Livestock feed resources, seasonality, utilization practices and nutrient contents of selected feeds in Duna District, Central Ethiopia
Abstract
The study was conducted with aim of assessing feed resources and utilization practices, related constraints and chemical composition of selected feeds. A total of 194 households were randomly selected and interviewed. Most of the interviewed households were males (70.81 %) and attended primary education (54.32 %).The survey results revealed that the dominant feeds in the area were natural pasture, crop residues, improved forages and browse species. Respondent households use chopping (22.7 %), mixing with green feeds (51 %) and urea treatment (20.6 %) to improve nutritional values of crop residues. Zero grazing (58.25 %), continuous grazing (25.77 %) and differed grazing (15.98 %) were the common grazing land utilization practices. The dry matter (DM) content of the major feeds ranged from 89.53 - 92.48 %, ash values 5.42 - 11.7 %, crude protein (CP) 2.63-14.08 %, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) 39.03 - 61.86 %, acid detergent fiber (ADF) 5.99-37.48 % and acid detergent lignin (ADL) ranged from 1.48-7.53 %. The major feed related constraints were shortage of land, over grazing and over population. Reducing cattle herd size, purchasing feed, using the conserved hay and fodder tree were the coping up strategies for feed shortages. Overall, most locally available feeds are of low nutritional quality, underscoring the need for local extension services, research institutions, farmer cooperatives, NGOs, and seed suppliers to encourage the production and adoption of improved forages.
Keywords: assessment; availability; quality; agro ecology.
Downloads
References
1. CSA. Agricultural Sample Survey: Report on Livestock and Livestock Characteristics (Private Peasant Holdings). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 2021, Volume II.194p.
2. Selamawit D, Yeshambel M, Bimrew A. Assessment of Livestock Production System and Feed Balance in Watersheds of North Achefer District, Ethiopia,” Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development, 2017, 111(1): 175–190. https://doi.org/10.12895/jaeid.20171.574
3. Boote K J, Adesogan AT, Balehegn M, Duncan A, Muir JP, Dubeux JCB, Rios EF. Fodder development insub-Saharan Africa: An introduction. Agronomy Journal, 2022, 114:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20924
4. Shapiro BI, Gebru G, Desta S, Negassa A, Nigussie K, Aboset G, Mechal H. Ethiopian livestock master plan. ILRI Project Report. Nairobi, Kenya, 2015.
5. Dejene M, Beshir H, Tadesse G. Animal Feed Policies and Feeding Practices in Ethiopia. AKADEMIYA2063 Working Paper Series, No. 12. Kigali: AKADEMIYA2063. 2024. https://doi.org/10.54067/awps.012
6. Haregua G, Yilkal T, Alemayehu W. Feed Resources, Feeding Practice, and Performance of Crossbred Dairy Cows in Wondogenet District, Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Zoology. Volume 2025, Article ID 9958494, 7 pages. https://doi.org/10.1155/ijz/9958494
7. Matusala M, Yilkal T, Nebiyu Y. Feed Resources, Productivity of Crossbred Dairy Cows and Microbial Quality of Buttermilk in Damot Pulasa District,Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Zoology, Volume 2025, Article ID 5321113, 6 pages. https://doi.org/10.1155/ijz/5321113
8. Menberu T. Resources and Environment Population Growth and Cultivated Land in Rural Ethiopia: Land Use Dynamics, Access, Farm Size, and Fragmentation, 2014, 4(3): 148-161.
9. Melese G, Berhan T, Mengistu U. Effect of supplementation with non-conventional feeds on feed intake and body weight change of Washera sheep fed urea treated finger millet straw. Greener Journal of Agricultural Science, 2014, 4(2):067-074. http://dx.doi.org/10.15580/GJAS.2014.2.1202131003
10. Nigus A. Pasture management and improvement strategies in Ethiopia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 2017, 7(1): 69-78.
11. Alemu GD. Seasonality, balance and copying mechanisms of livestock feed in Northwestern Ethiopia, Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2024, 10(1), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2024.2343895
12. DWLFRO. Duna Woreda Livestock and Fisher Resource Office. Annual Report, 2024.
13. AOAC. Association of Official Analytical Chemist, Official Methods of Analysis. 18th Edition, AOAC International, Suite 500, 481 North Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877-2417, USA, 2005.
14. Van Soest PJ, Robertson JB, Lewis BA. Methods for dietary fier, neutral detergent fier, and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. J. Dairy Sci. 1991, 74(10): 3583-3597.
15. Van Soest PJ, Robertson JB. Analysis of forages and fibrous foods. A laboratory manual for animal science. 613, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA, 1985.
16. Belay D, Geert PJJ. . Assessment of feed resources, feeding practices and coping strategies to feed scarcity by smallholder urban dairy producers in Jimma town, Ethiopia. Springer Plus, 2016, 5: 717. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2417-9
17. Debire M. Assessments of Grazing Land Degradation and Communities'Response in Farta Woreda, South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. Research Square, 2022. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1776418/v1.
18. Fiseha TW. Feed Resources, Feeding Practices And Nutrient Balance Of Dairy Cattle In Kedida Gamela Woreda Of Kambata Tambaro Zone, South Central Ethiopia. A Thesis Submitted to Arba Minch University, Ethiopia, 2018.
19. Tilahun D. Estimating the Available Feed Resources and Production Constraints of Livestock Development in South Gondar, Amhara National Regional State. International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences, 2022, 9(7): 177-186. http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijarbs.2022.09.07.017
20. Diego V, Sabine HKT, Olaf E, Nils T, Alan D, Tahirou A, Braja S, Kindu M, Ibro G, Bruno G. Identifying determinants, pressures and trade-offs of crop residue use in mixed smallholder farms in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, Agricultural Systems; 2015, Volume 134,Pages 107-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2014.05.013
21. Muleta D, Getachew A, Mitiku E. Assessment of Feed Resources Availability and Utilization in Daro Labu district, Western Hararghe Zone. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 2017, 7(3): 1-8.
22. Jabessa T. Assessment on Major Livestock Feed Resources and Constraints in Guji Zone, Southern Oromia. Vet Med Animal Sci.; 2023, 6(2): 1128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7176/JRDM/92-02
23. Degefa B, Tamirat W. Assessment of major dairy cattle feed resource availability and their chemical composition in Soro district of Hadiya zone, Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology, 2022, 7(4): 253-264. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22161/ijeab.74.27
24. Phouyyavong K, Shinsuke T, Satoshi Y. Impact of forage introduction on cattle grazing practices and crop–livestock systems: a case study in an upland village in northern Laos. The Rangeland Journal, 2019, 41, 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ18102
25. Fekede F, Shiv P, Getnet A, Getu K, Seyoum B. The status of pro- ductin, conservatin and utiizatin of natural pasture hay for feeding dairy catte in the greater Addis milk shed, central highlands of Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Research and Development, 2013, 3: 082-093.
26. Endale Y. Assessment of feed resources and determination of mineral status of livestock feed in Meta Robi District, West Shewa Zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. MSc Thesis, Ambo University. Ambo, Ethiopia, 2015, 143p. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/61854
27. Amba C, Tadele Y, Hidosa D. Assessment on Livestock Feed Resources and Utilizatin Practies in Derashe Special District, Southern-Western Ethiopia: Status, Challenges and Opportunitis. J Vet Med Animal Sci.; 2022, 5(1): 1110.
28. Fekede F, Gezahegne K, Getnet A. Dynamics in nutritional qualities of tef and wheat straws as affected by storage method and storage duration in the central highlands of Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2015, 10(38):3718-3725.
29. Fikru S. Assessment of catte fattning and marketig practice in harshin district of Somali regional state, Ethiopia. J Adv Dairy Res.; 2015, 3: 137. http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2329-888X.1000137
30. Dirsha DW, Ashenafi MW, Gebeyehu GN. Feed resources assessment, laboratory evaluation of chemical composition of feeds and livestock feed balance in enset (Ensete ventricosum)-based mixed production systems of Gurage zone, southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Livestock Production, 2018, 9(6): 112-130. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLP2018.0454
31. Gashu G, Tegene N, Aster A. Assessment of Availability and Nutritive Values of Feed Resources and their Contribution to Livestock Nutrient Requirements in Chire District, Southern Ethiopia. Agri Res & Tech: Open Access J.; 2017, 7(4): 555720. https://doi.org/10.19080/ARTOAJ.2017.07.555720
32. Yami A. Nutrition and feeding of Sheep and Goat. In: Ethiopian sheep and Goat Production Improvement Program, Ethiopia, 2009, pp. 106-159.
33. Gebrekidan T. Dairy Cattle Production System in Central Zone of Tigray: The Case of Aksum and Adwa. Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research, 2014, 2 (2): 151-158.
34. Addisu J, Fitsum T, Deribe G, Zekarias B. Assessment of Available Feed Resources, Feed Management and Utilization Systems in SNNPRS of Ethiopia. Journal of Fisheries and Livestock Production, 2016, 4 (3): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.4172/2332-2608.1000183
35. Beck HE, Zimmermann NE, McVicar TR, Vergopolan N, Berg A, Wood EF. Present and future Köppen–Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution. Scientific Data, 2018, 5, 180214. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2018.214
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Brazilian Animal Science/ Ciência Animal Brasileira
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g. in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
Data statement
-
The research data is contained in the manuscript
