A study was conducted in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia to assess production and reproduction performances of local chickens and their marketing practices. Three districts vize Damot-Gale, Boloso-Sore and Humbo representing, highland, midland and lowland agro-ecologies, respectively, were selected purposively. The data were collected from a total of 135 respondents, 45 from each agroecology, using pre-tested structured questionnaires and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. There was a significant (P<0.05) difference in local flock size per household among the three agro-ecologies. The average chicken flock size per household was 6.0 heads. Clutch length, clutch number per year per hen, total number of eggs laid per hen per year, number of eggs hatched, hatchability and chick survival were significantly (P<0.05) different among the agro-ecologies. The overall average age at sexual maturity was 5.6 months (male) and 5.5 months (female) chickens, age at first egg laying was 6.5 months, number of eggs laid per clutch per hen was 14.8, clutch length was 26.0 days, clutch number per year per hen was 4.2 and mean number of eggs laid per year per hen were 59.1. The overall number of eggs placed per brooding hen was 12.8 of which 10.0 were hatched and out of which only 7.1 chickens survived. The overall hatchability was 79.1%. Marketing of live chicken and eggs were common; 69.6% of respondents sold both chicken and egg, 20% sold only eggs, 10.4% sold only chicken, 71.9% used formal market while only 8.9% used informal market to sell their products. Local chicken productivity and re-productivity are low and so, different improvement strategies should be introduced.

The study was conducted to study meat quality of beef, chevon and mutton consumed at Hawassa city in Southern Ethiopia. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect information from butcheries. From each sub cities, 15 butcheries were selected randomly for the purpose thus, a total of 45 sample butchers were used. From longissimus dorsi muscle, sample of beef, chevon and mutton were taken and analyzed for the study. The average pH value of beef, chevon and mutton was 5.6, 5.8 and 5.5, respectively. The average water holding capacity (WHC) was 23, 29 and 32%, respectively, for beef, chevon and mutton. The average cook loss of beef, chevon and mutton was 33.8, 32.5 and 29.9%, respectively. Protein content of raw, boiled and roasted beef was 16.1, 23 and 31.2% DM, respectively, while the average fat of raw, boiled and roasted beef were 5.4, 7.2 and 10% DM, respectively. Ash content of 1.2, 1.8 and 2.7% DM was found for raw, roasted and cooked beef, respectively and the average moisture of raw, boiled and roasted beef was reported as 72.7, 63.2 and 51.8%, respectively. The average value of raw, boiled and roasted protein and fat chevon was 20, 29.8, 34; 5.3, 8 and 11.4%, respectively. On the other hand, ash content was 0.9, 2 and 3. 6% DM; moisture 74.2, 60.6 and 48.2%; were found for raw, roasted and cooked chevon, respectively. For raw, roasted and cooked mutton, protein content of 19, 28.2 and 32% DM; fat 6.4, 8.1 and 11.6% DM; ash 1.1, 2.7 and 3.7% DM and moisture 72.7, 59.4 and 44.8%, respectively, were found. The results indicate that the moisture, ash, protein, fat, cooking loss and water holding capacity of the beef, chevon and mutton were almost in comparable with the results reported by various researchers in Africa.

This study was conducted in districts of Wolaita and Dawro zones, Southern Ethiopia with objectives of assessing constraints and opportunities for beekeeping production. Multistage purposive sampling procedure was employed for 180 respondents. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The results showed that majority of the respondents kept honey bees for consumption and income generation, while very few reported they kept honey bee for consumption, income generation, teaching and income generation. Major of the constraints for beekeeping included but not limited to honeybee pests and diseases, lack of modern equipments, absconding, swarming, bee predators, lack of skilled man power, lack of appropriate apiary site, finance limitation, lack of market, agro-chemicals, shortage of water availability and shortage of bee forages. On the other hand, major opportunities for beekeeping were reported to be suitable climate, availability of bee forages, sufficient rainfall, water availability as well as bee colony and race availability. Regardless of the presence of a number of constraints facing beekeeping such as pests and diseases and limitation to modern equipments' input, there are also opportunities which, proves their importance. It was therefore, recommended that modern beekeeping production system should be introduced to farmers in order to help them improve the quantity and quality of honey production.

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