FEED RESOURCES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN ETHIOPIAN HIGHLANDS:THE CASE OF UMBULO WHACO WATERSHED IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the prevailing feed resources and feeding management systems in Umbulo Wacho watershed, southern Ethiopia. The data used in the current study were obtained through individual interviews conducted on 85 randomly selected livestock owners, group discussions with key informants and from secondary sources. In the study area, livestock provide draught power, milk, meat and manure. Cattle were the dominant livestock species and cows comprised 36% of the total number of cattle. The average landholding per household was 0.7 ha, of which 0.1 ha was reported as grazing land. Communal and private grazing lands were gradually shrinking due to the expansion of crop production. This led to the growing practice of tethering and stall-feeding. The annual feed DM yield was only two-third of the DM requirement for livestock kept in the area. Natural pasture, crop residues, crop stubbles, enset by-products and sugarcane top were among the main feed resources. Crop residues were found to be major feed resources for the livestock in the study area, particularly during the dry season in which the biomass of the natural grazing lands is very minimal. Enhancing the quantity and quality of crop-residues will, therefore, be expected to bring about a positive impact on livestock production.