Existing livestock feed resource potential and nutrient balance in the intensive crop-livestock farming areas of Bale Highlands, Southeast Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in the intensive crop-livestock farming areas of the Bale highland to look into feed availability and nutrient content. Using multi-stage purposive sampling, 156 households of the three wealth groups were selected. Structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, field visits, and feed sample chemical analyses were the methods employed. The nutrient balance was estimated based on the livestock maintenance demand and supply. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA tests were used to analyze the data. The mean land holding was significantly (p <0.001) different between wealth groups, while more land is used for crop cultivation (83.9%). Cattle were the dominant (84.3%) of livestock herds owned by farmers. Major feeds mean DM contributions were 66.7, 13.0, and 12.4% from cereal straws, crop aftermath and private natural grazing, respectively. Roughage feeds have lower Metabolizable Energy (ME) and Digestible crude protein (DCP). The mean in-vitro digestible organic matter in the dry matter (IVDOMD) of the dominant feeds (cereal straw and native pasture) ranges from 49.9 to 62.6% across the wealth groups. Average deficit of ME (24.2%) was observed for the better group, while DCP satisfied only 33.3% of the requirement for the same group and the situation suggests searching for a solution for the thrilling feed shortage associated with quality. Therefore, quality feed supply and promotion of farm-level feed production and improvement technologies should be practiced wisely to increase livestock productivity.