Livestock Export from Adama Quarantine Stations: Comparing Management and Biosecurity of Feedlots before Live Animal Export, DireDawa, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to characterize and identify husbandry practice and major constraints of feedlot industries in Adama quarantine area. Three feedlot farms were used to collect data to compare management and biosecurity of each feedlot and determine the impact of improper animal handling on animal export from Ethiopia. Questionnaire data collected was coded and entered in to Microsoft Excel spread sheet and was analyzed by using SPSS version 16.0 software. Questionnaire survey has been conducted on 40 of the quarantine workers which include the management team, veterinarian in charge and daily laborers. Among the total of 40 people 62.5% (25/40) answers the animal injured found in the quarantine whether they are due to transportation or incomplete management found in the feedlot. When we see the number of died animals in each quarantine stations it is quite different in number. For example, in Koshe and Wanji quarantine stations the number of died animals are 11(2.2%) and 12(0.75%) respectively but the number died animals in both quarantine stations were significantly different when comparing by their number of animals found in the farm. According to the respondents and statistical evaluation rate the biosecurity in three feedlots scarcity or totally absent of feedlot requirements  leads diseases to cattle which in turn constraint the live animal export and decrease the requirement of Ethiopia’s livestock in import countries. As statistical evaluation shows the percentage of injury, no isolation of new arrival and sick animals, feed disorder, improper storage of feed, problems in the farm including scarcity of materials, absence of vaccination and  contact of species of animals that were not the member of the species those in feedlot were significant reason in study area. Individually all person should take responsibility to present quality livestock for export requirement. Keywords: Adama, feedlot, livestock export, management and biosecurity, quarantine, questionnaire survey, Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/ALST/83-04 Publication date: November 30 th 2020