Cattle Fattening Research Articles

アルギニンの給与が黒毛和種肥育去勢牛の血液生化学検査成績に及ぼす影響

アルギニンの給与が黒毛和種肥育去勢牛の血液生化学検査成績に及ぼす影響

生体インピーダンス法による肉牛の脂肪交雑値推定

To establish an estimation method of beef marbling score in live beef cattle, we have investigated correlations among bioelectrical impedance properties in the sirloin part, the content of crude fat in the ribulose part and the sirloin part, and the Beef Marbling Standard (BMS) number. The measurement was conducted with 42 beef cattle one month before slaughter treatment. We adopted the four-electrode method robustly to measure the bioelectrical impedance properties. The needle electrodes were inserted into the four points: 100, 125, 225, 250 [mm] in a line from the last lumbar vertebra. The extracellular resistance Rex, the intracellular resistance Rin, and the cellular membrane capacitance Cm were calculated using the measured data. As the result, a significant correlation was found between Rin, and BMS number. The results suggest that the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) can be useful to estimate the BMS number of live fattening cattle.

Faecal cortisol concentrations as indicator of stress during intensive fattening of beef cattle in a humid tropical environment.

The study evaluated the concentrations of faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) in intensively fattened beef cattle from a feedlot in a humid tropical environment. A total of 360 bulls weighing 271-371kg were kept confined in pens from the start to the end of the fattening period (FP). At 24h after arriving at the feedlot, cattle were distributed into the pens according to their live weight: 271-320kg, 321-370kg, and >370kg. At the start of the FP, four pens of each weight group were randomly selected, and in each of them 10 faecal samples were obtained from 10 randomly selected bulls; this sampling was repeated in the same pens and in each weight group at the middle and end of the FP. The FCM were measured through enzyme immunoassay. The 271-320kg group had higher FCM at the end of the FP (P < 0.05), the 321-370kg group had similar FCM throughout the FP (P > 0.05), and the >370kg group showed higher FCM at the start and end of the FP (P < 0.05). Higher FCM were observed at the middle of the FP in the 321-370kg group, and at the end of the FP in the 271-320kg and >370kg groups (P < 0.05). Mean FCM obtained throughout the FP were within normal ranges for cattle, suggesting that appropriate management in feedlots in humid-tropical regions can provide bulls with a low-stress environment.

Uncertainty and Flexibility in the Brazilian Beef Livestock Sector: the Value of the Confinement Option

In this work, the value of existing operational flexibility is evaluated, its emergence being attributable to the Brazilian livestock alternatives for cattle fattening, i.e. by maintenance in pasture or through confinement. This crucial sector of the Brazilian economy, the second largest in the world, is highly fragmented, features low return margins and is subject to significant uncertainty factors. Confinement increases cattle fattening speed and when compared against maintenance in pasture it maximizes return on investment for farmers. In spite of this, confinement decision making is dependent upon appropriate time management. Confinement also poses risks related to the volatility of feed costs. Through the Real Options management methodology, assessment of financial growth in livestock fattening is directly linked to flexibility of timing in the transfer of cattle from pasture to confinement, with the presence of associated uncertainties. The results indicate that there is a significant increase in financial returns through containment, calculated using the return per head system. They also point to the importance of correct confinement timing to maximize returns.

Estudo de caso sobre a bovinocultura de corte: uma análise baseada em custos

Cost accounting is an instrument designed to generate essential information used to control the operations and their measurement for decision making. The article aims to inform and demonstrate through real analysis, which of the production systems of cattle, extensive or intensive, achieves goals of reducing costs and maximizing profits. It is, therefore, the relevance of cost analysis in the fattening of cattle, and what benefits with your application can be demonstrated, and we can get comparative results between the methods. We used the exploratory research, operationalized by presenting a case study analysis and comparison of different systems of fattening of beef cattle is more advantageous to bovinocultor. It was found that the system has an extensive profitably with 27.95% in the intensive system in 2011, and pasture management has become more profitable at the high costs of confinement, it confirms that the survey cost is extremely important for precise control of the activity allowing a better analysis of their results.

Mean pulmonary arterial pressures in Angus steers increase from cow–calf to feedlot–finishing phases1

Pulmonary arterial hypertension due to hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling is the predominant cause of right-sided congestive heart failure (CHF) in cattle. Historically, heart failure was problematic only at altitudes over 2,134 m. However, anecdotal reports suggest that the incidence of heart failure is increasing in feedlot cattle at moderate altitude (800 to 1,600 m), with late-fed, or fat, cattle at greatest risk. The goal of this study was to evaluate pulmonary arterial pressures (PAP) in a cohort of male Angus calves from suckling to finishing to better understand why heart failure is particularly problematic in fat cattle. It was hypothesized that mean PAP would increase through the feeding period and that the calves with the greatest pressures at high altitude would have the greatest pressures as fat cattle. A total of 362 PAP measurements were obtained from 153 calves. Calves were tested at altitudes of 2,170 (4 and 6 mo old), 1,560 (13 mo old), and 1,300 m (13 and 18 mo old). Mean PAP were greater in 18-mo-old steers than any other age group (mean = 50.3 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval 48.2 to 52.4; < 0.05). Calves that had the greatest mean pressure at 6 mo of age tended to have the greatest mean pressures at 18 mo of age ( = 0.45, < 0.001). The increase in mean PAP with increasing age and adiposity likely predisposed the steers to an increased risk of CHF during the finishing phase.

The impact of Eid al-Adha (feast of the sacrifice) sales on the income of cattle fattening enterprises

The objective of this project is to identify the impacts of the 120 cattle fattening enterprises operating in Ankara by the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 on the total revenue of the sales made during the period of the Eid al-Adha. The survey findings conducted on the cattle fattening enterprises operating in the 13 districts and various villages affiliated with these districts and the data derived from the survey constitute the material of the research. While for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012, the average carcass cutting price is 17.35 Turkish liras, 15.06 Turkish liras, 14.15 Turkish liras, the average carcass price in the retail sales during the Feast of Sacrifice is successively 23.07 Turkish liras; 20.02 Turkish liras; 18.44 Turkish liras; For the years 2010, 2011, and 2012 the amount of production is 2,934,293 (Kilogram) kg, 2,873,617 kg and 2,851,751 kg. Within the survey, the total revenue is successively 58,292,868 Turkish liras; 49,653,823 Turkish liras and 45,770,314 Turkish liras in the cattle fattening enterprises by the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. Of the said revenue, 50.8% (29,535,136 Turkish liras) comes from the revenue of the Eid al-Adha in 2010, 51.9% (25,740,034 Turkish liras) in 2011, and 50.9% (23,288,724 Turkish liras) in 2012

Intra-urban and peri-urban differences in cattle farming systems of Burkina Faso

Little is known about the classification of urban and peri-urban cattle farming systems in West Africa. To contribute to filling this knowledge gap, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey in 137 and 133 cattle enterprises located, respectively, within and beyond the municipal boundaries of the city of Bobo Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. Categorical principal component and two-step cluster analysis techniques were used to group the different farms. The farmer’s engagement in crop production, the area of cultivated land, his experience in cattle farming, the orientation of the cattle enterprises towards fattening or milk production and the feeding mode (zero-grazing, grazing only or grazing plus supplementation), among others, were relevant differentiating factors. Overall nine distinct clusters reflecting different farming systems in the intra-urban and peri-urban areas were identified. Farm types in the intra-urban area were mainly oriented towards meat production and included intensive landless cattle fattening (n=30; 21.9%), semi-intensive grassland-based cattle farming (n=40; 29.2%), extensive cattle farming (n=20, 14.6%), semi-intensive maize-cattle farming (n=37, 27.0%) and intensive maize-cattle farming (n=10, 7.3%). In contrast, farms in the peri-urban area were mostly oriented towards milk production and classified as semi-intensive pastoral (n=11; 8.3%), semi-sedentary pastoral (n=38; 28.6%), medium-scale agro-pastoral maize-dairy farming (n=40, 30.1%), and small-scale agro-pastoral dairy-maize farming (n=44; 33.1%). The intensive landless fattening enterprises seem to be most promising for the future exploitation of the growing demand of urban customers for beef, whereas small dairy herds integrated or not with crop production appear to be the most adapted to the continuously changing peri-urban environment.

Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of Biosprint® (Saccharomyces cerevisiae MUCL 39885) for minor ruminant species for meat and milk production

Biosprint® is a zootechnical feed additive consisting of a dried preparation of a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is already authorised for use in feed for piglets, cattle for fattening, dairy cows, horses and sows. The applicant has now requested that the product be authorised for use as a zootechnical additive (functional group: gut flora stabilisers) in diets for dairy buffaloes, dairy sheep and dairy goats, and for buffaloes and goats for fattening. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is considered by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment. As the identity of the production strain has been previously established and as the additive essentially consists of only the active agent, safety for the new target species, for consumers of milk and/or meat derived from minor ruminants and for the environment is presumed. The efficacy of the additive has been demonstrated for dairy cows and cattle for fattening (considered the relevant major species). As the mechanism of action of the additive can be reasonably assumed to be the same, efficacy for minor ruminant species used for milk and/or for fattening when used at minimum doses established for the major species can be presumed without the need for specific studies. This would be 2 × 109 colony-forming units (CFU)/kg feed for minor dairy ruminants and 4 × 109 CFU/kg feed for minor ruminants used for fattening.

Economic analysis of cattle fattening enterprises in central districts of the Ankara

Economic analysis of cattle fattening enterprises in central districts of the Ankara

Risk factors for whole carcass condemnations in the Swiss slaughter cattle population.

We used meat-inspection data collected over a period of three years in Switzerland to evaluate slaughterhouse-level, farm-level and animal-level factors that may be associated with whole carcass condemnation (WCC) in cattle after slaughter. The objective of this study was to identify WCC risk factors so they can be communicated to, and managed by, the slaughter industry and veterinary services. During meat inspection, there were three main important predictors of the risk of WCC; the slaughtered animal's sex, age, and the size of the slaughterhouse it was processed in. WCC for injuries and significant weight loss (visible welfare indicators) were almost exclusive to smaller slaughterhouses. Cattle exhibiting clinical syndromes that were not externally visible (e.g. pneumonia lesions) and that are associated with fattening of cattle, end up in larger slaughterhouses. For this reason, it is important for animal health surveillance to collect data from both types of slaughterhouses. Other important risk factors for WCC were on-farm mortality rate and the number of cattle on the farm of origin. This study highlights the fact that the many risk factors for WCC are as complex as the production system itself, with risk factors interacting with one another in ways which are sometimes difficult to interpret biologically. Risk-based surveillance aimed at farms with reoccurring health problems (e.g. a history of above average condemnation rates) may be more appropriate than the selection, of higher-risk animals arriving at slaughter. In Switzerland, the introduction of a benchmarking system that would provide feedback to the farmer with information on condemnation reasons, and his/her performance compared to the national/regional average could be a first step towards improving herd-management and financial returns for producers.

Livestock trade networks for guiding animal health surveillance

BackgroundTrade in live animals can contribute to the introduction of exotic diseases, the maintenance and spread endemic diseases. Annually millions of animals are moved across Europe for the purposes of breeding, fattening and slaughter. Data on the number of animals moved were obtained from the Directorate General Sanco (DG Sanco) for 2011. These were converted to livestock units to enable direct comparison across species and their movements were mapped, used to calculate the indegrees and outdegrees of 27 European countries and the density and transitivity of movements within Europe. This provided the opportunity to discuss surveillance of European livestock movement taking into account stopping points en-route.ResultsHigh density and transitivity of movement for registered equines, breeding and fattening cattle, breeding poultry and pigs for breeding, fattening and slaughter indicates that hazards have the potential to spread quickly within these populations. This is of concern to highly connected countries particularly those where imported animals constitute a large proportion of their national livestock populations, and have a high indegree. The transport of poultry (older than 72 hours) and unweaned animals would require more rest breaks than the movement of weaned animals, which may provide more opportunities for disease transmission. Transitivity is greatest for animals transported for breeding purposes with cattle, pigs and poultry having values of over 50%.ConclusionsThis paper demonstrated that some species (pigs and poultry) are traded much more frequently and at a larger scale than species such as goats. Some countries are more vulnerable than others due to importing animals from many countries, having imported animals requiring rest-breaks and importing large proportions of their national herd or flock. Such knowledge about the vulnerability of different livestock systems related to trade movements can be used to inform the design of animal health surveillance systems to facilitate the trade in animals between European member states.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-015-0354-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effects of technical interventions on flexibility of farming systems in Burkina Faso: Lessons for the design of innovations in West Africa

African farmers have always been exposed to climatic and economic variability and have developed a range of coping strategies. Such strategies form part of flexible farm management, an ability that may prove very valuable in the face of future climate change and market dynamics. The generally low productivity of African smallholder farming systems is usually addressed by research and development institutions by a variety of solutions for improving farm performance. However, changes to the system may affect the flexibility of farms and thus their ability to cope with variability. We quantified the added value of being flexible and how this flexibility is affected by technical changes, such as composting and cattle fattening recurrently proposed and promoted by research and development institutions and projects. The study was conducted in two villages of the agro-pastoral area of Burkina Faso, where livestock, cereals and cotton are the main farming activities. A whole-farm simulation model was developed based on information gathered during focus group meetings with farmers and detailed individual monitoring of farmers' practices. The model simulates farmers' decision rules governing the management of the cropping and livestock farm components, as well as crop and livestock production and farm gross margin. Using the existing decision rules, current farm performance was simulated by assessing the cereal balance, the fodder balance and the whole farm gross margin. Then, by comparing the mean and the coefficient of variation of these indicators resulting from (a) the existing decision rules (baseline scenario) and (b) a set of less flexible rules (rigid scenario), the added value of flexible management was revealed. The adoption of composting practices allowed a slight increase in gross margin associated with a decrease in its between-year variability in comparison with conventional practices. Cattle fattening only led to a higher gross margin in the years with high rainfall and low input prices when no management practices were used to limit dependence on external input. This kind of technical change thus requires increased management agility by farmers to deal with climatic and economic variability. We conclude that assessing the impact of technical interventions not only in terms of productivity but also in terms of changes in flexibility is useful for a better understanding of potential adoption of technical changes.

PRODUCTION ECONOMICS OF CATTLE FATTENING IN NEW VALLEY GOVERNORATE

Fattening cattle projects represents an important role in the agricultural economy, as these activities contribute by about 36% of the total value of agricultural production, amounting to about 159.09 billion Egyptian pounds. The average value of medium term livestock loans presented by the Bank of Development and Agricultural Credit during the period (2000-2012) was about (3 – 7.8) million Egyptian pounds, respectively. The search was a problem in that in spite of the availability of many economic possibilities and productive conditions that support and strength the chances of success of fattening cattle projects New Valley Governorate it was shown that Governorate has a Weak Contribution in Live stock Production. The objectives of these research is studying productive and economic efficiency for fattening cattle through some economic and technical relations to identify the most important factors that affect the economic efficiency in production. These objectives has been realizing depending on two methods of data collection, the first depends on secondary data, and the second depends on the primary data through using questionnaires to collect data a sample of cattle breeders at (Mott, acement, balat villages) at Dakhla district. The study used qualitative and quantitative statistical methods to achieve the objectives of the study, such as the equations of time trend in it's linear and quadratic, cubic, forms and use multi-phased regression method. The most important results that research can be summarized as follows: Decrease in short-term current value animal loans by annual rate of about 0.37 million pounds. Decrease in short-term real terms animal loans by an annual rate of about 0.23 million pounds. Decrease in medium-term current value animal loans by an annual rate of about 0.95 million pounds. Decrease in medium-term real terms animal loans by an annual rate of about 0.34 million pounds. Increase numbers of cows by an annual rate of about 11.1 thousand units. Decrease the numbers of buffalo by an annual rate of about 0.03 thousand units. Increase the numbers of sheep by an annual rate of about 4.9 thousand units. It shows also the in significance of increasing the numbers of goats. Declining numbers of camels by an annual rate of about 0.28 thousand units. Results of calculating the production function of calves for total sample of the study shows a statistical significant positive relationship between gross flesh and the quantity of each of green fodder, concentrated and dry, employment and the weight of the animal at the beginning of the grow-out period, as an increase in the amount of those variables respectively by 1% leads to an increase in the amount of output by about 0.055%, 0.692%, 0.161%, 0.008%, 0.037%. Results showing also that the marginal product of feed for total sample was about 7.79, 75.68, 17.39 kg live weight of feed green, concentrated, dry, respectively, means that the marginal product of concentrated feed greater than the marginal product of other feed refers to preferential use of concentrated feed production red meat. The optimum weight and maximizing profit weight for the total sample was about 445, 495 kg. In light of results, the research recommends the following: Expansion in the establishment of livestock production projects, and work to support and encourage breeders by increase loans, and to facilitate the procedures for obtaining it. 2. Increasing the concentrated feed production in deferent areas to be compatible with the geographical distribution of animal wealth.

Conservation agriculture and performance of farms in West Africa

In West Africa, conservation agriculture can contribute to achieving ecological intensification of farming systems if research produces more references on its effects at the farm level. This study conducted in Burkina Faso assesses ex ante the effects of conservation agriculture on the performance of virtual farms representing the different types identified in the area. Two whole-farm simulation tools were used: Cikeda and Olympe. The effects of applying conservation agriculture on 50% of the cereal area were simulated for income, cereal and fodder balances and labour. Simulations show that conservation agriculture has positive effects on income and the fodder balance, but it increases the demand for labour. For producers, adopting conservation agriculture is a means of engaging their farms in an evolution pathway, for example through the development of livestock activities. The introduction of cattle fattening can therefore trigger investment in conservation agriculture for farms with a stocking rate lower than 1.5 animal per ha. There is also, however, a need to develop collective organizational innovations, particularly for the management of crop residues.

Assessment of Cattle Fattening and Marketing Practice in Harshin District of Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

The study was carried out in Harshin woreda, Fafan zone on the cattle fattening practice and marketing system to assess cattle fattening practice and marketing system in three kabeles of the study area. 84.4% and 15.6% respondents were male and female, respectively. The average age of the respondents was found to be 39.5 out of which 55.6%, 33.3% and 11.1% were illiterate, able to read and write and primary school, respectively. The overall mean for family size house hold was 5.73 persons per household and average holding of cattle, sheep, goat, and poultry were found to be 9.08, 3.51, 1.20 and 6.17, respectively. The majority (52%) of the farmers prefer to fatten steer than bulls. the major feeds given for the fattening cattle, is natural pasture (62%), grain by product (16%) and crop residues (22%) and water sources identified in woreda were wells (73%), ponds (20%), and lakes (7%). The housing system of cattle in the woreda were 30%, 50%, 20% in living room with the family, home stead shed and barn, respectively. The cattle fatteners obtain fattening cattle from farm-gate (62.2%), primary market (33.3%) and secondary market (4.5%). The current study indicated that selling of fattened cattle was undertaken at saylada local market (86.7%), Hartasheika town (13.3%). According to the result of the household survey, overall in the study area the mean price of cattle before and after fattening were about 5,000 birr and 9,500 birr, respectively, and resulting with gross profit of about 4,500 birr per fattening cattle which comes from price margin and feed margin. Major constraints that hindered the performance of cattle fattening activity in the study area were mentioned as feed shortage, lack of capital, shortage of labor, low level of awareness towards fattening cattle and animal health problem.

An economic analysis of beef cattle fattening in selected areas of Pabna and Sirajgonj Districts

This study examined the profitability of beef cattle fattening in the northern char area of Bangladesh. A total of 150 cattle fatteners were randomly selected from two districts representing the highest concentration of fatteners in the char area. Socioeconomic data as well as data on beef fattening were collected from the people selected at Pabna and Sirajgonj district. Descriptive statistics was used to analysis the socioeconomics characteristics of beef producers, the profit function was used to determine the profitability of beef market and regression analysis was used to determine the factor affecting profitability of beef cattle. In spite of beef cattle production was profitable agribusiness most of the farmers adopt traditional beef fattening system for beef fattening target the cattle marketing during the Muslim festival “Eid-ul-Azha”. Profitability margin equals BDT 13,350.84 per cattle. The benefit cost ratio of the entire enterprise was 0.52 that means cattle fattening enterprise is profitable and feasible business enterprise. The major problems facing the farmers include high cost of feeds, inadequate credit facilities, disease attack, illegal use of human drugs for cattle fattening, price fluctuation and inadequate extension services. A policy and research emphasis should be geared toward feeds production at affordable price to the fatteners and fatteners should be educated on how to formulate local feeds to reduce cost and access to feeds for better efficiency and discourage to use human drugs, tablets and injection for cattle fattening. These findings can be used by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development extension agents to promote beef cattle fattening in areas where beef cattle fattening is not practiced in the country. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v12i1.21402 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 12(1): 127-126, June 2014

Efficiency and stability in subtropical beef cattle grazing systems in the northwest of Argentina

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency and stability of cow–calf, fattening and whole cycle beef cattle agro-ecosystems from the subtropical region of Argentina. For this purpose, an agro-ecosystem model consisting of a production and a management system was developed. Flexible management rules were incorporated. This simulation-based study compared potential trends of different agro-ecosystems under different animal body sizes and several management options traditionally applied in the region. The experiment aimed at estimating productive, energetic and economic efficiency and stability. The results showed that whole cycle and cow–calf systems were more stable but less productive than fattening systems. Within each agro-ecosystem, as body size increased, energetic and economic efficiency and stability decreased. Systems dynamics and multi-criteria approaches allowed recognizing tradeoffs among indicators, and main differences between agro-ecosystems. Further investigation is required to generalize these findings to other system structures, particularly when economic aspects are taken into account in decision making processes.

Competitiveness of Beef Cattle Farming in Indonesia: Domestic Resources Cost Approach

Beef demand in Indonesian people is supplied from the domestic and import production, including Australia and New Zealand. Domestic Resources Cost (DRC) is one of the indicators in free trade that is defined as one of the competitiveness criteria. The competitiveness is determined by several factors, including resource, labor, technology and market demand. Based on the previous research results, it was obtained that: (1) The availability of abundant feed through the grazing system and crops livestock system can provide comparative advantage (DRC = 0.08-0.54); (2) The type of beef cattle kept had a good competitiveness (DRC = 0.08-0.94); (3) The labor’s wage can simultaneously create competitiveness (DRC<1); (4) The technological factor on farm level showed that the higher Average Daily Gain (ADG) will make the competitiveness increased; and (5) The number of cattle had a positive causality on the competitiveness with a coefficient of 0.510. The smallholder farmer with the average farming scale of three heads per farmer had a lower competitiveness (DRC = 0.08) compared to the cattle fattening company (DRC = 0.01-0.02). The existing research showed that the beef cattle farming in several places in Indonesia had good competitiveness (DRC<1), but in some areas, its value was close to one (less competitive). Therefore, in order to improve the competitiveness, the formulation and implementation of the farm subsector policy should be regarded as a system including upstream to downstream subsystems so it is expected that the coordination and synergy policy among stakeholder and economic actor will be better. Key words : Beef cattle, competitiveness, domestic resources cost

English

A study was conducted to characterize cattle fattening and marketing system and to assess constraints affecting cattle fattening by interviewing 165 farmers in Central Southern Region, Ethiopia. Fattening length and age for oxen were 4 months and 7 years, respectively. Light white and red were the best color of cattle selected for fattening whereas black color was not recommended. Majority of farmers fattened castrated male cattle and marketed only during the main holidays. The price was highest from September to April. Farmers, traders and brokers were the 1st, 2nd&nbsp;and 3rd&nbsp;ranked marketing actors, respectively. Feeds used for supplementation were false banana, sweet potato, sugar cane, wheat bran, improved forages, mineral soils and residuals of coffee and beverages. Lack of capital was the main constraint to begin fattening. The results showed that age of fattening oxen was very old and most of the feed resources were locally available. The use of improved forages and concentrate feeds for cattle fattening is a growing practice, however, further work is needed to develop a cost effective feeding strategy by combining improved and locally available feed resources. Non-seasonal fattening and marketing, easy system of credit provision and controlled marketing system were needed. &nbsp; Key words:&nbsp;Cattle fattening and marketing, selection criterions, marketing season, marketing actors, fattening duration, central southern Ethiopia.