazing land was enclosed for calves, and unhealthy animals mostly in backyards refused to harvest. However, the quality of the feeds is diminished by prolonged maturity. Discussants in all districts raised the straw that had been conserved for drought animals, barley straw for cows and calves, maize straw for all cattle, and crop aftermath for sheep, calves, and horses.

Water resources availability for livestock: Fresh and clean water is crucial for improving animal performance (Diriba et al., 2024). Rivers, streams, springs, manmade lakes and ponds are year-round water sources for all livestock species in all studied districts. There is no water harvesting practice from flood/ home roofs for watering their animals. Cattle, sheep, and horses were drink water two times a day during the dry season and once a day during the wet season. Whereas, goats, donkeys, and mules were once a day during the dry season and occasionally during the wet season. Poultry needs ad libitum water across the year.

Livestock Technologies Available

Modern technologies and digitization can allow livestock producers to optimize their operations [28]. For instance, used for creating more efficient production systems, reducing environmental impacts, achieving food self-sufficiency, and lowering production costs [9]. Discussants in all districts responded that no more livestock technologies were used currently. More production and product processing have been conducted in traditional ways. However, in recent situations distribution of improved forage, chicken (cross breeds and day-old chick), and the use of AI and estrus synchronization were the few livestock technologies available in urban and pre-urban areas. Animal feed constraint was a major cause of decreased animal productivity. However, the distribution of improved animal feed in the rural area was limited. Furthermore, livestock technologies were not addressed among farmer’s training centers in all villages. In the future, the concerned body should be working on the scale-up of improved forage, preservation and treatment of crop residues feed processing is essential.

In contrast global livestock farming technological companies are developing sensors to monitor real-time milk production, meat production, honey reap, egg quality, feed quality and treatments, feed formulation, fish hunting, health, and pregnancy diagnostics [42]. Hence, our livestock production system should be restructured and supported by different technologies to compute the productivity globally comparable with the population [51]. The discussants and key informants have requested livestock technologies support from research centers institutes, universities, NGOs, and other concerned bodies on different commodities. For example, cattle: practical training on AI, delivering equipment, bull survives, animal feed formulation, fed chopper, feed processing plant, and delivering improved cross-breeds. Bee production: training on management, personally protected equipment, hive, smoker, and casting mold. On sheep and goat health treatment, feed formulation and improve rams/buck and on poultry availing day old chicken, health treatment, concentrate feed, training on all poultry management. Fish catching materials and processing training.

Livestock Fattening Practices

Livestock fattening has been a long-standing practice in the study areas, which is mainly geared towards meeting the demand and typically increases during festive seasons. According to the survey results fattening was took a long period due to being practiced traditionally. The fattening program had been targeting New Year, Eastern, Charismas, and Ed Al-Arafat. The most preferred age for fattening was 5-8 years for bulls, 2-5 years for shoat both intact and castrated. If any bulls had not started plowing before four years, then farmers had been used for two to four years for drought. Fattening bulls before plowing (less than four years) was not experienced in all studied districts.

During the fattening period, special caution was provided for these animals via tying in a clean house, feeding cut and carrying pasture individuals, giving house leftovers, providing clean water, timely health treatments, and salt supplementations. Feeding industrial by-products during fattening was uncommon in both zones. The lack of supplementing industrial byproducts prolonged the fattening period and affected Horro cattle and sheep meat quality, because, the feed they offered was not met for surplice production. These cases limit animals and their product from terminal and export markets claimed as short shelf life. Merera et al. (2013) reported that short shelf life/ dark cutting carcass occurred due to pre-slaughter handling. Thus, improving the feed and nutrition aspects of the small and large ruminant value chains should be one of the core intervention areas for the FSRP project to exploit red meat marketing and consumption.

Regarding sheep and goats less than two years entering for fattening takes time and the animals have no demand in the local market. Survey results revealed that Horro sheep and cattle age preferred for fattening and finishing was not preferred at terminal markets, particularly for high-end domestic hotels, catering institutions, and export markets. This practice might be similar to other parts of Ethiopia, because, Yami et al. (2018) reported that Ethiopia was dependent on meat imports. This happened due to the inability to produce high-quality carcasses (Mummed and Webb, 2015). Animals were sent to market without considering their meat quality (Ehui et al., 2000) [52]. However, different authors have controversial perceptions on the theme Akililu et al. (2005); Abebe et al. (2010); Legese and Fadiga (2014), and Yami et al. (2018) reported carcasses from highland animals in Ethiopia quickly darkened and had a short shelf-life and concluded that the animals are not meat for high ended domestic (HED) hotels and export markets. In contrast, Merera et al. (2013) and Birhanu et al. (2019) reported dark cutting and short shelf-life carcasses are not related to the origin of animals rather than others pre-slaughter handling and genotypes. Hence, the scenarios need deep investigation and designing a proper breeding strategy, premium price for quality animals, awareness creation on preparing ration formulation from locally available feed for specific species, health service, product safety, excellent relationships among industry actors, and conducive management conditions.

Livestock Health and Vaccination

Common livestock diseases and vaccination calendars are presented in Table 6. Livestock diseases are a priority problem for livestock keepers throughout Ethiopia [12]. The survey results revealed that Anthrax, blackleg, pasteurellosis, and FMD were the common diseases for cattle, PPR, pasteurellosis, and shoat pox for small ruminants, NCD and foul typhoid for poultry and African Horse sickness was the major disease equine across the study districts. The result was supported by Gizaw et al. (2021) who worked on the importance of livestock diseases in the highlands of Ethiopia. The prevalence of these diseases reduces individual, regional and international income and jeopardizes food security. Inadequate drugs and vaccine availability, inconsistent supply of drugs, high price of drugs, poor quality, and illegal smuggling trade of drugs were raised as major problems of animal health in the study area. Similar results were reported by different authors on the constraints of animal health in Ethiopia [12,33,43,46,53]. The good thing from the discussant's group revealed that no disease outbreak had occurred in the last five years. This result indicated that the area is conducive to diversity of livestock production. However, the chronic problems were affecting the livelihoods of livestock keepers and jeopardizing food security at the local and national levels. Hence, designing and implementing a compressive sustainable animal disease control and prevention strategy will be pertinent for problems in the study area.

Table 6: Livestock common diseases and vaccination calendar.

  

    
District
    
Livestock
    
Major Diseases
    
Vaccinations
    
Seasons of vaccinations
  
  

    
Gobu Seyo
    
Cattle
    
Anthrax, blackleg & pasteurellosis
    
Anthrax, blackleg & pasteurellosis vaccines
    
Before & after rain season set
  
  

    
Shoat
    
PPR, pasteurellosis and shoat pox
    
PPR, pasteurellosis and shoat pox vaccines
  
  

    
Poultry
    
NCD & Foul typhoid
    
NCD and Foul typhoid vaccines
  
  

    
Equine
    
AHS & ulcerative colitis
    
AHS and UC vaccines
    
September
  
  

    
Diga
    
Cattle
    

      
Anthrax,    blackleg, pasteurellosis LSD & CBPP
    
    

      
Anthrax,    blackleg, pasteurellosis, LSD & CBPP vaccines
    
    

      
Feb.-Mar.,    Jul.-Aug., and Oct. to Dec. based on disease
    
  
  

    
Shoat
    

      
Anthrax,    PPR, pasteurellosis and CCPP
    
    

      
Anthrax,    PPR, pasteurellosis & CCPP vaccines
    
    

      
Before    rain season set
    
  
  

    
Poultry
    

      
NCD,    Foul typhoid
    
    

      
NCD    and Foul typhoid vaccines
    
    

      
As    new emerged & Dec.-Mar.
    
  
  

    
Equine
    

      
Anthrax    & African horse
    
    

      
Anthrax    & AHS vaccines
    
    

      
February    & March
    
  
  

    
Horro
    
Cattle
    

      
Anthrax,    blackleg, FMD, Rabies, pasteurellosis, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, LSD &    CBPP
    
    

      
Anthrax,    blackleg, FMD, Rabies, pasteurellosis, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, LSD &    CBPP vaccines
    
    

      
April-August
    
  
  

    
Shoat
    

      
CCPP,    shoat pox & Brucellosis
    
    

      
shoat    pox vaccine
    
    

      
June-August
    
  
  

    
Poultry
    

      
NCD,    Foul typhoid, cholera, foul box, Gumboro & coccidiosis (parasite)
    
    

      
NCD,    Foul typhoid, F. box, cholera, Gumboro & parasite vaccines
    
    

      
As    new case emerged and Dec.-Mar.
    
  
  

    
Equine
    

      
African    horse sickness
    
    

      
AHs    vaccines
    
    

      
June-August
    
  
  

    
Key:LSD= Lumpy and skin disease, NCD=Newcastle    disease, AHS= African horse sickness, FMD= Foot and Mouth disease, CCPP=    Contiguous Caprine plurone pneumonia, CBPP= Contiguous Bovine plurone    pneumonia, PPR= Peste    des petits ruminants

      Source: Survey result (2023). 
  

Table 6: Livestock common diseases and vaccination calendar.

Close

Deworming and spraying of livestock: Livestock deworming and spraying colander are presented in Table 7. Parasites decrease production through decreased weight gain. Particularly, internal parasitic like fasciolosis, hydatidosis, and C. bovis were the major causes of poor animal condition, loss of body weight, carcass condemnation, organ condemnation, and financial loss in Ethiopia [26,46]. According to information from key informants and secondary data deworming in all districts was conducted before and after the rainy seasons. However, sparing was conducted throughout the year following the emergency of external parasite infestations.

Table 7: Livestock deworming and spraying colander.

  

    
Livestock types
    
Deworming Calendar
    
Spraying calendar
  
  

    
Cattle
    
Before and after the rainy season
    
Throughout the year
  
  

    
Sheep
    
Before and after the rainy season
    
Throughout the year
  
  

    
Goat
    
Before and after the rainy season
    
Throughout the year
  
  

    
Poultry
    
Before and after the rainy season
    
There is no spraying for poultry
  
  

    
Equine
    
Before and after the rainy season
    
Throughout the year
  

Table 7: Livestock deworming and spraying colander.

Close

Livestock product processing: Even though, Ethiopia has a huge diversity of livestock resources productivity is low and stored/processed as traditional floodways’ [15]. According to data from discussants, animal slaughtering has been processed in conventional ways. In the rural area, all animals were slaughtered in the backyard without any post and ant-mortem inspection by professionals, because, no abattoir service at the village level. Similarly, the key informant responded that abattoirs at the district level couldn’t give full service to clients. These results are similar to a report of Amistu et al. [2] who reported that more butchers were slaughtering in the backyard without inspection by professionals. Sudden deaths of animals in rural areas were shared (Qircaa) by all neighbors without knowing the causes of death. The farmers preserved meat by mincing and hanging it in the kitchen to minimize moisture, and salt and a hot hopper were used to diminish microbial growth.

Milk was processed using traditional ways. Do not mix hot milk with the previous one, clean the milking storage, and put it in the kitchen during winter, and in water during the summer season. In urban and pre-urban milk is distilled and pastured in refrigerators where access to electricity is availed. However, most discussants had no electric access since the survey was conducted in a rural area. The egg was preserved in cereal grain, net equipment, and tef straw. Honey was preserved only in sealed storages. Because, honey can absorb odor and moisture when it is exposed to air. No hide and skin processes were practiced in the study area, however, no market availability for hide and skin in East and Horro Guduru Welloga.

Climate Change on Livestock Production

Climate change is a major threat to the sustainability of the livestock system globally. Because, the impact on the quality of feed crop and forage, water availability, animal and milk production, livestock diseases, animal reproduction, and biodiversity were high (Melissa et al., 2017; Ali et al., 2020, Cheng et al., 2022). Consequently, adaptation and mitigation of detrimental effects of extreme climates have played a major role in combating the climatic impact on livestock (Sejian et al., 2015). The survey result revealed that the discussants in villages were less knowledgeable about how climate change affects their animals. However, the awareness of discussants on climate change was different among villages and districts. Even, farmers had different perceptions of climate change in one district. For example, in Diga district, a discussant from Arjo Qonan Bula village, Horro district Gitlo village, Gobu Seyo district Gambela Tare and Agolaften villages were raised as climate change affects their animals in medium via the emergence of new diseases, slow growth of animals, feed and water scares, reproductive fallers, thinly of hide and skin. In contrast, the discussants from Diga district, Jirata village, and Horro district Dayo Bariso village were denied as climate change affects their animals and no hear about it, the era is conducive for their animals. The key informants from all districts had similar perceptions of climate change. The discussants revealed that climate change has been a medium worry for the animals in their respective districts. However, their low measurements were taken on adaptation and mitigation strategies in study areas. They raised the theme is current topics in animal production and heard the topic from natural resources experts who took the measurements like plating the tree and bound construction. Effective adaptation to climate variability and climate change is dependent on access to climate information for the coming seasons and years, to enable communities to make decisions for now and the future (Sejian et al., 2015). The direct impact of climate change is drought, flood, thermal stress, mortality, reduced productivity, and shortage of water and feed while the indirect one is animal productivity, quality forages, pest distribution, and increased production cost.

Major Livestock Production Constraints

The major livestock production constraints in the studied areas are presented in Table 8. According to survey results, in Gobu Seyo district animal health service was the major constraint for cattle, goats, and equines followed by inadequate feed. The absence of veterinary clinics and limited drug supply, the high price of drugs and services, and the shortage of skilled men were revealed as factors contributing to the severity of animal diseases. Farmers mostly rely on locally prepared herbal medicines to treat different livestock species due to the increased cost of drugs. This result was supported by Gizaw et al. [43] who reported that diseases adversely affect livestock production and exports. Shortage of quantity and quality diets, improved forage, and an extremely increasing cost of the industrial by-products. Similarly, Mengistu et al. Kalsa & Dey [27,36] reported that feed shortages are the topmost livestock production constraint in Ethiopia. No improved sheep breed was reared in all districts the result was supported by Tiruneh et al., [48] who reported that almost all sheep in Ethiopia's indigenous breed belong to the low-productive. A key informant responded that 15-20 years ago Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project delivered about 200 Bonga sheep in the Gobu Seyo district. However, the animal was not adopted to the area. This indicated that the breed was not acclimated to management conditions and environments. Hence, starting a small ruminant community-based breeding program in the Gobu Seyo district is essential rather than importing from others which resulted in economic loss, genetic dilution, etc. According to discussants, the use of herbicides and pesticides was the major confrontation for apiculture production followed by diseases parasites, and types of equipment. Lack of sustainability water availability is a major fish production in followed catching and shipping equipment and diseases.

Table 8: Production constraints in the study areas.

  

    
Districts
    
Major constraints
    
Cattle
    
Sheep
    
Goat
    
Poultry
    
Bee
    
Equines
    
Fish
  
  

    
Gobu Seyo
    
Inadequate Feed
    
2
    
3
    
3
    
2
    
4
    
2
    
-
  
  

    
Animal Health Service
    
1
    
2
    
1
    
1
    
2
    
1
    
3
  
  

    
Lack of improved breed
    
3
    
1
    
2
    
3
    
-
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Market access
    
4
    
4
    
4
    
4
    
-
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Credit access
    
7
    
5
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Water Access
    
8
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
1
  
  

    
Land scares
    
5
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
3
    
-
  
  

    
Technology limit
    
6
    
-
    
5
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
4
  
  

    
Climate change
    
9
    
 
    
 
    
 
    
6
    
 
    
 
  
  

    
Chemicals
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
1
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Predators
    
-
    
6
    
-
    
6
    
5
    
4
    
-
  
  

    
Equipment’s
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
5
    
3
    
5
    
2
  
  

    
Diga
    
Inadequate Feed
    
1
    
3
    
1
    
1
    
5
    
2
    
-
  
  

    
Animal Health Service
    
2
    
1
    
-
    
2
    
3
    
1
    
-
  
  

    
Lack of improved breed
    
6
    
2
    
2
    
4
    
-
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Market access
    
3
    
4
    
3
    
3
    
-
    
-
    
2
  
  

    
Credit access
    
4
    
5
    
4
    
6
    
-
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Water Access
    
8
    
6
    
5
    
 
    
-
    
-
    
1
  
  

    
Land scares
    
7
    
7
    
6
    
7
    
-
    
3
    
-
  
  

    
Technology limit
    
5
    
8
    
7
    
8
    
-
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Climate change
    
9
    
-
    
-
    
5
    
-
    
-
    
--
  
  

    
Chemicals
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
1
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Predators
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
4
    
4
    
-
  
  

    
Equipment’s
    
-
    
-
    
 
    
-
    
2
    
 
    
-
  
  

    
Horro
    
Inadequate Feed
    
1
    
2
    
1
    
3
    
5
    
3
    
-
  
  

    
Animal Health Service
    
2
    
1
    
2
    
1
    
2
    
1
    
4
  
  

    
Lack of improved Breed
    
3
    
3
    
3
    
2
    
-
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Market access
    
5
    
5
    
4
    
5
    
-
    
-
    
3
  
  

    
Credit access
    
6
    
4
    
5
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Water Access
    
7
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
1
  
  

    
Land scares
    
4
    
6
    
6
    
-
    
-
    
4
    
-
  
  

    
Technology limit
    
8
    
-
    
 
    
6
    
-
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Climate change
    
9
    
-
    
7
    
-
    
 
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Chemicals
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
1
    
-
    
-
  
  

    
Predators
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
4
    
3
    
2
    
2
  
  

    
Equipment’s
    
-
    
-
    
-
    
7
    
4
    
5
    
5
  

Table 8: Production constraints in the study areas.

Close

In the Diga district, inadequate feed is ranked as the first constraint for cattle, goat, and poultry production. Discussants ranked animal health as the second major problem in the district for cattle, and poultry production. Uncontrolled usage of herbicides and pesticides for crop production was raised as major apiculture production. the result was supported by Wakgari & Yigezu [49] who reported that honeybees face agrochemical problems in their natural environment during pollen, nectar, and water or moisture collection. Shortage of bee types of equipment like bee hive, bee Val, fumigator, casting mold, fork, honey extractor, and other personal protective equipment. Similarly, Teesega [47] reported a lack of beekeeping equipment, chemical poisoning, shortage of bee forage, drought, knowledge, and skill gap as the problem in northern Ethiopia. Water availability is ranked as a major problem fish production study area. Because, water provides stability, and predictability, and supports food supplies for fish. Market access is raised as the second constraint of fish production. Even though the potential production is there in the study area market access and consumption habits are low. The survey results in Horro district revealed that inadequate feed was ranked by respondents as a major constraint for cattle and goats, animal health service for sheep, poultry, and equine, and chemicals for apiculture and water availability is fish production. For cattle, goat, and apiculture production animal health service is raised as the second constraint in Horro district. For poultry production lack of improved breeds, cost, and took a long time to get day-old chicken is the second poultry production. Predators like birds, ants, badgers, lizards, etc for apiculture and hyenas for equines is responded as the second production in Horro district.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Livestock production systems in the study areas were dominated by extensive. The low productivity was due to a shortage of animal feed, disease, crossbreeds, poor skill & knowledge of farmers and poor management. The majority of livestock rearing in the areas are Horro breeding type which was produced for different purposes like milk, drought, meat, egg, pack & draft, honey, income sources, breeding, wealth status, joke, and as fertilizer. The contribution of livestock in the areas was not exploited well due to the distance from the central terminal market, the lack of unstructured ranching and breeding strategies. Horro sheep and cattle were segregated the brand's traits (color & body size). The apiculture production in the areas is below potential especially wax production in the areas not known. In the study areas, there are potential opportunities for rivers for fishery production, improved forage varieties, and sources of technology (research centers and universities). The reproductive performance of cross &/or exotic cattle was better than indigenous cattle based on feed, housing, health, genotype, and other conditions. The birth type of shoat was single, twin, and triple in all the study areas. Livestock fattening in the areas takes a long period because of poor management, rare supplementary diet, traditional practices, etc. The majority of diseases in the areas were anthrax, blackleg, LSD, CBPP, CCPP, NCD, foul typhoid, shoat pox, cholera, African horses, etc. The common feeding systems in the areas were free grazing, browsers, scavengers, and supplementary feeding from different sources with low quality. Improved forage technologies in the areas were limited due to seed shortage, land scarcity, and lack of awareness. Climate change in the study areas has affected livestock productivity directly as well as indirectly. In these areas feed shortage, disease, shortage of breeds, market problems, water shortage in lowlands, land scarcity, etc. identified as main constraints in cattle production. Feed shortage, diseases, lack of improved breeds, and lack of terminal market in the area are recognized as major constraints in shoat production. Diseases, feed shortages, poor marketing systems, shortage of improved breeds, and predators were identified as the main constraints in poultry production. Chemical application, diseases, feed shortage, modern hives, and other constraints identified under bee production. Under fish production, lack of awareness of improved technology, water shortage in highlands, market linkage, and lack of improved technology are identified while disease and feed shortage are reported as main constraints under equines production. In all studied districts the awareness of the impact of climate change on livestock production and productivity is insufficient.

Based on the findings the following suggestion has been forwarded;

1. Multiplication and distribution of improved forage at the farmer level.

2. Strong extension services on feed formulation for all livestock based on species and production stage from locally available materials, uses and handling agrochemicals, and efficient input delivery for farmers are vitally important.

3. Establish a feed processing and mixing plant in the target area of zones.

4. Re-enforcing and scaling up of Horro sheep community-based breeding program, and designing appropriate and sound genetic improvement for the Horro cattle.

5. Initiation of exciting community ranches in strategic areas for small and large ruminants.

6. Forming community-based bull and AI service stations in strategic locations.

7. Sustainable delivers day-old chicken.

8. Training on disease control and surveillance.

9. Capacity building of farmers on bee wax production and preparing foundation sheets

10. Assess the adoption of modern bee hives at the farmer's level

11. Availing apiculture production equipment as well as personal protecting types of equipment

12. Availing fish production equipment, awareness of consumption, and market linkage

13. Capacitate stakeholders on climate adaptation and mitigation strategies

Author Statements

Conflict of Interest

There is no conflict of interest between authors.

Acknowledgments

The authors were grateful to the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute _ Food System Resilient Project (FSRP) for supporting the research and the Bako Agricultural Research Center (BARC) for facilitating logistics during survey data collection. The district's agricultural head and livestock process were also genuinely acknowledged for facilitating respondents.

Author’s Contribution

Birmaduma Gadisa: collect, analyze data, and draft the manuscript

Kifle Degafa: Collect data, supervised the project, and edited the manuscript

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Citation: Gadisa B, Degefa K. Assessment of Livestock Production System in Selected Districts of East and Horro Guduru Wellega Zones, Oromia, Ethiopia. Austin J Vet Sci & Anim Husb. 2024; 11(5): 1157.

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