1.
Scaling sheep in Ethiopia
Jane Wamatu
International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA)
FAO-ILRI Regional Training Workshop on Proven Livestock
Technologies, ILRI, Addis Ababa, 3 -5 December 2018

2.
icarda.org 2
Scaling Ambition
& Approach
Ambition
By 2021, ICARDA in collaboration with National partners
aims to increase adoption of feeding strategies for sheep
fattening in the highlands of Ethiopia from 5000 to 20,000
HH to increase incomes and youth employment for
enhanced livelihoods.
Approach
Progressive expansion of a network of benchmark sites in
form of sheep fattening youth cooperatives and on-farm
model farmers (champions) as disseminators of improved
sheep fattening technologies and practices; and facilitators
of participatory learning.

3.
icarda.org 3
Scaling Ambition
Ambition
By 2021, ICARDA in collaboration with National partners
aims to increase adoption of feeding strategies for sheep
fattening in the highlands of Ethiopia from 5000 to 20,000
HH to increase incomes and youth employment for
enhanced livelihoods.
 Where?
 How many?
 By whom?
 When?
 Why?
Components of a Scaling Ambition

4.
icarda.org 4
Components
Empowered
sheep
farming
communities
SF practices &
technologies
Farmer’s
knowledge
Champion
farmers
Youth
cooperatives
Regional
plans and
policies
Local and
private
institutions
 To scale up adoption of improved
sheep fattening technology and
practices sustainably through
implementation of benchmark
sites (sheep fattening youth
cooperatives and model champion
farmers) in 75 villages,
implemented at a rate of 25
villages per annum in 3 regions;
Amhara, Oromia and SNNPR.
• To develop and strengthen
business and institutional models
on the approach.
• To consolidate and strengthen
converging partnerships.
Objectives

5.
icarda.org 5
Sheep Fattening
Components of the package
 Short-term sheep fattening
 Ration formulation
 Management practices which include:
• Age to begin fattening
• Castration
• Vaccination
• Use of feed troughs
• Use of watering troughs
• Use of clean water

6.
icarda.org 6
Sheep Fattening
Components of the package
 Short-term sheep fattening
 Ration formulation
 Management practices which include:
• Age to begin fattening
• Castration
• Vaccination
• Use of feed troughs
• Use of watering troughs
• Use of clean water

7.
icarda.org 7
Age to begin fattening
Breed Initial age ADG SE
Bonga
6-8 100.0a 8.8
9-10 85.4a 4.9
11-12 88.9a 19.7
Doyogena
6-8 71.5a 8.8
9-10 86.5ab 4.9
11-12 94.7b 19.7
Horro
6-8 104.6a 13.3
9-10
89.8a 4.9
11-12
93.5a 10.3
Menz
9-10 60.9b 11.7
11-12
140.2a 15.2

8.
icarda.org 8
Baseline Assessments/Evidence
 Small ruminant value chain for Ethiopia. 2012-2013.
 Characterization of the livestock production systems and the
potential of feed-based interventions for improving livestock
productivity.
 Characterization of sheep fattening practices at small holder
level in different agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia. MSc. 2016
 Characterization of sheep fattening cooperatives in Ethiopia.
MSc. 2016
 Urban and Peri-Urban Sheep Fattening in Ethiopia: Status,
Challenges and Opportunities. MSc. 2016
 On farm sheep fattening: Modification of Feeding Practices to
improve fattening performance in Community-based sheep
breeding sites in Ethiopia
Phase I (2014)
Phase II (2016)
 Understanding farmers’ intention to adopt improved sheep
fattening practices using the theory of planned behavior

9.
icarda.org 9
Implementation
Mobilization and
sensitization of stakeholders
Develop and strengthen
business and institutional
models
Consolidate and strength
converging partnerships
• Forming partnerships,
building trust; buy-ins to a
common approach
• Identification, profiling and
mapping of benchmark sites
• Site-specific portfolio of SF
interventions
• Capacity development
• Advocacy and awareness
raising for buy-ins from
public and private sector
• Formation of community of
Practice*

10.
icarda.org 10
Institutional set-up/arrangements
x
IFAD
CRP
Livestock
TAAT
CBBP
Youth
cooperatives
Champion
farmers
ICARDA
NARS
CBBP
Public sector Private sector NGOs
Smallholderfarmers

11.
icarda.org 11
Private Sector Engagement
Technology Private sector involvement Type of Involvement
Feed supplements
(concentrates and mineral mix)
Retailers and suppliers Indirect as a supplier of
concentrates and mineral mix
Husbandry Retailers and suppliers Indirect as suppliers of veterinary
drugs, husbandry tools &
equipment
Sustainable value chain NGO Direct through Youth cooperatives
(strengthen existing
or formation of new YCs)
Micro-financing Microfinance institutions Direct through provision of loans
to farmers (government identified
insurance company in each region)
Livestock insurance Insurance companies Direct through provision of
insurance to farmers (government
identified insurance company in
each region)

12.
icarda.org 12
Success factors
 Sheep are a major source of livelihood in the
respective production systems
 Targetted breeds have high growth and
fattening potential
 Model farmers are within the CBBP context
 Enabling environment:
Aligned with Government initiatives
• Within the strategy of Ministry of Livestock’s
strategy to improve farmers’ incomes
through livestock fattening (Ethiopian
Livestock Master Plan 2015-2020)
• Within the strategy of Ministry of
Cooperative Promotion’s to harness youth
employment.
 Focus: is on a basket of synergistic options,
rather than on a single technology.
Pull-factors
 Market linkages
 Improved feed and forage options
 Availability of feed supplements (protein and
energy sources)
 Knowledge/awareness creation/training

13.
icarda.org 13
Scaling Ingredients!
How confident are you that you will reach
your scaling ambition, considering the
current status and planned activities of
your project?
Interpretation of the scores:
1 = Very poor, uncertain, unknown
2 = Major challenges, major risk for failure
3 = Some grip, significant improvements needed
4 = Good grip, some improvements desirable
5 = More or less under control / up to standards

14.
icarda.org 14
Scaling barrel

15.
icarda.org 15
Scaling Scoring
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
Technology/ practice Awareness and
demand
Business cases Value chain Finance Knowledge and skills Collaboration Evidence and
learning
Leadership and
management
Public sector
governance

16.
icarda.org 16
The Feed Assessment Tool - FEAST
https://www.ilri.org/feast

17.
icarda.org 17
Components of the FEAST Tool
• Overview of Farming System
• Description of the Livestock Production System
• Major Problems, Issues and Opportunities
within the livestock system
PRA
Exercise
• Quantitative Information on crop-livestock
production, feed availability, feeding rations
• Qualitative Information - perception on feed
Individual
Farmer
Survey
• Enter data into FEAST Template
• Based on result, develop ideas for Intervention
Data
Analysis &
Developing
Interventions

18.
Components of the FEAST Tool

19.
icarda.org 19
Examples of Results of the FEAST Tool

20.
icarda.org 20
Examples of Results of the FEAST Tool

21.
icarda.org 21
Example of Results of the FEAST Tool

22.
What is your
main problem
Feed

23.
icarda.org 23
Feed Technologies

24.
icarda.org 24
 Ration: It refers to all feeds given to animals within one day (24 hours)
 Balanced ration: A balanced ration is achieved when the feeds consumed by animals during the day
meet all needs of the animals
 Unbalanced ration: It refers to intake of less or more than the required amount of nutrients in the
feed consumed by animals during the day
Ration Formulation
Feed
Water
Ash
Dry matter
Organic matter
carbohydrates
Lipids
crude
proteins
Vitamins

25.
icarda.org 25
 Feed technologies should be prioritized before they are introduced to farmers.
See the following:
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/42243/discover?rpp=20&etal=0&query=%22techfit+feed+inte
rvention%22&group_by=none&page=1
https://www.ilri.org/feast
Prioritization of Feed Technologies

26.
icarda.org 26
Feedstuff

27.
icarda.org 27
Feed Analysis

28.
icarda.org 28
Key tips for formulating rations for cows
 A cow’s dry matter intake should be a minimum of 40% forage DM or about 1.5% of the cow’s body
weight; and no more than 60% grain or 2 percent of body weight.
 Acid neutral detergent fiber should be at least 18% and neutral detergent fiber at least 28% of ration
dry matter.
 Early lactation cows need 17-18% protein in their ration; Mid lactation need 16-17% and late lactation
need 15-16%.
 Added fat shouldn’t go above 7% of ration dry matter.
Minerals and vitamins
 Salt should be included in the grain mix at 1%.
 Include a calcium-phosphorus source in the grain mix at 1 to 2%.