Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the major livestock feed resources and estimating annual feed production and feed balance in Moyale district of Boran Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the household’s (HHs) and 96 representative households were selected. Data were collected using group discussions, structured questionnaire, secondary data and personal observations. As it was identified in the study district, natural pasture, crop residues and agro-industrial by-product were major feed resources for the livestock. An average of 129,461.0156 tons of feed dry matter (DM) per year was produced in the district from the major available feed resources, and the demand for maintenance requirement of the livestock population in the district was 190,054.416 (tons DM/year) and this showed that a deficit off 60,593.4004 (31.88%) tons of DM per year in the district. Drought, feed shortage, water scarcity, disease and parasite, market and theft and predator were assessed to be the major livestock production constraints. Generally, the results from this study confirmed that the total dry matter produced from different feed resources in to the study area was not enough to satisfy the dry matter requirement of livestock to support the livestock production in to the study area, which suggest that the main focus needs to be refining the existing feed resources through restoration of tainted grazing areas, introduction compliant feedstuff production, improving feed utilization practices and introduce and promote the crop residue feed improvement. Key words: Feed availability, feed balance, feed requirement, feed resources.  
Highlights
Feed is the most important input in livestock production and its adequate supply throughout the year is an essential prerequisite for any substantial and sustained expansion in livestock production (Samuel et al, 2008; Legesse et al, 2010)
The feed balance for district was estimated by subtracting the demand for maintenance requirement of the livestock population in the district from the available feed dry matter (DM) which was acquired from pastoral development office
As it had been calculated the total DM produced in the study area from different feed resources was 129,461.0156 tons and the demand for maintenance requirement of the livestock population in the district was 190,054.416
Summary
Feed is the most important input in livestock production and its adequate supply throughout the year is an essential prerequisite for any substantial and sustained expansion in livestock production (Samuel et al, 2008; Legesse et al, 2010). According to Sefa (2017) animal feeds including; natural pasture, fodder crops, fodder trees, crop residues and non-conventional feeds are used in different parts of Ethiopia.
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