Among all constraints of beekeeping, natural bee enemies are known to cause great damage to the life and product of honeybees by causing disappearance and migration. A study was conducted in Bale from July, 2010 to June, 2012 in six districts with the objective of assessing the effect of natural bee enemies on the life of honeybees and their products. From each districts, 3 rural kebeles (RKs) and 10 beekeepers from each RKs were purposively selected and a total of 180 beekeeper participated. The selected beekeepers were interviewed using pre-tested structured questioners and single-visit-multiple formal survey method to collect the data. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software and descriptive analysis method. Majority (96.86%) of the respondents in the study area followed traditional production system but only few beekeepers started transitional (0.88) and modern (2.26) beekeeping production system. In the study area, honeybees' enemies, agro-chemicals, lack of knowledge to manage bees and bee products, lack of bee colonies and bees poisoning from plants were identified as major beekeeping constraints. Respondents were asked to identify major honeybee pests and predators. Based on the result of this study, the existence of pests and predators were a major challenge to the honeybees and beekeepers in the study area. In all surveyed areas, the beekeepers reported the presence of Honey badger, spider, bee-eating birds, bee lice, beetles, wasps, Death Head hawks moth Mice and lizards in order of their decreasing importance. Traditionally, the beekeepers used their own control mechanisms of protecting these pests and predators like application of ash under the stand of the hive, hanging hives by rope on long trees, cleaning around the apiary site, using dog for large predators like honey badger, fencing their apiary site and mechanical like killing of the predators and pests, etc. About 72.6% of the respondents reported that honey production trend in the area decreased and 25.1 and 2.2% reported increasing and unchanged trend of production system, respectively. Despite the challenges of beekeeping, it is realized that there is potential of beekeeping in Bale, though the production system is traditional and there is an opportunity of improving the situation since there is plenty of beekeeping resources.

The study was done at Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center (ATARC) to investigate the effect of different dietary ration on growth performance of crossbred male calves and to identify the most economical feeding dietary ration. Three dietary treatments rations (treatment one=65% wheat bran+ 35% Cotton seed cake, treatment two=50% wheat bran + 49% Noug cake and treatment three=20% Maize grain + 45% wheat bran + 35% Noug seed cakes) were evaluated. Complete Randomized Block Design was used to assign eighteen cross bred male calves randomly to three dietary rations. All experimental calves were supplemented dietary rations based on their body weight at the rate of 2.5% of their live body weight throughout the experimental period. The results indicated that there were significant difference in average daily weight gain and total weight gain between crossbred male calves fed with dietary T1 and T3. Calves fed with dietary ration T1 and T2 numerically difference in final body weight, even though not statistically significant. Partial budget analysis indicated that there was no significant difference among calves fed with three dietary feed rations. But cross bred male calves fed with dietary treatment T2 was numerically higher in gross margin as compared to T1 and T3 rations. Further evaluation of different dietary rations on growth performance of yearling age (1-1.5 years old) cross bred bull calves were warranted to attain export market live weight at early age.

Evaluation and demonstration study was conducted at Kemo-Gerbi kebele of Adami Tulu Jidokombolcha district on Borana bulls with the objectives of evaluation and demonstration of bulls fattening technologies at on-farm level. One farmer’s research extension group (FREG) was formed for fattening the bulls. Twenty bulls were purchased from Borana zone by farmers for the fattening trials. Two feeding treatments (T1= Grazing + 20% crushed maize grain + 45% wheat bran + 35% Noug cake and T2 = Grazing + 65% wheat bran + 35% cotton seed cakes) were evaluated. The animals were randomly assigned for dietary rations and data on live weight change of the animals were taken using weight chart tape (developed by JICA project).  Final body weights, total weight gain and average daily weight gain of the bulls were not significant (P>0.05) among the treatments. Bulls fed on treatment one attained an average daily weight gain of 0.83 kg per bull ; while bulls fed on treatment two gained 0.76 kg per bull per day. Total gross margin of treatment one (53,154.5 ETB) was higher than treatment two (49,467.75 ETB). Cost-benefit analysis indicated that feeding option number one (T1) is more economical as compared to bulls fed on T2.  However, fatteners can use any of the feeding options depending on availability of the ingredients in their area.

Participatory evaluation of Queen Rearing using splitting technique (SQRT) at Ginnir District of Bale Zone, Southeastern Ethiopia was conducted from 2013 to 2014. Two Beekeepers Research Group (BRG) each having 10 beekeepers were established at two sites, Ebisa and Kebena. Beekeepers were purposively selected based on their willingness, having bee colonies, indigenous knowledge of handling honeybee and trained on colony selection, honeybee biology, management, and health, procedure of queen rearing in the first phase and on spot practical queen rearing in the second training phase. Two Development Agents and three livestock experts participated in training. Evaluation of queen rearing was carried out at back yard of seven volunteer beekeepers (four at Ebisa and three at Kebena sites). About 85.71% of the multiplied established their selves and performed well. Average honey yield of 14.29 kg and 16.99 kg was obtained from daughter (new) and maternal colonies respectively. The beekeepers expressed that the technology is simple to operate, assist to generate additional income. This indicates that the technology got acceptance by farmers. Thus scaling up of this technology is paramount important.

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