SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES ASSESSEMENT OF MAJOR LIVESTOCK FEED RESOURCES, FEED BALNCE AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE IN SODDO DISTRICT, EAST GURAGE ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess livestock feed resource, feed balance and nutritional values at different agro ecologies of Soddo district, east Gurage zone, central Ethiopia. The kebeles of the district were stratified in to two agro- ecological zones and representative kebeles were selected from the two agro-ecology. .A total of 166 sampled respondents were selected by simple random sampling and data were collected by using semi- structure questionnaire interview and personal observation. The result of the study showed that the livestock production system in the district was a mixed crop-livestock production system. The overall family size per household was 6.72±0.27in high land agro ecology and 7.45±0.33in midland agro ecology , the average cattle population per household was 7.17±0.30 heads (6.84TLU), and the overall land holding was 1.29±0.325 ha per household in this study. . In the highland agro-ecology of the study areas, the major feed resources of cattle were crop residue, natural pasture, and Enset leaf while it was natural pasture and crop residue in midland agro-ecology. Annual feed supply in the district satisfies 68.9% and 79.7% TDM; 44.83% and 39.36% TDCP, and 69.46% and 83.25% TME of the maintenance requirement of livestock in TLU per year in highland and midland agro-ecologies, respectively. Major livestock constraints are shortage of feed, high-cost feed, inadequate extension and training service. Therefore, different intervention strategies are needed to improve the husbandry practices, mainly to improve the feed resource available and. Cattles feed deficit was serious problem and needs strong intervention and attention by the concerned bodies.