Review on Small Ruminant Production, Marketing and Constraints in Ethiopia

This study reviews the small ruminant production, marketing and constraints with the aim of delivering summarized and synthesized information for the beneficiaries and users. Small ruminants are integral part of livestock keeping in Sub-Saharan Africa that are mainly kept for immediate cash sources, milk, meat, wool, manure, and saving or risk distribution. There are about 25 million heads of sheep and 22 million heads of goats in the country, playing an important role in the livelihood of resource-poor farmers. In Ethiopia, sheep and goats account for about 90 % of live animals/meat and 92 % of skin and hide export trade value. In Ethiopia, sheep and goats are maintained in two broad production systems namely mixed, and pastoral and agro-pastoral farming systems. The livestock marketing structure of Ethiopia follows a four-tier system. These tiers are local farmer and rural traders or assemble local market, secondary market and terminal markets. Small ruminant productions are highly influenced by feed shortage, disease and parasites, water shortage and market fluctuation. Depending on this review it is important to use modern production systems with improved technology in urban area and in rural area improve traditional system through feed supplementation and better health care. Keywords: small ruminants, production, constraints, Ethiopia