ASSESSMENT OF LIVESTOCK FEED RESOURCES AND FEED BALANCE IN ERER DISTRICT OF ERER VALLEY, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the major livestock feed resources, dry matter production of major feed resources, feed requirement, and feed balance in the Erer District of Erer valley, Eastern Ethiopia. A multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select required household heads and data were collected through designed questionnaires, field observation, focus group discussion and key informants, formal surveys, and other secondary sources. Available grazing land feed resources were quantified using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') and evenness or equitability index (E) based on the cover/abundance value of the species as input data and analyzed using R software and SPSS version 20 software. Results showed that the average household size of the district is 6.63 ranging from 2 to 15 and the average landholding per household is 2.72±0.11 ha. Of which 63.24% is allocated for cultivated land. The average livestock holding in TLU was found to be 3.58±0.11 per household with the largest share occupied by cattle (2.20±0.09) followed by donkey (0.42±0.02) in two agro-ecologies of the study area. The major livestock feed resources in the Woreda were crop residues (44.2%), grazing land (20.8%), crop aftermath (10%), fallow land (5%), forest (watershed) land (3.3%), fodder trees (3.3%), and other feed (13.3%). A total of 51 plant species and 780 individual plant species belonging to 25 families were recorded from communal grazing land of the study area, from which, 18 (35.29 %) trees, 29 (56.86 %) shrubs, and the remaining 4 (7.83%) were herbs. Of the three vegetation types recorded, shrubs were highly dominate followed by trees and herbs respectively. The most frequently recorded plant species was Lantana camara, 28.20% with 0.2 relative abundance followed by Psydrax schimperiana (11.29%). The Shannon diversity index of the highland agro ecology (2.509) slightly shows less value than lowland agro ecology (2.898) though they have not significantly different (P>0.05). Livestock holding in TLU and land that was the most important production factor was significantly different (P < 0.05) across two agro-ecologies of the study area. However, the total DM production from all feed resources were not significantly different in the two agro-ecologies (P > 0.05). The largest proportion of feed (515.78 tDM/year, 64.11%) came from crop residues xv followed by natural pasture (104.1 tDM/year, 12.94%) and aftermath forage (101.32 tDM/year, 12.59%) for surveyed households. The remaining minimum amount of (19.68 tDM/year, 2.45%), (24.21 tDM/year, 3.01%) and (39.39 tDM/year, 4.9%) feeds dry matter was obtained from forest land, fodder trees/shrubs, and fallow land, respectively. The total amount of DM obtained from all major feed resources was 804.48 tonnes of dry matter per year with an average value of 6.71 tonne dry matter per year where as the total livestock population of the surveyed households was 429.72 TLU. The total feed DM required for this amount of TLU was, therefore, 971.03 tonnes DM/year (with a negative balance of 166.55 tonne DM/year). Thus, the total feed available addressed nearly 82.88% of the annual DM requirement which was able to support existing livestock for 9.94 months, and feed shortage suffer livestock only 2.1 months per year. The feed gap was significantly higher (P<0.05) at lowland (133.96 tDM/year, 80.43%) agro-ecology, than at highland (32.56 tDM/year, 19.57%) agro-ecology. This shortage of feed in the study area has resulted in increased mortality, reduced milk yield, increased abortion, weight loss, and weakness of any livestock species as reported by the respondents. The respondents take different measures to overcome feed shortage and reduce its impact on their livestock. Several households use improved forage (44.17%) in addition to purchasing feed (24.17%) while others preserve and store feeds (17.5%) during the time of its high availability Some households, which accounted (for 9.17%) and (5%) were decreasing livestock size and moving herds to another place respectively to cope with shortage of feed. The amount of feed DM, which indicated a negative balance in the study site, needs due attention from all accountable bodies. Alternative means of oversawing of natural pasture, permanent fodder plantation, developing improved forage and animal species reduction in addition to efficient utilization and conservation of crop residue should be in place with the involvement of all stakeholders and development actors.