World Animal Day Celebration Report
The 2015 World Animal Day was celebrated at Amhara Regional State level in Mecha district on
November 28, 2015. The event was organized by Amhara Region Livestock Agency in collaboration with
Bahir Dar University and Donkey Sanctuary project. Totally 134(30-F) participants composed of farmers;
livestock experts from districts, zones and regional offices as well as Bahir Dar University; experts from
different projects such as ATA, HAB, GIZ, LIVES, LMD, SNV, Donkey sanctuary, etc; and experts from
Bureaus of Trade, and Small & Micro enterprise attended the event. The day was celebrated by field
visit, and exchange of views through presentation and discussion.
1. Field Visit
Participants observed communal grazing land closure, improved fodder production practice,
clustered cattle fattening and dairy development activities, fattening of crossbred bulls and
young animals, and use of manure for biogas production in Bachema and Enashenefalen PAs
and peri-urban areas of Merawi town. LIVES team used this opportunity to promote different
livestock production technologies such as cow mat, milking machine, feeding and watering
utensils and the role of biogas powered electric generator for rural electrification.
2. Presentations & general discussion
o Prior to the presentation, organizers invited Dr. Azage Tegegne as honorable guest to
light a candle made with a shape of number 2. The aim was to remind participants that
the district hosted regional level livestock day celebration for the 2nd time. The first was
organized by LIVES project in collaboration with Livestock Agency and the district Office
of Agriculture last year. This confirmed the responsible government institutions
commitment to own and sustain LIVES project interventions.
o
Following the candle lighting ceremony, LIVES project staff (Drs. Azage & Zeleke)
presented papers on challenges and opportunities of the livestock sector in Ethiopia and
advantages of zero grazing, respectively for participants. Participants appreciated both
presentations and requested softcopy of these presentations. LIVES project participated
in this event by sharing its experiences.
Lessons learnt:
1. Last year LIVES project organized large ruminant fattening fair in Mecha district. The district
livestock expert (Ato Mekonnen) acknowledged LIVES project contribution for the event and
reported that the event created distant market for cattle fatteners in the district. According to
him, every week about 160 to 260 fattened animals sold to distant market such as Addis Ababa
& Dire Dawa. This new market opportunity contributed for the expansion of cattle fattening
activity in the district. However, farmers still has knowledge and skill gap to fatten animals in a
short period of time and in a more profitable way.
2. LIVES project in collaboration with the Livestock Agency tried different estrus synchronization
hormones and doses on two sheep breeds last year at Debre Birhan sheep multiplication
center. A participant from Debre Birhan Sheep Multiplication Center (Ato Dagne) acknowledged
LIVES project contribution for the technology and, appreciated and shared the result of this
activity for participants and requested the Livestock Agency to scale-up this practice in the
region. LIVES project is demonstrating hormone assisted sheep synchronization in South Wollo
zone.
3. Participants of the event (Aynalem from BoA) appreciated what they have seen from the field
visit. According to them, farmers converted the low priced maize grain in to milk and meat and
started gaining better profit. They have also converted their backyard (most fertile cropland)
into fodder production site. According to him, this reflects farmers interest on dairy and cattle
fattening business. However, farmers still need support on business development concept and
knowledge. This indicates the attitudinal shift of public agricultural extension service providers
from production focused to market oriented agricultural extension service.
4. Participants (Ato Zelalem from Awi Zone) appreciated the cluster based commodity
development approached followed in the district. According to him, the approach is useful to
share experiences, provide technical support and organize farmers for collective marketing. He
promised to apply the cluster approach and organize similar event (livestock fair) in his zone.
Therefore, clustered based commodity development approach of LIVES project got acceptance
by public extension service providers.
5. Farmers (Tegabu, Mulualem & Teshagere) reported that lack of milk processing and marketing
institution as a crucial problem for dairy business development in the district. As a result of this
problem, farmers keep few numbers of crossbred dairy cows in their farm. Dr. Azage shared
the Mekele dairy product marketing shops experience and advised them to try to solve the
problem following similar approach since it is also an employment or income generating
opportunity. In addition, the Livestock Agency Manager (Ato Shemelese) reported the
establishment status of a private dairy processing factory around Bahir Dar. Moreover, the
district Vice Administrator (Ato Temesegen) promised to organize the community and establish
dairy processing cooperative in the district.
6. Most of the communal grazing lands in Mecha district are closed and farmers practiced cut and
carry system. Farmers (Ato Mulualem, etc) reported the advantage of communal grazing land
closure and the practice of cut and carry system. However, they complained about the high
labor cost and requested labor saving cutting and bailing technologies. Dr. Azage (LIVES)
promised to introduce and demonstrate such type of technologies in the area and link farmers
with suppliers of these technologies.
7. Participants observed the presence of huge amount of crop residue that can be collected both
from the rainfed and irrigated crop production system. This resource need to be properly
collected and processed into animal feed to support the emerging dairy and cattle fattening
business. Last year, LIVES project demonstrated feed chopper to farmers, experts and decision
makers of Mecha district. Following the demonstration, one FHH (Mrs. Tesfaye) with partial
financial support from one project operating in the district purchased chopper and started feed
chopping business. This attest the expansion of technologies introduced and demonstrated by
LIVES project.