HoD's Message

Agriculture is the engine and the backbone of the Ethiopian economy. Ethiopia has a diverse natural resource which contributes favorable condition for agricultural development. Among the Agriculture, livestock sector plays great roles in fulfilling food security and income generation. The country endowed with the largest livestock of different species which includes cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and honey bees. Even if our country ranked in Africa and as the world in livestock numbers, the benefits obtained from animal is not comparable with huge animal numbers. This is hindered by different factors such as lack of improved breeds, shortage of feed in quality and quantity, poor management, animal disease and parasite, lack of capital and unskilled manpower. Therefore, it requires taking critical thinking and actions to solve it. 

In the coming decades, increasing animal products and ensuring food security for the Ethiopians will face great challenges. Animal products such as meat, milk, egg and honey does not fulfil the demand requirements. This is because of the rapid increment of population, low animal products, climate change, decline of available natural resources specially grazing land, inflation of basic needs, young unemployment, political turmoil, and civil conflict. Currently animal production and productivity of the country in general can be improved and increased through the use of improved animal breeds, multiplication and intensification of improved forages, improved managements including proper feeding, housing and health care Thus, there is an increasing demand from the stakeholders and the country at large for trained/highly qualified and skilled professionals to take care of and tackle the multifaceted problems related to livestock sector. This can be attained if and only if a large number of well trained and qualified human resources are involved in all processes of technology generation, dissemination and development in all aspects of livestock production. Thus, department of Animal science is established at Mattu University to fill the gap elaborated above. 

It is known that our area is endowed with a huge and diverse natural resources and the majority more than 85% of our peoples were depend on Agriculture and livestock production runs in rural, pre urban and urban areas. Major livestock products produced in our area includes milk, beef, mutton, cheavon, egg, and honey.  Therefore, department of Animal science is struggle for ensuring food self-sufficiency and food security as the surrounding area and at large national level through producing competent professionals who are well equipped with both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in managing and producing all aspects of Animal production and management, giving community service as our university motto (“Dedicated to Serve the Community”), and doing problem solving researches in all aspects of livestock production.