Abstract:
This study was conducted to review cattle rearing and livestock marketing practices in
the crop- livestock farming system areas of the highland, mid-altitude and in the semi
lowlands of Denbia woreda, Central Gondar zone of Amhara national regional state,
Ethiopia. The livestock farming and marketing processes were assessed based on one
time field visit, questionnaire survey and focus group discussions in highland, mid altitude and semi- lowland altitude area. A total of 100 household farmers were selected
randomly from 6 Kebeles, which are chosen based on percentage of local kebeles exist in
altitude zones for the study. The study showed that livestock’s were the most important
genus in the study area. Average livestock holding per household different across the
altitude zones, especially cattle and oxen holding per household in highland, midland
and semi-lowland altitude zones were, 13.7 cattle and 4.1 oxen, 11.6 cattle and 3.98
oxen and 29.3 cattle and 6.2 oxen correspondingly. Natural pasture is the major supply
resource feed of the woreda, but communal grazing land in their area is deteriorating at
frightening rate. Crop residues provided the second major feed resources for livestock,
predominantly during the dry season when biomass of natural grazing lands is very low.
The challenges to livestock production system were feed shortage, drought, and diseases
and parasites particularly Trypanosomiasis, shortage of grazing land, veterinary services,
extension services, marketing and other infrastructures. Hence, more emphasis should be
given to improving livestock productivity through strong extension services in proper
management of the rangelands, feed conservation, crop residues treatment, healthcare,
marketing and provision of credit facility.
