Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.7, No.15, 2017 Sheep Fattening Practices in Fogera District, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. Getachew Molla (Msc) 1 Firew Tegegne (PhD) 2 Yeshambel Mekuriaw (PhD) 2 1.Woreta College of Agriculture, Woreta-Ethiopia 2.Bahir Dar University, College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar-Ethiopia Abstract The study was conducted in Fogera district with the objectives to understand farmers’ sheep fattening practices, and to identify the opportunities and challenges of sheep fattening practices. The study area was stratified into three groups based on agro- ecology in Mizuwa watershed i.e., upper, medium and lowers with an average altitude of 2061, 1853 and 1794 m.a.s.l, respectively. Seven kebeles were selected purposively from these agro- ecologies. A total of 140 households (HHs) were selected randomly that is twenty from each kebeles. Each HHs was interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire. General issues related to sheep fattening practices, opportunities and challenges were obtained through group discussion with key informants. Data analyses were carried out using both SPSS software and index method. In the study area about 44.3% of the respondents were involved in sheep fattening practices. The major available livestock feed resources identified in the study area were natural pasture 28.6%, crop residue 27.75%, stubble grazing 13%, hay 13.45%, fodder trees and improved forages 14% and agro industrial by products 3.2%. Majority (61 %) of the respondents used separated room in the family house for fattening sheep. More than 63% of the respondents used veterinary service. Three months of feeding of fattening sheep was reported by majority of HHs. The reported major constraints for sheep fattening practice in the study area in the order of importance were feed shortage, disease, land, breed, capital, house, market and water. As an opportunity, however, at present sheep population are at increasing rate and farmers are also looking for the availability of seasonal feed resource like grass pea residue, rice bran and other crop residues. Hence, detail studies on suitable sheep breed, chemical composition and digestibility of the major available supplement feeds are further required to plan a sustainable sheep fattening program at smallholder level. Keywords: Agro ecology, Sheep fattening INTRODUCTION Livestock perform multiple functions in the Ethiopian economy by providing food, cash income, promoting saving, social functions, and employment. Feed shortage is one of the limiting factors for increasing production and productivity of small ruminant in most of the agro-ecological zones in Ethiopia (IPMS, 2010). As demand for livestock products increases (FAO, 2009) and agricultural intensification gaining a momentum, livestock, particularly small ruminant, became an important agricultural enterprise in Ethiopia (Awgichew Ayalew, 2000). The estimated livestock population comprises of approximately; cattle, sheep, goat, equines, camel, beehives and poultry of about 52.13 million, 24.2 million, 22.6 million, 8.8 million, 0.99 million, 5 million and 44.89 million respectively (CSA, 2011/12). Sheep fattening is a common practice in different parts of the country, though the degree of fattening and resource base differs markedly. Less than 39% of the farmers who owned small ruminants practice some form of fattening before marketing while majority of the farmers sale their animals earlier before the animals attaining the optimum market weight (Solomon Abegaz. et al , 2005; Getahun Legesse, 2008). Fattening is generally profitable because the value per kilogram of live weight increases as both weight and condition increase (ESGPIP, 2012). Fogera district is very well known by Fogera cattle breed, emerging sheep fattening practice and cereal crop production (mainly rice production) and the resulting crop-residues could be used as potential feed source for sheep fattening. Although, huge supply of crop residues is expected in the district; there is little information reported about its utilization for sheep fattening in Fogera district. Although Fogera district has large resource of sheep population and lack of management practices. This study was designed to generate baseline information on sheep fattening practices and to identify the major development constraints and opportunities for sheep fattening in the district. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Study Area The research was conducted in Fogera district north western Ethiopia. It lies between 110° 41’ to 110° 53’ north latitude and 370° 41’ to 110° 53’ east longitude and at altitude of 1802 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.) and with annual rainfall range from 1,000–1,500 mm. The mean maximum and minimum temperature are 11 0C and 27 0C, respectively. 24 Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.7, No.15, 2017 Sampling Methods and Sample Size In the current study, information was first gathered from Fogera district agricultural office about traditional sheep fattening activity in each kebele of the district. Considering the 28 kebeles under each traditional agro- ecological zone classification using secondary data obtained from FWARDO; mountain and valley bottom (22 kebeles ) and plain area (6 kebeles ) agro-ecology were categorized. In a watershed (Mizuwa watershed) purposive sampling procedure was used to select kebele administrations and simple random sampling was used to select households per kebele administrations to conduct survey. The survey was undertaken in seven kebeles stratified based on watershed location as upper land (Chalma, Alember), mid land (Woji awuramba, Diba sifatra, Quhar Michael) and lower lands (Abua kokit and Nabega) and 20 heads of the households (HHs) were randomly selected and interviewed from each kebele administrations. Therefore, a total of 140 HHs were used in the study. Data Collection Survey data were collected by interviewing the farmers with a semi-structure questionnaire. One day orientation was given to four district experts and three development agents a total of seven enumerators on how to deliver the questionnaire. The interview was done with in Amharic local language. The major issues raised in the questionnaire interview were: sheep production and fattening practices; feed sources for fattening; constraints and opportunities of sheep fattening. Focus group discussion was also conducted in the study area to complement the information which obtained through questionnaire. Participants involved in the focus group discussion were elders (men and women), administration members, and livestock experts both at district and peasant administration level. Field observation was made by the researcher to enrich the data about feeding, watering, housing, and healthcare of the fattening sheep, utilization and management of communal grazing land and crop-residues, local brewery by-products ( atela ) and feed resource situation. Statistical Analysis Statistical package for social science (SPSS, version 20, 2011) was used for the analysis of the survey data. Person Chi-square with absolute frequency and percentage used for ranking of different levels within the group of variables. Index was calculated for questions that require ranking of the response. Index was computed with the principle of weighted average according to the following formula as employed by (Musa et al . 2006): Index = R n*C 1+R n-1*C 2….R 1*C n/∑ R n*C 1+ R n-1*C 2….R 1 Where; th Rn = Value given for the least ranked level (example if the least rank is 5 rank, then R n-5, R n-1=4 and … R 1= 1) th Cn = Counts of the least ranked level (in the above example, the count of the 5 rank = C n, and the counts of the st 1 rank = C 1) RESULT AND DISCUSSION Source of Fattening Sheep Respondents’ preference for fattening sheep and sheep fattening practices are shown in Table 4.4 and Table 4.5. The source of fattening sheep in the study area were 60.2% own production and 39.8% immediate purchasing from nearby local market during the time of fattening. In respondents’ preference of sheep for fattening; the upper agro-ecology preference of respondents for fattening were wether (castrated ram), ram, lamb, cull ewe and maiden in their order of rank. In the mid agro-ecology respondents preferred ram, cull ewe, lamb, wether (castrated ram) and maiden ewe. From the lower agro-ecology they preferred ram, wether (castrated ram), lamb, maiden ewe and cull ewe in the order of rank. As ranked, the type of sheep for fattening purpose ram, wether (castrated ram) and lambs were preferred mostly by respondents. The reasons for this were the preference of the demands or market need and attain their weight as fast as possible. Some farmers preferred for fattening purpose unproductive ewe that were not used for replacement or production. This indicates that farmers have knowledge or an experience for fattening animals and used to increase their income or profit. 25 Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.7, No.15, 2017 Figure 4.2: Wether (castrated ram) for fattening purpose in the study area Table 4.4: Types of sheep used for fattening purpose in Fogera district ranking Agro- Type of sheep Rank given by respondents (%) Sum Index Rank ecologies prefer for 1 2 3 4 5 value fattening M M M M M purpose N Fre N Fre N Fre N Fre N Fre Upper land Ram 10 55 7