ASSESSMENT OF LIVESTOCK FEED RESOURCE AND UTILIZATION PRACTICES IN BURJI SPECIAL DISTRICT, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted in Burji specialdistrict,Southern Ethiopia with the objectives of assessing livestock feed resources availability and utilization practices. A total of 6 representative kebeleswere selected proportional to the agro-ecologies and based on the potential to livestock production and livestock feed resource availability.Accordingly, 1, 3 and 2 kebeles, respectively from highland, midland and lowland agro-ecologies were selected.A total of one hundred thirty four (134) households that have an experience of livestock production were randomly selectedfor interview.The primary data were collected using structured questionnaire, field observation and focus group discussion. The collected data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.The results of , s e l a m e r e w s t n e d n o p s e r d e w e i v r e t n i f o ) % 5 . 5 9 ( y t i r o j a m e h t t a h t d e t a c i d n i y d u t s t n e r r u cw hereas few (4.5%) were females. Regarding to educational status of the respondents, among the interviewed households the majority (80.6%) of them were literate while the rest (19.4%) of them were illiterate. The survey result indicated that, the average number of total livestock in study area was 11.17 ± 0.29 TLU of which the cattle hold higher proportion (93.91%).Natural pasture ranked first as a major available feed resourceby the respondents in the study area with the index value of 0.31, followed by crop residues with index value of 0.28.Among the crop residues,teff straw ranked first in availability by the respondents with the index value of 0.26. Whereas, haricot bean straws, barley straws and maize stover were ranked as second, third and fourth with index value of 0.23, 0.21 and 0.16, respectively. Chemical analysis indicated that, DM% of all the feed types analyzed and used in study area for feeding of thelivestock’s were 90% and above, the average crude protein content of haricot bean straw(7.5%) was higher than the other feeds.Barely straw have low crude protein (4.6%) contents than other selected feeds in the study area.The current study showed that (72.3%) of the respondent’s in the study area were uses free grazing on natural pasture were the dominant feeding system in the study area. While (27.7%) of the interviewed respondents were uses tether feeding systems. About (45.1%) of the respondent’s in the study area uses crop residues for their livestock as mixed with other feeds. In the current study shrinking of grazing land was ranked first by the respondents as the main constraints related to livestock feed resource availability with the index value of 0.30 and followed by shortage of feed both in quality and quantity with index value of 0.29. The current study indicated that (65.4%) of the respondent’s informed that ,they rely on farm residues as coping mechanisms to alleviate feed shortages. Whereas 30.1% of the respondent’s rely on natural pasture as cutting and carrying system from enclosed area to overcome feed shortages.