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Academic Research Journal of
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Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research Vol. 4(4), pp. 124-133. July, 2016. ISSN: 2360-7874 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASR2016.012
Full Length Research Feed resources and its utilization practices by smallholder farmers in Meta-Robi District, West Shewa Zone, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia
Endale Yadessa1, Abule Ebro2, Lemma Fita3 and Getnet Asefa1
1Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research 2International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3Ambo University, Department of Animal Science, Ambo, Ethiopia
Accepted 25 April 2016
The study was
carried out in Meta Robi district, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional
State, Ethiopia. Secondary data collection, field observation, key
informants discussion and respondents interview were carried out. The
district was stratified into upper, mid and lower altitudes and a total
of 90 respondents (upper=30, mid=30 and lower=30) were randomly selected
and individually interviewed. The result of the study revealed that, the
major feed resources were natural pasture (58.9%), wheat straw (42.4%),
barley straw (30%) and hay (21.1%). During the dry season, 90% of the
respondents fed their animal crop residues followed by hay (55.6%) and
stubble grazing (35.6%). Natural pasture was the dominant feed source
during the wet season. September, October and November were classified
as months when feed available relatively in excess. Feed was adequately
available in the months of December, January, June, July and August
whereas February, March, April and May were classified as feed shortage
months. In the study district, 22.2, 37.8, 36.7, and 3.3% of the
respondents fed their animals in indoor, group feeding, let to graze and
tethering, respectively. Among the grazing systems, continuous grazing,
deferred grazing, and zero grazing systems were practiced by 62.2, 36.7
and 1.1%, respectively. About 74.4% of the sampled households in the
district did not produce improved forage mainly due to shortage of land
(41.1%), shortage of forage seeds (23.3%) and lack of awareness (24.4%).
Only 30, 20 and 20.6% of the respondents in upper, mid and lower
altitudes manage their grazing land for better production. About 69% of
the respondents in the district were transporting livestock feeds to
their back yard for their livestock feeding. Feed conservation in upper,
mid, lower altitudes and the study district was in the order of 96.7,
96.7, 56.7 and 83.3%, respectively. Generally, in the study district,
the production, productivity, transportation, storage and utilization
efficiency of the available feed were low and therefore, further
research and development works should be designed to reverse the
existing situation. How to cite this article: Yadessa E, Ebro A, Fita L, Asefa G (2016). Feed resources and its utilization practices by smallholder farmers in Meta-Robi District, West Shewa Zone, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 4(4): 124-133
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