304
of feed supply. However, they are characterized by low nutritive value, wide variability in quality, seasonal availability, and bulkiness to transport over long distance
(Tolera 2007). Food-feed crops such as maize, sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes,
etc. offer promising opportunities for dual-purpose use as a source of human food
and animal feed (Tolera et al. 2012). In general, there is marked seasonal fluctuation
of feed supply and quality.
Urban and peri-urban livestock operations These include small- to large-scale
dairy farms, feedlots, and poultry farms. Most of such operations do not have land
for grazing or feed production, and as a result, they are dependent on purchased feed
(both roughage and concentrate). They are located around the major urban centers
of the country where they have better access to agroindustrial by-products, compound concentrate feeds, and conserved forages in the form of hay or straw. They
are affected by unreliable supply and quality and increasing price of purchased feed.
The unavailability and very high price of vitamin and mineral supplements is a particular challenge (Tolera et al. 2012).
Large- scale commercial livestock production These include commercial dairy
farms as well as cattle and small ruminant ranches and feedlots. They have better access
to land, financial, and material inputs for feed production, conservation, and storage.
3 Feeding and Conditioning Systems for Slaughter Animals
Both large-scale (commercial feedlots) and small-scale (backyard) fattening operations are carried out in Ethiopia. Commercial feedlots feed a relatively large number
of animals at a time. They keep from as few as about 20–50 animals to as many as
5000 heads of cattle at a time. Almost all commercial feedlots depend on purchased
concentrates and roughage feeds as they do not have land for feed production. Most
feedlots are located in the central part of the country, mostly around Mojo, Adama,
Wonji, and Melkassa areas of East Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State. This
gives them easy access to agroindustrial by-products such as wheat bran, oilseed
cakes, and molasses, which form a major portion of the concentrate mixture fed to
the animals. Purchased native grass hay from Sululta, north of Addis Ababa, and tef
or wheat straws make up the roughage component of the diet (Tolera 2008).
On the other hand, there are traditional and indigenous systems of cattle and
small ruminant fattening practices in different parts of the country. These are typically carried out in the backyard using any feed resources produced on the farm.
Notable examples of backyard fattening practices are carried out in Wolayita and
Hararge areas. Farmers in Wolayita have a long tradition of fattening oxen using
locally available feeds. They feed one or two oxen for about 3–4 months and sell
during festive holidays such as Meskel and Christmas. The main feed resources are
cut-and-carry grass and various agricultural by-products such as cereal and pulse
straws, sweet potato vines and tuber, thinning or whole crop maize, enset suppleA. Tolera and L. O. Eik
of feed supply. However, they are characterized by low nutritive value, wide variability in quality, seasonal availability, and bulkiness to transport over long distance
(Tolera 2007). Food-feed crops such as maize, sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes,
etc. offer promising opportunities for dual-purpose use as a source of human food
and animal feed (Tolera et al. 2012). In general, there is marked seasonal fluctuation
of feed supply and quality.
Urban and peri-urban livestock operations These include small- to large-scale
dairy farms, feedlots, and poultry farms. Most of such operations do not have land
for grazing or feed production, and as a result, they are dependent on purchased feed
(both roughage and concentrate). They are located around the major urban centers
of the country where they have better access to agroindustrial by-products, compound concentrate feeds, and conserved forages in the form of hay or straw. They
are affected by unreliable supply and quality and increasing price of purchased feed.
The unavailability and very high price of vitamin and mineral supplements is a particular challenge (Tolera et al. 2012).
Large- scale commercial livestock production These include commercial dairy
farms as well as cattle and small ruminant ranches and feedlots. They have better access
to land, financial, and material inputs for feed production, conservation, and storage.
3 Feeding and Conditioning Systems for Slaughter Animals
Both large-scale (commercial feedlots) and small-scale (backyard) fattening operations are carried out in Ethiopia. Commercial feedlots feed a relatively large number
of animals at a time. They keep from as few as about 20–50 animals to as many as
5000 heads of cattle at a time. Almost all commercial feedlots depend on purchased
concentrates and roughage feeds as they do not have land for feed production. Most
feedlots are located in the central part of the country, mostly around Mojo, Adama,
Wonji, and Melkassa areas of East Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State. This
gives them easy access to agroindustrial by-products such as wheat bran, oilseed
cakes, and molasses, which form a major portion of the concentrate mixture fed to
the animals. Purchased native grass hay from Sululta, north of Addis Ababa, and tef
or wheat straws make up the roughage component of the diet (Tolera 2008).
On the other hand, there are traditional and indigenous systems of cattle and
small ruminant fattening practices in different parts of the country. These are typically carried out in the backyard using any feed resources produced on the farm.
Notable examples of backyard fattening practices are carried out in Wolayita and
Hararge areas. Farmers in Wolayita have a long tradition of fattening oxen using
locally available feeds. They feed one or two oxen for about 3–4 months and sell
during festive holidays such as Meskel and Christmas. The main feed resources are
cut-and-carry grass and various agricultural by-products such as cereal and pulse
straws, sweet potato vines and tuber, thinning or whole crop maize, enset suppleA. Tolera and L. O. Eik