An exploratory survey was undertaken in Doyogena district of Southern Nation Nationalities Peoples region of Ethiopia to understand the sheep production system, the breeding practices, selection criteria and sheep production constraints in order to develop a sheep breeding strategy. Data were collected from 107 households using semi-structured questionnaire and group discussion. Descriptive statistics and index were used to present the data. The agricultural production system of the area was Ensete ventricosum -crop-livestock production system. Crop production was found to contribute to most of the households' food and income followed by sheep and cattle production. The main sheep production objective was the sale of young and fattened sheep. The mean sheep holding was 4.02±2.58 to which most (43.5%) were breeding females. Only 47.2% of the respondents own breeding ram and 42.5% of them use controlled mating. Body size (index = 0.232) and appearance (index = 0.305) were the first selection criteria used for ewe and ram selection, respectively. Castration of rams and culling of unwanted sheep through sale, slaughter, and exchange was a common practice. Old age and poor physical condition were the first culling criteria for female and male sheep, respectively. Castration age ranges from 12 to 72 months when the ram have been used for breeding. Castrated animals were the first priority followed by young males to be sold in the flock when the family needs money. Feed shortage (index = 0.34), lack of input like credit service (index = 0.18), and diseases and parasites (index = 0.124) were the top three major sheep production bottlenecks in the district accounting for about 64.4% of the total weight. Finally, to fully utilize the potential of the breed and the area, production constraints need to be addressed along with genetic improvement and appropriate institutional setup.

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 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd 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.

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Marketing is the answer to the underdevelopment of developing countries. When adopted and practiced, marketing will help to develop appropriate technologies as developing nations provide for the needs of the people and enhance their standard of living, create job opportunities, wealth for entrepreneurs, a means towards affording education and enjoyment of leisure [1].In the Borena Area, cattle predominantly flow in a South to North direction, regardless of their market channel [2]. However, the Borena pastoralists are known as the major cattle suppliers for domestic consumption and international trade export, till yet they could not able to be benefited from the sector due to impediments.The lengthy marketing process, high transaction cost, informal cattle trade and the like has been one of major obstacles that caused country to lose a lot of foreign currency. In addition to these, over