Gemiyo D, et al.

J Agron Agri Sci 2021, 4: 029

DOI: 10.24966/AAS-8292/100029

HSOA Journal of
Agronomy & Agricultural Science
Research Article

Introduction
Demonstration and Evlauation of
Enset Corm (Ensete venrticosum) The livestock sector contributes considerably to Ethiopian
economy, yet productivity is not equivocally responded to the livestock
popupation of the country. It is eminent that livestock products and
Based Oxen Fattening in by-products in the form of meat, milk, honey, eggs, cheese, and butter
supply etc. provide valuable protein that contributes to improve the
Kachabira and Lemu Districts, nutritional status of the peoples of the country [1]. The livestock
population of the country was estimated to be about 60 million cattle,
Southern Ethiopia 31.3 million sheep, 32.74 million goats, 1.42 million camels in the
sedentary areas of the country and poultry estimated to be about 56.87
million [1].
Deribe Gemiyo1*, Zekarias Bassa1 and Tesfaye Alemu2
Despite huge potential of livestock population and its diversity, the
1
Southern Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Areka, Ethiopia benefits obtained from the sector are low compared to other African
Oromiya Agricultural Research Institute (OARI), Adami Tulu Agriculutrual
2 countries and the World standard. Asfaw et al., Berhanu and Pavanello
Research Centre, Ziway, Ethiopia [2-4] reported that on average beef yield per animal is 108.4 kg,
which is by far lower than other African countries, 119 kg for Sudan,
146 kg for Kenya, 127 kg for Eastern Africa, 146 kg for Africa, and
205 kg for the world. The number of off take rate is also lower than
Abstract other African countries [1]. Information is available for the Ethiopian
A study was conducted to demonstrate and evaluate effects of Boran breed which widely used for beef in eastern and south eastern
enset corm (root) supplementation for oxen fed on locally available part of the country. In southern region, preliminary characterization
forage sources under farmer’s management at Kachabira and results confirmed that bull type in southern took long time to attain
Lemu districts, southern Ethiopia. 3 kg concentrate mixtures were market weight. Reports indicated that Boran bull performs well under
prepared from wheat bran (86.5%), noug cake (Gizotia abisynnica) farmers’ management condition in southern Ethiopia [5]. There are
13% and salt (1%) were offered for all animals across farmers. Enset local central zone cattle populations which perform nearly equivalent
corm offered based on body weight, 1.5-2 kg (0.5-1%) DM basis beef yield as Boran under well management [6].
was offered per head per day as supplements and farmers were
considered as replicates. The results indicated that on average, To improve beef yield of the region, various research activities
the overall weight change is 81.1 kg per head over the fattening have been undertaken in different parts of the country. The recent
period, 90 days. Oxen supplemented with enset corm gained higher study on evaluation of feedlot performance of Wolaiyta zebu cattle
(p<0.05) weight at Kachabira compared to those at Lemu. In similar
populations using loaly available energy-rich feeds (taro,enset
way, an ox fattened at Kachabira is signficaly higher final weight
compared to Lemu. The overall mean weight (354 kg/head) and the
corm,sugercane and local grasses) at similar ages indicated that the
overall gain (900 g/head/day), averaged by locations, indicated that locally avaiable non-conventional feed could subsitutte factory by
fattening is promising for farmers who fatten animals using enset products for fattening. However, the great majority (86%) of livestock
corm as supplements. On thirteen day, 45th, 60th, 75th and 90th days feed comes from grazing and crop residues [1] Results from feeding
oxen at Kachabira was significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to experimant indicated that root crops such as taro and enset corm could
Lemu. There is an increasing trend in weight gain in both locations; potentially susititute factory byproducts and could give organic beef
the increaemnt rate was higher in Kachabira than Lemu district. It that is preferred as food in the district with special teste and aroma.
could be concluded that strategic supplementation and fattening of
oxen with 500 gm enset corm DM /head/day could be profitable in Beef cattle research has either been fragmented or less targeted
enset dominant farming systems. the actual domestic and international market. Conscious of this fact,
this national project is prepared to generate feasible technologies to
*Corresponding author: Deribe Gemiyo, Southern Agricultural Research Insti- meet the required regional and or international market for beef cattle
tute (SARI), Areka, Ethiopia, Ziway, Ethiopia, E-mail: [email protected]
at different ages for different breeds across agro-ecologies. The study
Citation: Gemiyo D, Bassa Z, Alemu T (2021) Demonstration and Evlauation of is the continuation of the study conducted by Bassa et al. [7] that
Enset Corm (Ensete venrticosum) Based Oxen Fattening in Kachabira and Lemu confirmed fattening oxen by using local available feed as energy
Districts, Southern Ethiopia. J Agron Agri Sci 4: 029.
supplement is recommended for areas where local forage is available
Received: March 12, 2021; Accepted: March 18, 2021; Published: March 31, and enset corm used for supplementation. Shewangizawu et al. [6]
2021 also reported that farmers in soutehern Ethiopia used enset parts,
Copyright: © 2021 Gemiyo D, et al. This is an open-access article distributed sweet potato vines, Taro (Boloso-1) as major supplement for cattle
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits un- fattening. Therefore, this evaluation was propsed to evaluate enset
restricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original based oxen fattening using locally available feed resources on beef
author and source are credited.
yield and profitability of fattened animals.
Citation: Gemiyo D, Bassa Z, Alemu T (2021) Demonstration and Evlauation of Enset Corm (Ensete venrticosum) Based Oxen Fattening in Kachabira and Lemu
Districts, Southern Ethiopia. J Agron Agri Sci 4: 029.

• Page 2 of 5 •

Materials and Methods Preparation of enset corm for supplementation

Descriptions of the study areas About 0.2 ha land is occupied by enset plant at the majority of
farmer’s field. There is an enset corm feeding practices to productive
Kechabira district of Kembata Tembaro (KT) zone and Hadiya
animals and fattening oxen among Kachabira and Lemu communities,
zone are located in south Nations, Nationalities, Peoples Region
a total of 32 participants, 16 from each district. Enset corm is chopped
(SNNPR). Kechabira is situated at the south western parts of the
into smaller pieces and sun-dried before feeding. About 1.5-2 kg
KT zone. The woreda lies between 07°12´30.1”-07° 17´ 08.3N and
DM/head/day enset corm (root) was offered to each ox as energy
37° 47´48- 37° 50´ 30.6E with an altitude of 2400 meters above
supplement to fattening animals.
sea level. Kacha Bira is bordered on the south by an exclave of the
Hadiya Zone, on the southwest by the Wolayita Zone, on the west by Technology promotion or transfer
Hadero Tunto, on the northwest by the Hadiya Zone, on the north by
16 participants from Lemu and 16 from Kachabira, a total of 32
Doyogena and Angacha, and on the east by Kedida Gamela. Kacha
ox fattening farmers were involoved in the demonstration of the
Bira has 56 kilometers of all-weather roads and 37 kilometers of
technology. Farmer’s percepetion towards technology, experience
dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 310 kilometers
shared, the wayforward was recorded and measured accordingly. Filed
per 1000 square kilometers. Lemu is located 230 kms southwest of
day was organzied for experience sharing, promoting technology
Addis Ababa. Hadiya zone is among the most extensively cultivated
transfer and linking farmers to technology to assess whether adopted
and desnely populated areas of the region. The major crops grown in
or not.
the area include enset, wheat, barley, tef, faba bean and potato. The
farmers also keep different types of livestock including cattle, sheep, Enset production potential and practices of using enset
goat, equine and poultry. Natural pasture is the main (about 75%) corm for animals
feed of livestock among Lemu farmers. 50% of farmers around lemu
practice stall feeding. However, less than 0.09% land is allocated for About 0.125-0.25 ha of land of smallholder farmers is occupied
forage production irrespective of the dairy belt of the region. by enset production in central south region (Table 1). Farmers used to
practice feeding the whole parts or corm of enset root for productive
Management of experimental animals animals, lactating cows and draft oxen as energy source feed. Usually
fattening oxen are supplemented initially with few amount and then
20 beef cattle from Lemu and 16 from Kachabira of similar age were
the amount increases towards the end of the finishing period.
selected for the demonstration and evaluattion. All the experimnetal
bulls were given with 3 kg of concentrate (wheat bran, 60%; Noug Data analysis
cake, 38% and salt, 2%) as protin suppliment while enset corm was
offered based on the body weight (0.5-1% body weight, 1.5-2 kg DM/ The data were analyzed using General Linear Model in the
head/day) of the animals. Enset corm meant for experimental animals procedure of SAS (SAS 2013). Descriptive statistical analysis was
was offered after slicing and sun drying about 4 to 6 hrs during day used to analyze percentages and socioeconomic parameters. Tukey’s
time. test was used to separate means at p<0.05 (Figure 1).

Region/zone Production in Quintals Yield (Quintals/plant)

Amicho Kocho Bulla Amicho Kocho Bulla
SNNPR 17,220,257.28 19,935,121.40 589,993.22 0.22 0.26 0.01
Guraghe 831,678.13 865,877.78 33,059.91 0.29 0.30 0.01
Hadya 590,662.03 622,029.31 60,567.01 0.22 0.23 0.02
KT 17,404.11 24,984.73 947.96 0.01 0.02 *
Sidama 9,834,586.49 9,422,838.03 294,456.75 0.25 0.24 0.01
Gedeo 3,003,975.22 3,421,855.40 61,909.36 0.39 0.44 0.01
Wolaiyta 444,343.35 476,065.62 46,910.55 0.22 0.24 0.02
Sheka 931,646.82 2,786,619.67 15,486.49 0.15 0.44 *
Keffa 35,642.69 152,250.85 3,126.45 0.01 0.02 *
Gamo Gofa 45,511.31 78,975.41 5,423.93 0.02 0.03 *
Bench Maji 43,344.01 99,627.53 926.40 0.10 0.24
Yem - 168,750.88 6,529.44 - 0.60 0.02
Dawuro 593,772.08 1,087,415.75 - 0.24 0.44 -
Konta 81,552.52 103,337.63 - 0.35 0.45 -
Silitie 446,757.09 304,825.98 23,917.08 0.58 0.40 0.03
Segene people 319,381.44 319,669.85 36,731.89 0.39 0.39 0.05
Table 1: Enset production potential and productivity in SNNPR.
Source: CSA, 2017; KT, Kembata Tembaro zone, *, not estimated

J Agron Agri Sci ISSN: 2689-8292, Open Access Journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 100029
DOI: 10.24966/AAS-8292/100029
Citation: Gemiyo D, Bassa Z, Alemu T (2021) Demonstration and Evlauation of Enset Corm (Ensete venrticosum) Based Oxen Fattening in Kachabira and Lemu
Districts, Southern Ethiopia. J Agron Agri Sci 4: 029.

• Page 3 of 5 •

way, final weight of oxen fattened at Kachabira was signficaly higher

final weight compared to Lemu. The mean weight (354 kg/head) and
the overall gain, averaged by locations, indicated that oxen fattened
using enset corm gained 900 g per head/day, which is promising
for smallholder farmers who fatten animals using enset corm as
supplements. All animals were dewormed before fattening. Diseases
and seasonal price flacuations are identified as rick factors hindering
profit made from cattle fattening. However, indigenous breeds have
capacity to cope up with harsh environmental conditions, like disease,
heat and poor quality feeds [8].

This value is comparable with weight gain of Boran oxen while

reasonably higher weight changes compared to other breeds (Bassa
et al., 2016). The weight gain of local animals varies based on quality
Figure 1: Pattern of weight changes for oxen fattening usieng enset corm feeds, disease control and other inputs provision [8].
in Kachabira and Lemu, southern Ethiopia.
Pattern of weight changes
Results and Discussion A trend of weight in both locations is indicated in Table 3. Initial
Live weight and average daily gain weight was not signficatnly varied across locations while from thirteen
day to final weight varied singifcantly across locations. On thirteen
Weight changes and average daily gain of oxen fattening with day, 45th, 60th, 75th and 90th days oxen at Kachabira was significantly
active participation using enset corm as supplementary feed is (p<0.05) higher compared to Lemu. The mean finishing weight was
presented in table 2. There was no initial weight vatiations between 354 kg/head and was consistently increased. There is an increasing
two the locations and among the fattening oxen. Both locations are trend in weight gain across locations; the increaemnt rate being higher
known by enset-based wheat farming. Both locations are known in Kachabira compared with Lemu district.
by stall feeding (limited movements) of animals with intensive
cultivation and extremely high human population pressure. Varaitions Profitability of fattening business
across locations and among farmers is unavoidable due to variation
Purchase prices, sold amount (birr) and differences due to fatteing
in feeed resources and management differences.Weight changes
is significantly varied between the locations, oxen fattened at is presented in Table 4. On average, the initial purchase price was
Kachabirra showed significantly (p<0.05) higher weight changes over about 10115.63 Ethiopian birr (ETB) while the average sale price was
Lemu. On average, the overall weight change is 81.1 kg per head 18743.85 ETB.
over the fattening period, 90 days. Oxen supplemented at Kachabira
gained higher (p<0.05) weight compared to those at Lemu. In similar

Parameters Lemu (Hadiya) Kachabira (KT) Mean SE Sign level

Initital weight 263.84 283.95 272. 8 8.9 0.1423 (NS)
Weight changes (kg) 65.41 100.63 81.06 6.47 0.0009 (***)
Final weight (kg) 328.25 384.58 353.8 12.38 <0.001 (***)
Average daily gain (g/head/day) 0.73 1.12 0.90 0.07 0.0009 (***)

Table 2: Average daily gain and live weight changes (kg) in selected districts of central South zones, southern Ethiopia.
Mean weight in a row with different superscript letters are statistically different. ***P<0.001; NS, non-significant; KT, Kembata Tembaro zone.

Parameters Lemu Kachabira Mean SE Sign level

Initital weight 263.84 283.95 272. 8 8.9 0.1423 (NS)
Thirteen day 240.01a 299.82b 266.6 10.85 0.0008 (***)
45 day
th
249.64 a
325.31b 283.3 10.75 <0.001 (***)
60th day 243.73a 348.95b 290.5 10.70 <0.001 (***)
75 day
th
247.40 a
365.56b 294.5 14.92 <0.001 (***)
90th day 328.25a 384.58b 353.8 12.38 <0.001 (***)

Table 3: Weekly weight change (kg) trends in selected districts of central South zones, Southern Ethiopia.
Mean weight in a row with different superscript letters are statistically different. ***P<0.001; NS, non-significant.

J Agron Agri Sci ISSN: 2689-8292, Open Access Journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 100029
DOI: 10.24966/AAS-8292/100029
Citation: Gemiyo D, Bassa Z, Alemu T (2021) Demonstration and Evlauation of Enset Corm (Ensete venrticosum) Based Oxen Fattening in Kachabira and Lemu
Districts, Southern Ethiopia. J Agron Agri Sci 4: 029.

• Page 4 of 5 •

References
Code # Purchase Sold Net difference
Kachabora 1. CSA (CENTRAL STATISTICAL AGENCY) (2017) Agricultural Sample
Code #1* 10350.00 16000.00 5650.00 Survey Volume II report on livestock and livestock characteristics (private
#2 7500.00 15500.00 8000.00 peasant holdings) Addis Ababa Ethiopia Group July 2010 working across
borders, CENTRAL STATISTICAL AGENCY, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
#3 4500.00 7000.00 2500.00
#4 9500.00 17000.00 7500.00 2. Asfaw N, Shahidur R, Birhanu G (2011) Livestock production and mar-
#5 8000.00 16000.00 8000.00
keting Development strategy and Govermenet Division International Food
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#7 7000.00 13500.00 6500.00 3. Birhanu G, Hoekstra G, Samson Jemanehe (2007) Heading towards com-
mercialization? The case of live animals marketing in Ethiopia. Internai-
#8 13000.00 20000.00 7000.00
tonal Livestock Research Institute, Kenya.
#9 11000.00 18000.00 7000.00
#10 13000.00 21000.00 8000.00
4. Pavanello Sara (2011) Working across borders: Harnessing the potential of
cross-border activities to improve livelihood security in the Horn of Africa
#11 6000.00 14000.00 8000.00
drylands. Humanitarian Policy Group, UK.
#12 15000.00 28000.00 13000.00
5. Haile A, Ayalew W, Kebede N, Dessie T, Tegegne A (2011) Breeding strat-
#13 7500.00 16500.00 9000.00
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#14 16000.00 29000.00 13000.00 national Livestock Research Institute, Kenya.
#15 9500.00 16000.00 6500.00
6. Wolde S, Bassa Z, Alemu T (2014) Assessement of cattle fattening and
#16 12000.00 19000.00 7000.00
marketing system and constraints affecting cattle fattening in central south
Mean 10115.63 17843.75 7728.13 region of Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research 9: 3050-3055.
Max 16000.00 29000.00 13000.00
7. Zekarias B, Wolde S, Alemu T, Yilma M, Terra A, et al. (2016) Evaluation
Min 4500.00 7000.00 2500.00 of Locally Available Energy Source Feeds on Fattening Performance of
Table 4: Market prices and profitability of fattened oxen in Kachabira and Local Oxen and Carcass Analysis in Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia. Hydrolo-
Lemu (Averaged), Southern Ethiopia. gy Current Research 7: 255.
Code #1…represents participants involved in the demonstration, as they 8. Azage T, Birhanu D, Hoeskstra D (2010) Livestock input supply and ser-
fattened an ox, participants number is equal to number of oxen, * farmers vice provision in Ethiopia: Challenges and opportunities for Market orient-
who fatten the ox under similar management pooled (averaged) together. ed development. International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya.

The total amount of concentrate mixture fed to trial animals was

1680 kg, which is about 1500 and other family costs were estimated to
be 1228.13 ETB. Thus, 7728.13-1500=5000, that means smallholder
farmers who feed two animals in one fattening period (90 days) using
locally available feeds and supplements the animals with enset corm
could obtain over 10,000 ETB and minimum of 5000 ETB.

Conclusion
The overall mean weight (354 kg/head) and the overall gain (900 g
/head/day), averaged by locations, is generally and reasonably higher
and implies that smallholder farmers could plan supplementation of
enset corm for finishing animals in enset dominant farming system. It
could also be concluded that supplementing oxen with about 500 gm
DM enset corm /head/day along with the available local feeds could
help fattening oxen in enset dominant farming systems.

J Agron Agri Sci ISSN: 2689-8292, Open Access Journal Volume 4 • Issue 1 • 100029
DOI: 10.24966/AAS-8292/100029
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