ESTIMATION OF THE FEED AVAILABILITY AND DEMAND IN FOUR KEBELES OF FOGERA DISTRICT, ETHIOPIA”

Abstract

This study was carried out in Fogera district, South Gondar Zone of Amhara National Regional State; Ethiopia with the objectives of estimation of the feed availability and demand in four kebeles of Fogera district, Ethiopia”. The study district was purposively selected based on potential of the district for livestock production for study and representative characters of mixed crop and livestock production system. The study district was categorized in two agro-ecological strata/altitude regions/ mid land with altitude range between 1500-2000 m.a.s.l and high land with altitude range between 2001 m.a.s.l-2410 m.a.s.l. After all the 30 Kebeles was grouped into the respective stratum, four Kebeles were randomly selected two Kebeles from each of the two altitude regions. Based on population proportion; 31 and 30 household heads were selected from two kebeles (mid land altitude regions) and 33 and 32 household heads were selected from two Kebeles (high land altitude regions), respectively or 126 sample household heads were selected from the study district. The total sample size for household interview was carried out using probability proportional to sample size-sampling technique (Yamane, 1967). The feed samples collected from both regions were subjected to evaluate the dry matter (DM) content of all crop residues, which was determined in Gondar animal nutrition laboratory. All the surveyed data was analyzed using Statistics/Data Analysis/ (STATA) version 14. The result of the study indicated that natural pastures (35.17%), crop residues (31.63%), fodder trees and shrubs (1.25%), stubble crops (31.83%), non-conventional feed (4.45%) and others were the proportion of major available feeds resources with varied in agro ecologies. About 73.13% of grasses, 15.32% of legumes and 11.55% of herbaceous were the species biomass composition. The average biomass yields of fodder trees and shrubs were 7.98-19.78kg/ tree and 1.06- 2.41kg/shrub in mid altitude and 9.87-178.06kg/tree and 1.34-3.87kg/shrub in high altitude area. The total biomass dry matter yield of fodder shrubs and trees was Estimated 74.36-100kg/ha and 500-800kg/ha from cultivated and uncultivated land in study area, respectively The average annual dry matter production from natural pasture, crop residues, fodder trees and shrubs, stubble crops, non-conventional feed and improved forages were 3.965±0.12, 4.1±0.11, 1.83±0.01, 0.96±0.03, 0.52±0.004 and 0.15±0.03tons/household/year, respectively. The feed supply in terms of DM was 11.87± 0.56tons, per household per year, respectively. The feed balance was found to xiv be negative and significant difference across the study areas (p<0.01).The overall annual feed supply on a year round base meets only 66.13%, of the DM total requirements per household, respectively. Alternative means of dry season feed production and supply should be in place with the involvement of all stakeholders and development actors. Keywords: Agro-ecology; feed availability; feed balance; feed requirement