Abstract
Important browses in selected districts were identified using goats’ preference and farmers’ knowledge. A total of 296 plots (20 × 20 m area) were placed along 16 transect lines randomly laid in plane and sloppy communal grazing lands to assess frequency of occurrences and density of the browse species. A total of 48 browse species out of which 31 were recognized by farmers were observed being browsed by goats. According to the goat owners, Balanites aegypetiaca was the most and Grewia bicolor was the least preferred, while the goats’ preferred Acacia tortilis as the most and Flueggea virosa as the least. In the plane area, the highest frequency of occurrence was seen for Rhus natalensis (62.4%) and Acacia mellifera (50.3%), while in the sloppy grazing area the most frequently occurring (43.9 to 54.4%) browses were Terminalia brownii, Harrisonia abyssinica, and Grewia bicolar. Density of Rhus natalensis appears to be higher both in plane (186 tree/ha) and sloppy (166 trees/ha) lands. The ranking of farmers and the goats’ preference appeared closely related. Therefore, further laboratory analysis should be conducted to verify the nutritional quality of the selected browses and urgent identification and conservation of potential browse trees and shrubs should be undertaken. Key words: Browse species, goats, grazing area, indigenous, shrubs.
Highlights
IntroductionGoats are an integral part of the economic and social life of the poor smallholders in many marginal areas of the country
Goat farming plays a vital role in the livelihood of rural smallholders and national economy in Ethiopia
For instance in the present survey, it was noticed that Rhus natalensis, B. aegyptiaca, A. tortilis, A. mellifera, T. brownii, Ziziphus mucronata and Tamarindus indica were present on the grazing areas all year round
Summary
Goats are an integral part of the economic and social life of the poor smallholders in many marginal areas of the country. Productivity of the sector is constrained by shortage of quality feeds during the dry seasons (Lorato et al, 2015; Biruh et al, 2017). The major feed sources, such as crop residues, matured and dried up natural pastures are characterized by low nitrogen and high fiber contents (Abebe et al, 2012). The constraints in the availability of quality grasses and other forages are often aggravated by low and unreliable rainfall situations in arid and semi-arid areas. Introduction of improved pasture and forage plants under smallholder farmer’s conditions have been limited due to lack of adaptation to local environment, proper technical support and faulty
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