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Academic Research Journal of
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Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research Vol. 5(7), pp. 461-470. November, 2017. ISSN: 2360-7874 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASR2017.074 Full Length Research Assessment of livestock feed availability, conservation mechanism and utilization practices in South Western Ethiopia
Kasa Biratu* and Saba Haile
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Jimma Agricultural Research Center, P O Box 192, Jimma, Ethipia. E-mail: kasabiratu@gmail.com
Accepted 17 October 2017
The study was conducted in south-western Ethiopia aiming to understand the current status of feeds through collecting up to date information on feed availability, feeding strategies and conservation mechanisms and guide appropriate research interventions that can improve livestock productivity in the area. Using a stratified sampling technique, six districts (3 from each zone) were selected based on representativeness of agro-ecologies and a total of 342 respondents were interviewed to generate the data. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, GLM, ANOVA and LSD. The result showed as feed availability varies over different seasons. Crop residues (38.9%) were found the major feed source in dry season which is followed by natural pasture (30.4%), fodder trees (25.1%) and crop aftermath (5.6%). Whereas in wet season majority of the respondents (95.6%) use natural pasture as a major source of feed which is highly supported by tinned cereal crops like maize and weed materials. No chemical crop residue treatment practice was reported (100%) in the area but (40.1%) of the respondents use moistening and salting. Forage cultivation was not practiced by majority (68.4%) of the respondents. Almost all (99.1%) the respondents do not have access to industrial by-product feeds. Forage conservation practice was not in a place (100%). The major constraints reported includes shortage of grazing land (39.6), shortage of feed and feed related technologies (33.4%), animal health care problem (18.5%), lack of water (3.5%) and lack of improved breed of animals (3%). Development and demonstration of improved forages that can be integrated with the dominant farming system, efficient conservation and utilization of crop residue via different treatment options and maximizing the productivity of available individual and communal grazing pasture land using proven improved technologies needs attention.
Key words: Feed resources, feed utilization methods, feed conservation practice
How to cite this article: Biratu K, Haile S (2017). Assessment of livestock feed availability, conservation mechanism and utilization practices in South Western Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. Vol. 5(7), pp. 461-470
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