The veterinary service of Ethiopia

Abstract

Extract

Ethiopia is an agricultural and stock-raising country, some six times the size of Italy, and with climates ranging from tropical desert to temperate highlands. Until recently, its isolation was profound. A year ago Eritrea was added as a Federated State, and with it came the fine port of Massawa. A road also exists to the coast to the port of Assab, and this in future may be developed into a useful cargo route. The present railway line from Djibouti to Addis is very expensive running, as it goes over much desert country without hope of picking up freight. The people, 18,000,000 in number, are made up of many tribes, the senior being the Amharic, while the religions are mainly Coptic and Moslem. Food customs vary a little but are simple, mainly consisting of bread made from teff or dhura, called indjerra, and a highly-spiced and hot stew known as “wott.” Feast days are meat-eating days of beef, mutton, goat, and poultry in varying degrees of preparedness and in that order of value.