The absence of technological equipment to control the contraband trade near national borders and low-quality animal feed has cast a shadow on livestock export, undermining possible forex earnings while serving as a breeding ground for black market exchanges.

The Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration experts proposed a bill to regulate the largely informal and underdeveloped animal husbandry sector's supply chain, logistics, and infrastructure, availed for public discussion a fortnight ago.

Enabling access to credit for breeders, facilitation of land for prospective investors, construction of animal quarantine centres around dry ports and creation of a transport infrastructure capable of accommodating the movement of live animals are laid out as some of the strategic goals in the policy pending a nod from the Council of Ministers.

The country has gained 4.3 million dollars from livestock, which accounted for a meagre 0.4pc of total earnings in the first quarter of 2023. The volume of livestock export declined by 46pc while international prices have shown a 39pc increase.

The lacklustre performance is attributed to the absence of a legal framework to regulate the sector, despite having the continent's largest livestock population, with nearly 70 million cattle, 40 million sheep and 50 million goats.

Exporters are opting out of the business and waiting to see if the air will clear with the new policy.

Ahmed Amin, a livestock exporter for over two decades, resides in Harari Regional State. He is waiting to see if the markets settle down to get back in the game, unable to compete with the illicit traders with a clear advantage.

It would cost around 2,000 dollars to buy a first-grade camel weighing above 600Kg from a breeder for a licensed trader like Ahmed. In contrast, an illicit trader could buy it for half the amount.

"The discrepancy between formal and black market exchange is taking us out of business," he said.

Livestock exporters also call for quality to be prioritised in fostering better international trade. They suggest introducing better feed to demand higher prices as exporters observe deteriorating qualities.

A report to Alliance Biodiversity by Sintayehu Alemayehu indicated that livestock productivity declines during the dry season when the quality and quantity of forage are limited. Decreased pasture production coupled with limited water availability was cited as a significant constraint for producers, making them unable to meet the necessary nutritional requirements.

A lecturer at Addis Abeba University, Abdi Feyissa (PhD), stressed the importance of maintaining the health of livestock. He emphasized the intricate relationship between nutrition and the immunity of animals. Abdi mentioned that nutrient-deficient livestock can lead to decreased productivity. On the other hand, constant engagement with academics can significantly increase the sector's productivity.

"You get what you put out," he said.

Experts argue the nutritional composition of the feed is intricate and has an impact that stretches far beyond productivity, stressing the need to streamline the supply chain.