Livestock Feed Resources and Feeding Practices in Bonke and Geresse Districts, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted at Bonke-Geresse District of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia with the objectives of assessing the availability of feed resources in terms of quantity and quality and feeding practices of livestock. The district was stratified into three distinct agro-ecologies. A total of 138 farmers were randomly selected based on the probability of proportional sampling by means of a structured questionnaire. Direct field observation was also used in the collection of data. The major feed types used by farmers were identified and categorized into five classes: natural pasture grazing, green feeds, hay, concentrate (commercial mix and agro-industrial by-products) and non-conventional feed resources. The total Data were analyzed using statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Chemical analysis on crop residues indicated that they have low crude protein (2.66 to 6.7) and are composed of high lignin content ranging from 8.42 to 16.83. The major constraints related to livestock feed were shortage of feed, shortage of grazing land, poor market access, lack of sample awareness on forage cultivation and poor feeding system. Overall feed balance in terms of DM yield per year to a total TLU value of 7,068.8 was found to be 12,947.51 tons of DM per annum with negative feed balance of 5,878.71tons. Based on the findings of the present study, low productive and reproductive performances of livestock at Bonke are clearly associated with meager availability of feed resources. Therefore, introduction and adaptation of alternative feed production technologies such as development of improved forages, feed processing and conservation technologies, skill improving training and efficient feed utilization strategies would be taken as important steps to overcome the prevailing feed supply problem.