Opportunities and Challenges for Pastoral Beef Cattle Production in Ethiopia

The beef cattle production sector plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of pastoral farmers in Ethiopia, and it is the main source of beef animals for domestic and foreign markets. As compared to other African countries, Ethiopia has a huge beef cattle population (65.35 million heads). However, th...

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Main Authors: Belete Kuraz Abebe, Mulugeta Tesfaye Alemayehu, Sharew Mekonnen Haile
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Advances in Agriculture
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/1087060
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author Belete Kuraz Abebe
Mulugeta Tesfaye Alemayehu
Sharew Mekonnen Haile
author_facet Belete Kuraz Abebe
Mulugeta Tesfaye Alemayehu
Sharew Mekonnen Haile
author_sort Belete Kuraz Abebe
collection DOAJ
description The beef cattle production sector plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of pastoral farmers in Ethiopia, and it is the main source of beef animals for domestic and foreign markets. As compared to other African countries, Ethiopia has a huge beef cattle population (65.35 million heads). However, the quality and quantity of beef, as well as per capita meat consumption of Ethiopians, are very low (8.4 kg/individual/year). In this sense, the goal of this review was to provide and synthesize the most validated scientific information on the opportunities and challenges for pastoral beef cattle production in Ethiopia. The potential for pastoral beef cattle producers in Ethiopia included population growth, urbanization, literacy, and family income, as well as high demand for beef animals in domestic and foreign markets. In contrast, problems with beef cattle production systems, diseases, shortages of feed and water, lack of veterinary services, droughts, lack of market access and infrastructure, illegal animal trades, and poor genetic potential of indigenous cattle are among the limiting factors that hamper efficient beef production in the country. In Ethiopia, the yield and compositional quality of beef are very low compared to other African countries and the global market in general. Therefore, empowering pastoral beef cattle producers will help us to supply high quality and quantity of beef and will ensure sustainable beef cattle production with an identified market destination and access.
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series Advances in Agriculture
spelling doaj-art-60f63cfa0f2f4ea5bf0af571e895999f2025-02-03T05:45:28ZengWileyAdvances in Agriculture2314-75392022-01-01202210.1155/2022/1087060Opportunities and Challenges for Pastoral Beef Cattle Production in EthiopiaBelete Kuraz Abebe0Mulugeta Tesfaye Alemayehu1Sharew Mekonnen Haile2Department of Animal ScienceDepartment of Animal ScienceDepartment of Animal ScienceThe beef cattle production sector plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of pastoral farmers in Ethiopia, and it is the main source of beef animals for domestic and foreign markets. As compared to other African countries, Ethiopia has a huge beef cattle population (65.35 million heads). However, the quality and quantity of beef, as well as per capita meat consumption of Ethiopians, are very low (8.4 kg/individual/year). In this sense, the goal of this review was to provide and synthesize the most validated scientific information on the opportunities and challenges for pastoral beef cattle production in Ethiopia. The potential for pastoral beef cattle producers in Ethiopia included population growth, urbanization, literacy, and family income, as well as high demand for beef animals in domestic and foreign markets. In contrast, problems with beef cattle production systems, diseases, shortages of feed and water, lack of veterinary services, droughts, lack of market access and infrastructure, illegal animal trades, and poor genetic potential of indigenous cattle are among the limiting factors that hamper efficient beef production in the country. In Ethiopia, the yield and compositional quality of beef are very low compared to other African countries and the global market in general. Therefore, empowering pastoral beef cattle producers will help us to supply high quality and quantity of beef and will ensure sustainable beef cattle production with an identified market destination and access.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/1087060
spellingShingle Belete Kuraz Abebe
Mulugeta Tesfaye Alemayehu
Sharew Mekonnen Haile
Opportunities and Challenges for Pastoral Beef Cattle Production in Ethiopia
Advances in Agriculture
title Opportunities and Challenges for Pastoral Beef Cattle Production in Ethiopia
title_full Opportunities and Challenges for Pastoral Beef Cattle Production in Ethiopia
title_fullStr Opportunities and Challenges for Pastoral Beef Cattle Production in Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Opportunities and Challenges for Pastoral Beef Cattle Production in Ethiopia
title_short Opportunities and Challenges for Pastoral Beef Cattle Production in Ethiopia
title_sort opportunities and challenges for pastoral beef cattle production in ethiopia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/1087060
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AT sharewmekonnenhaile opportunitiesandchallengesforpastoralbeefcattleproductioninethiopia