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The experiment was conducted to compare and evaluate the hatchability and survival rate of a sand incubator and natural hen incubation technique and to estimate the profitability of the two different incubation techniques. The results of this study indicated that fertility, hatchability and dead in shell there were no significant difference (p>0.05) among the treatments. Embryonic mortality, normal DOC, abnormal DOC and chick weight showed significant differences (p<0.05) among the treatments. Higher embryonic mortality (17%) in broody hen than (9.2%) in sand incubator was observed. On the first batch, the net return per 100 eggs in sand incubation was 177.83 ETB ($9.3) which is higher net return/profit from that of the broody hen incubation -441.05 ETB or $-23.0, which were not profitable for the first batch at 70.80% hatchability. On the 1st year run the net return was estimated and can incurred by sand incubator which make it sustainable in profitability for the smallholder farmers by making high income for the next seven years of production period. Finally in order to improve the performance of the hatchery traits before the technology adopt to the farmers intensive adoptive research should be conduct and also training of smallholder poultry producers in the hatchery management of sand incubator is very crucial.

This study was conducted to assess livestock feed resources in Weliso district Ethiopia, in terms of quantity, evaluating feeding system, determining the balance of feed resources supply and livestock requirements and identify constraints and opportunities of livestock production in relation to availability of feeds. Stratified random and random sampling techniques were used to select the kebele and households. The district was stratified in to two agro ecologies high and mid land areas. A total of 175 households, 94 from three high land kebeles and 81 from three mid land kebeles were randomly selected for interview. Secondary data source, field observation, structured and semi-structured questionnaire interview were employed to generate data. The data were analyzed using GLMANOVA procedures statistical package for social sciences (SPSS, version 20). The result of the study indicated that natural pasture (35.52%), crop residues (34.49), fodder trees and shrubs (15.60), stubble crops(8.61) and non-conventional feed(4.46)were the proportion of major available feed resources across agro ecologies. The average annual dry matter produced from natural pasture, crop residues, fodder trees and shrubs, stubble crops, non conventional feed and improved forage were 4.15±0.13, 4.05±0.11, 1.32±0.01, 0.96±0.03, 0.26±0.01 and 0.32±0.01 tons/house hold/year, respectively. The average biomass yields of fodder trees and shrubs were 6.35-25.69kg/tree and 1.18-2.36 kg/shrub in high land and 8.04-36.06 kg/tree and 1.78-3.98 kg/shrub in mid land area. The feed supply in terms of DM, ME and DCP was 10.88± 0.36 tons, 68,575.5 MJ/Kg and 130.99 kg per household per year respectively. The feed balance was found to be negative and significant difference across agro ecology in the study district (p<0.05). The overall annual feed supply on a year round base meets only 66.83%, 31.41% and 88.18% of the DM, DCP and ME total requirements per household, respectively. Therefore, from the current study it was concluded that the availability of feed DM, ME and DCP did not satisfy the maintenance requirements of livestock in the study area. Alternative means of feed production and supply should be in place with the involvement of all stakeholders and development actors.

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