Abstract:
The Ethiopian live animal and meat export marketing system is operating in an environment
characterized by several constraints that needs the attention and action of the government and
other non-governmental development organizations. Despite the reported high livestock population
of the country, the major meat and live animal exporters are complaining of shortage of supply
and inferior quality of animals (especially shoats). The problem could be because of the constraints
in the marketing system of exporters themselves, the market information system, poor market
infrastructures like road, seasonality in production, competition of the domestic and the export
sector, problems in the production system, or a combination of several factors. Thus, it is imperative
to identify the major factors contributing to the reported supply shortage that has hindered smooth
functioning of the Ethiopian live animal and meat export market and take appropriate action as
much as possible. This study, therefore, characterizes live animal and meat export value chains to
determine constraints and opportunities for enhancing the efficiency of meat export from Ethiopia.
