The document discusses Ethiopia's participation at the 15th GULFOOD Fair in Dubai to promote Ethiopian meat and livestock exports. It also covers a study mission by Ethiopian feedlot operators and veterinarians to commercial operations in South Africa to learn best practices, and a training on feedlot management and business plans for private operators in Ethiopia. Additionally, it mentions strategies being developed to enhance Ethiopia's veterinary services and meet international standards.

1. SPS-LMM NewsIssue 2, June 2010
Topics inside
P. 4 New strategies to enhance Ethiopian Veterinary Services
P. 5 Ethiopian feedlot operators and veterinarians study commercial operations in South Africa
P.. 8 Business plan training for private sector operators
Ethiopia at the 15th
GULFOOD Fair

2. 2
The Ethiopia Sanitary & Phytosanitary Standards and Livestock & Meat Marketing Program (SPS-LMM) is financed
by USAID and implemented by the Borlaug Institute of the Texas A&M University System in collaboration with
Ethiopia Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the objective of increasing exports of meat and
livestock to benefit Ethiopian livestock producers and exporters and to promote national economic development. For
more information contact SPS-LMM at:
TK Building, 4th floor
Office No. 406
P.O.Box 17199
Tel. +2511-16 18 58 46/47
Fax +2511-16 18 58 48
E-mail: sps-lmm@siga.org.et
Web Site: http://www.siga-ethiopia.org
Message from Chief of Party for the Ethiopia SPS-LMM Program
Welcome to the second issue of SPS-LMM News, which features:
 Highlights from Ethiopian participation in the 15th
GULFOOD Fair in Dubai including the enjoyment of
roasted Ethiopian mutton by visitors to the Ethiopian pavilion and new business opportunities identified
by Ethiopian exporters in Dubai and the follow-on trade mission to Oman,
 Practical lessons learned by Ethiopian feedlot operators and veterinarians from first hand study of
successful commercial operations in South Africa and discussions with owner-managers and the
Government veterinarians,
 Reports from training courses on feedlot management and business plan development for private
operators including positive feedback from participants,
 Progress in improving Ethiopian Veterinary Services capacity to reduce public health risks from food
borne zoonoses and to meet international SPS requirements in order to improve competitiveness of
Ethiopian meat and live animal exports.
Reports with more details about these and other activities involving SPS-LMM and partners are available (or
soon will be) on our website www.spslmm.org or by contacting Hiwote Derbew, SPS-LMM Communication
Specialist, hiwote@siga.org.et.
We appreciate your comments and suggestions for improving SPS-LMM News.
Hank Fitzhugh

3. The GULFOOD Fair in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates is one of the world’s largest
and most important food and beverage
industry events and a strategic platform for
buyers and sellers to conduct direct business
face to face. The exhibition is a showcase for
manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers
from around the world, representing all
of the key sectors within the food and
hospitality trade.
SPS-LMM sponsored and coordinated the
participation of Ethiopian meat and live
animal exporters for the second time as
an exhibitor at the 15th
GULFOOD Fair,
February 21-24, 2010. The four-day event
was organized at the Dubai International
Convention and Exhibition Centre where a
record 3,500 companies from 81 countries
participated.
Ato Belachew Hurrissa, SPS-LMM Deputy
Chief of Party, explains “Ethiopia’s
participation at the GULFOOD Fair is the
result of SPS-LMM’s recognition of the
event as a very important tool in promoting
livestock and meat export and changing in
the image of Ethiopia from aid recipient to
that of producer and exporter”.
The Ethiopian delegation promoted
Ethiopian meat and live animal exports by
displaying products and the Arab-language
promotional materials such as DVD film,
“Quality Meat from Ethiopia,” posters and
brochures and by serving roasted Ethiopian
mutton.
General Managers of Helmex, Luna, Mojo
and Organic export abattoirs represented
the Ethiopian meat exporters while for
the first time six feedlot operators and live
animal exporters took part. In addition,
representatives from Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Ethiopian Meat and Diary
Technology Institute and SPS-LMM joined
the Ethiopian delegation*.
In previous years, SPS-LMM sponsored
participation of Ethiopian meat exporters
at the 2008 Fair and, in 2009, organized the
Ethiopian exhibit under the first Ethiopian
national pavilion in collaboration with
MoARD.
Based on the positive experience in 2009
participation, live animal and meat exporters
were enthusiastic about participating in 2010
fair with the objective of establishing regular
presence to build the trust of existing buyers
as well as contact new Gulf importers. In
addition, the Ethiopian exhibitors observed
other exhibitor’s pavilions focusing on
comparative quality and packaging of
competitors’ meat and meat products. They
also inspected packaging and processing
equipment; discussed with meat importers
and machinery suppliers and visited Dubai’s
livestock market.
In addition to live animal and meat exporters,
Ethiopian coffee, pulses, oil seeds and honey
producers and exporters participated under
the Ethiopian national pavilion.
“The fair is definitely the right forum for
promoting Ethiopian products and directly
creating business linkages with buyers” Ato
Belachew reported.
3
Ethiopia participates at the 15th
GULFOOD Fair
Ethiopian live animal exporter (Ato Seyoum Balcha) negotiating with potential importers
W/ro Alem Mengistu , Manager of Organic Meat
abattoir discussing with meat importers
*Ato Assefa Amaledegn, EMDTI;
Ato Teshome Bekele, MoARD;
Ato Belachew Hurrissa, SPS-LMM;
Meat Exporters: Ato Tesfalidet Hagos, Luna Export
Slaughterhouse PLC; Wr/o Alem Mengistu, Organic
Export Abattoir PLC; Ato Abebe Tesema, Modjo
Modern Export Abattoir PLC ; Ato Ayele Dejene,
Modjo Modern Export Abattoir PLC; Ato Hashim
Nuru, Helemex Modern Export.
Live animal exporters: Ato Tewodros Teshome,
Ato Seyoum Balcha, Ato Degefa Sime,
Ato Berket Demeke, Ato Abebe Mahetemeselassie,
Ato Lema Bekele.

4. 4
New strategies to enhance Ethiopian Veterinary Services
According to the OIE, animal health
services delivery and international trade
for animal and animal products are
governed by the quality of the veterinary
services of a particular country. To meet
these challenges, the decisions of the
veterinary services need to be based
on scientific principles. The veterinary
services should be technically capable,
independent and immune from political
pressures from all sources.
To assist in evaluating national systems
and identifying actions for improvement,
the OIE has set benchmarks to help
the veterinary services meet these new
challenges. The benchmarks include
human, physical and financial capacity,
technical authority and competence,
communication with stakeholders
and access to markets. This OIE
standard point of reference, known
as ‘Performance, Vision and Strategy
(PVS)”, is used to judge the quality
and effectiveness of veterinary service
at international levels. The PVS is not
simply an evaluation method but it is
also a development tool to identify
failings and weaknesses and thus help
in the preparation of plans to overcome
these deficiencies.
To this background, MoARD in
collaboration with SPS-LMM Program
organized a consultative workshop in
March 2008 to conduct self evaluation
of the Ethiopian Veterinary Services
(EVS) using the OIE PVS Tool. During
the workshop, preparation of a strategic
and performance plan was agreed as a
priority in order to fill gaps identified
in the country’s animal health delivery
systems.
To this effect, SPS-LMM has assisted
APHRD in preparing a five years
Strategic and Performance Plan. The
plan contains EVS mission, vision, goals
and objectives. The objectives were
categorized under three broad goals,
namely, establishment of competent and
credible veterinary services, monitoring
the health of Ethiopian livestock
populations and ensuring international
marketability of Ethiopian livestock and
livestock products.
On the other hand, the existence of
reliable surveillance and reporting system
is crucial for a successful implementation
of the proposed Strategic and
Performance Plan. Lack of up-to-
date animal health information affects
the country’s animal health delivery
system and impedes international trade
of animals and animal products by
weakening the negotiation capacity
of the country. Ethiopia has irregular
disease surveillance and reporting, with
only about 30-35% of Woredas in the
country submitting reports each month.
To address the issue, SPS-LMM has
also assisted APHRD in preparing an
Animal Diseases Reporting Strategy
for improving disease reporting rate at
national level.
The draft Strategic and Performance Plan
and Animal Diseases Reporting Strategy
were discussed during a consultative
workshop organized by APHRD in
collaboration with SPS-LMM, March
2010, in Addis Ababa.
At the meeting the documents have
been adopted by all participants as a
guide to help Ethiopia undergo third
party assessments in the near future and
comply with OIE standards.
Moreover, the workshop was successful
to bring together all public animal
health institutions in Ethiopia and
discussed on common issues such
as collaborative approaches to solve
animal health problems in the country.
At the meeting it was also possible to
familiarize participants with the contents
of the Veterinary Service Strategic and
Performance Plan and Animal Diseases
Reporting Strategy.
Successful implementation of the
plans and strategies outlined in the
documents will contribute to the
economic development of the country
by playing a vital role in achieving food
self sufficiency, reducing food borne
zoonoses and protecting the public
health and increasing the country’s
competitiveness at international markets
for animal and animal products.
Participants discussing on the draft Strategic and Performance Plan and Animal Diseases Report-
ing Strategy at a consultative workshop on March 2010

5. Ten participants* from Ethiopian
feedlot and meat industry, pertinent
government agencies and SPS-LMM
made an observation mission to South
Africa from March 1-6, organized and
sponsored by SPS-LMM.
The mission enabled private sector
operators and the public services to
gain firsthand experience of vertically
integrated beef production operations
of South Africa and learn best practices
in feedlot management, slaughter
and carcass fabrication, cold chain
management and handling of meat and
meat products.
The team visited the South Africa Red
Meat Abattoirs Association (RMAA),
Chalmer Beef Abattoir and feedlot, SIS
Farming Group feedlot and Manjoh
Ranch feedlot as well as feed processing
plants on each of the visited feedlots.
Overall, the delegation learned important
lessons in feed production, processing
and feeding; animal health care; abattoir
operations; de-boning, meat cutting and
marketing of the products.
In addition, the mission observed
South African Veterinary Services
application of Sanitary & Phytosanitary
Standards in safeguarding livestock and
livestock products trade and obtained
information on management and bio-
security procedures that can be applied
to the proposed quarantine facilities in
Ethiopia.
The team also observed practices and
learned useful lessons applicable to the
EthiopianVeterinaryservicesformeeting
international standards and requirements
of importing countries. These include
legal instruments of the South African
Veterinary Service, organization and
operations of Veterinary Council,
ethical practices, training curriculum,
control of Trans-boundary Animal
Diseases, bio-security systems, control
of diseases of intensification, the
principle of pen seeking, feedlot design,
waste management system, hygiene and
sanitation in abattoirs, animal handling
and traceability. A comprehensive report
comprising detailed observation, lessons
learnt and action plans for adopting
the lessons to Ethiopian situations has
been prepared and will be distributed to
pertinent stakeholders.
The practical visit encourages the private
sector participants to demonstrate the
knowledge gained from the mission in
their operations including development
of the necessary facilities on the
feedlots and/or integration of feedlot
operations with other related operations.
Accordingly, Ato Bereket Demeke, one
of the feedlot operators who took part
in the mission, opened modern meat
retail shop in Addis Ababa after his
return from the visit. Bereket made
an arrangement with the Addis Ababa
Municipality abattoir to slaughter animals
conditioned at his feedlot. He intends to
go into the export market with special
South African Cattle in pens showing feeding alley
Continued on Page 6
5
Ethiopian feedlot operators and veterinarians study
commercial operations in South Africa

6. meat cuts after getting experience of the
business in the local market. Ato Degefa
Sime, another feedlot operator who
took part in the mission, is planning to
establish standard working facilities and
loading/unloading ramp based on his
observations from the different feedlots
visited in South Africa. SPS-LMM will
follow up and support such private
operators to improve their facilities and
operations using the knowledge and
experience gained from the mission.
6
* Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Department:
Drs. Berhe G/Egzabher, Melaku Asefa;
SPS-LMM: Prof. David Hutcheson, Drs. Wondwosen
Asfaw, Nega Tewolde, Adugna Tolera;
Oromia Livestock Development, Health and Marketing
Agency: Ato Tadesse Gutta, Director General;
Meat Exporters: Dr. Retta Nigatu, Luna Export
Abattoir PLC;
Feedlot operators: Ato Degefa Sime, Ato Dina
Gezahegn, Ato Bereket Demeke.
SPS-LMM in collaboration with
Ethiopian Meat and Dairy Technology
Institute (EMDTI) conducted three
day training on feedlot management
in Gondar at the end of March. The
training drew 53 participants including
feedlot operators, livestock traders
and development workers from North
Gonder, South Gonder, East Gojjam
and West Gojjam zones and experts
from Zonal and Regional Bureau of
Agriculture and Rural Development.
The training covered feedlot design,
management and operation of feedlots,
best cost ration formulation and feeding
management, livestock trade and
requirements of importing countries,
feedlot health management, SPS
requirements and certification system,
animal handling and transportation, pre-
purchase inspection and selection of
feeder stock and associated guidelines
and SOPs.
Dr. Adugna Tolera, SPS-LMM Livestock
Production Specialist, said that SPS-
LMM has been conducting training
programs to enhance the technical
and managerial capability of feedlot
operators mostly in the Addis Ababa to
Adama area because most commercial
feedlot operators and major livestock
exporters are concentrated in this area.
It has become important to organize
training in the Amhara Region with
particular emphasis on the North
Gonder Zone for two underlining
reasons, said Dr. Adugna. According to
him, the presence of large number of
small scale feedlot operators and traders
in the North Gonder and the high
potential for live animal export to Sudan
and Egypt and the expected increase in
demand for live animals when Ashiraf
export abattoir becomes operational in
Bahirdar.
The types of animals exported from
the Region are primarily cattle, mostly
draught oxen, followed by fattened goats
and sheep. Amhara Regional State is rich
in livestock resources endowed with 12.7,
9, and 6 million heads of cattle, sheep
and goats, respectivly, and 50,506 heads
of camels. Accordingly, the Regional
Government in its recent comprehensive
plan for agriculture has given particular
attention to the development of
livestock sector, with the objective of
transforming the prevailing subsistence
production system into market oriented
production.
Commercial feedlot management training in Gondar
Mission participants in a group picture in the premises of Chalmar Beef

7. Tapping meat and live animal export opportunities
7
A twelve person Ethiopian
delegation* conducted trade mission,
sponsored and coordinated by
SPS-LMM, to Oman, February 25 to
March 2, to tap opportunities for sale
of Ethiopian meat and live animals.
T he deleg ation included
representatives from Organic and
HELMEX export abattoirs, five
feedlot operators, Ethiopian Meat
and Dairy Technology Institute,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
SPS-LMM.
The delegation met responsible
Oman government officials, live and
meat importers and other pertinent
bodies and identified SPS and other
quality requirements to export meat
and live animals to the country.
ThedelegationlearnedthatEthiopia’s
close and strategic location would be
a great advantage for competitiveness
as compared to Australia, New
Zealand, India, Pakistan and other
countries that currently dominated
the Oman supply.
Representatives from the Oman
*Dr. Tawfiq Abdullahi , Ethiopian Ambas-
sador to Yemen;
Ato Girma Temesgen, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs;
Ato Belachew Hurrissa, SPS-LMM;
Dr. Teshome Bekele, MoARD;
Ato Assefa Amaledegn, EMDTI;
Meat Exporters: Ato Hashim Nuru, Helmex;
W/ro Alem Mengistu, Organic Export Abattoir
PLC;
Live Animal Exporters: Ato Sintayehu
Mulatu; Ato Samuel Belew; Ato Abuu
Dekeebo; Ato Tewodros Teshome,
Ato Seyoum Balcha.
From left: (1st) Dr. Tawfiq Abdullahi, Ethiopian Ambassador to Yemen, (3rd ) Ato Samuel Belew, Ethiopian live animal exporter, posing for a
group picture with Oman live animal importers
Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery
indicated interest to visit Ethiopia
in order to know what is on the
ground.

8. SPS-LMM in collaboration with
Ethiopian Meat and Dairy Technology
Institute (EMDTI), launched business
plan training for feedlot operators at the
end of March, as part of SPS-LMM
package of providing a rounded technical
support to feedlots that could serve as
model to other feedlot operators. The all
rounded package includes provision of
support to livestock and meat marketing,
best cost ration formulation and use of
total mixed ration, feeding management,
health care, feedlot design, animal
handling and transport, and compliance
with SPS requirements of the importing
countries. In addition to that the package
includes training on record keeping
and cost accounting, selling finished
animals, labor selection and contract
reconciliation.
The first round training gathered 22
feedlot operators based in Adama and
its surroundings. The second part of
the training, scheduled in June, will
include livestock and meat exporters.
At the training participants were able to
perform practical exercises on business
planning using their own feedlots. A
model business plan based on the
operation of one of the Adama feedlots
was developed by a consultant for this
training.
GetachewLegesse,SPS-LMMmarketing
expert, said the purpose of the training
is enabling private sector operators to
develop export business plan and make
use of it as a guide for their business
operator.
Wr/t Beza Kebede, 27, feedlot operator
who has joined the business a year ago,
was one of the participants. She said
that when starting her business she
didn’t prepare a business plan. “I have
sketched what I want in my mind and
I have realized that. It would have been
good if I had a business plan because
now I would have been able to evaluate
my progress and achievement” says Beza
explaining the merits of business plan
for her operation.
She further said that having a business
plan helps her for making business deals
with customers entering joint venture
or asking loans from bank. “I just can
simply send the plan and people can
understand my ideas and strategies from
it without my presence” Beza continues.
“The training also gave me important
guidelines on how to manage finance,
land and other resources effectively” she
Business plan training for private sector operators
added.
Ato Hussien Aleye is another feedlot
operator from Adama, who joined the
business with his brother four years
ago. They started with 150 cattle but
now they fatten 300- 600 cattle at a
time. They started their business with
no business plan. “Even if I heard about
it I didn’t apply it to my business” says
Ato Hussien.
“Now I am convinced that business
needs proper planning. I will prepare
a business plan and give it to our SPS-
LMM advisors for comment so that I
can see my weak and strong points in
preparing a business plan, then I will run
my business according to it” explains
Ato Hussien.
EMDTI and SPS-LMM will closely
monitor and follow up with trainees
as they develop and put into action
their individual business plans. The
expectation is that the positive results for
the trainees will encourage more feedlot
operators to follow successful examples
and develop sound business plans for
their operations in future years.
SPS-LMM News is produced by Ethiopia Sanitary & Phytosanitary Standards and Livestock & Meat Marketing Program
Managing Editor: Hiwote Derbew, SPS-LMM Communications Specialist
Email: Hiwote@siga.org.et
Wr/t Beza Kebede (1st from right) attending the business plan training