Assessment of Available Livestock Feed Resources in South Gondar Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

Tilahun Debela

doi:10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.24

Abstract

The study was conducted in four districts of South Gonder Zone of the Amhara National Regional State which represent highland and mid-altitude agro-ecology of the zone. In the study districts the existing livestock feed types, sources and the total DM obtained from each feed type has not been yet well addressed. So the objective of the study was to identify the major types and sources of available feed resources of livestock production. Two hundred ten rural households from both agro-ecologies were interviewed with semi-structured questionnaire. A single–visit-multiple-subject survey was carried out. The major types of feeds available are crop residues, natural pasture, hay, indigenous fodder trees and improved forage crops and pasture which vary in season. The annual average maintenance DM requirement per household was higher (p<0.05) in mid-altitude (10.47 TDM) than in the highland agro-ecology (8.92 TDM) districts. An average of 9.69 TDM of maintenance DM was produced per household from the major available feed resources, of which 62.08%, 12.24% and 12.19% was obtained from crop residues, conserved hay and grazing land, respectively. The average livestock population per household was 5.92 TLU and the average annual utilizable DM feed per household was 9.69 TDM. The study recommended that strategies like sustainable conservation of hay and crop residues during a surplus season, development of improved forages and proper storage and appropriate utilization of available feed resources are an option to mitigate feed shortage.

Highlights

Livestock are key assets in rural Ethiopia providing multiple economic, social, and risk management functions
In Ethiopia, livestock production is an important source of income and means of livelihood for farmers [2] and generates >85% of the farm cash income [3]
The role of natural pasture grazing as a major livestock feed resource is diminishing from time to time due to decline grazing land size [4]

Summary

Introduction

Livestock are key assets in rural Ethiopia providing multiple economic, social, and risk management functions. In Ethiopia, livestock production is an important source of income and means of livelihood for farmers [2] and generates >85% of the farm cash income [3]. Natural pasture and crop residues are the major livestock feed resources in the highland of Ethiopia where all livestock depend on them. Shortage of livestock feeds both in quantity and quality, especially during the dry season is one of the major problems to low milk production in the country [5]. The role of natural pasture grazing as a major livestock feed resource is diminishing from time to time due to decline grazing land size [4]. Even during years of good rainy season, forage is not sufficient to feed livestock in the highlands for reasons associated with restricted grazing land and poor management [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion