LIVESTOCK HUSBANDRY PRACTICES, MAJOR FEED RESOURCE AND DROUGHT COPING STRATEGY IN AYSAITA DISTRICT, AWSI RASU ZONE, AFAR NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted in selected pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of Aysaita district of the Awsirasu Zone of Afar Regional State, Ethiopia. The main objectives of the study were to assess the livestock husbandry practices, the major feed resource; prioritize major constraints that influence livestock production and the drought coping mechanisms in the study area. A total of eight kebele were selected purposively out of 11kebeles in the district (Four kebele from each pastoral and agro pastoral production systems). A total of 195 households were selected using purposive sampling method, where 80 households were from the agro pastoral area and 115 households from the pastoral area, based on population size of the kebele in the study district. Data were collected through interviewing the selected households using semi-structured questionnaire, field observation and group discussions, supported with secondary information from different sources. The average family size in the study district was 5.76±0.13 persons per household. There was significant (P<0.05) variation in number of camels, goats, sheep and cattle among the households. The reason of keeping livestock in the study area was for milk and meat production, cash income and transport purpose. Selling of large ruminant (cattle and camel) was the responsibility of husband, while selling of small ruminant (sheep and goat) and the livestock product like milk was the responsibility of wife. Calf rearing and herding (large ruminant) is done by children and husband, respectively and that of barn cleaning is done mainly by the children. In the study area, livestock house was constructed by husband and children. In pastoral system the large ruminant (camel and cattle) stay around the family home without enclosure at night, while in agro-pastoral area, cattle, goat and sheep were protected by a thorn wood fence to protect them from predators and to hold the livestock from destroying of crops. In both pastoral and agro pastoral area, small ruminant and calves were housed in well-protected enclosures around their home which was constructed from wood (like Acacia Abyssinica) and fencing by available piece of thorn wood (like Prosopis julifora) and different bush plants. This house is constructed with the main objectives of protecting the goat, sheep and calves from predators during night time and protects form xv suckling of dam. The major feed resources were natural grazing areas, fodder tree, crop residues, improved forages (Panicum, Rhodes, elephant grass, Cowpea and Lablab) and supplementary feed. The major livestock production problems were shortage of feed, health problems and expansion of crop farming by irrigation in their order of importance. Aysaita district were the major market center for camel, cattle, goat, sheep and donkey within the zone. The main coping mechanisms during drought period was migration/mobility, livestock diversification, selling animals, and feed supplement and feed conservation with 51.8, 21, 11.8 and 6.2% respondents, respectively. In conclusion, problems related to livestock production constraint through proper management of the rangelands, introduction of improved forage and use of sugarcane byproduct and enhancing the capacity of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in appropriate utilization of available feed resources.