FARMERS’ PREFERENCE, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO GAS AND METHANE PRODUCTION OF INDIGENOUS FODDER TREES IN SIDAMA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Adugna Gebregiorgis Sakamo, Ajebu Nurfeta, Mesele Negash, Merga Bayssa

Abstract


Background. Indigenous fodder trees (IFT) are grown in Sidama Ethiopia, for different purposes. However, information on farmers' preferences, chemical composition, and in vitro gas production of IFT is limited. Objective. To identify farmers' preferences, chemical composition, methane production, and their indigenous knowledge used for selecting quality IFT compared with laboratory indicators. Methodology. Three districts were purposively selected based on their agroecological characteristics. Nine kebeles and 273 households were randomly selected for the household survey. Three focus group discussions, representing all community groups, were conducted. The chemical composition, in vitro gas production, and Methane (CH4) production were determined. Results. The main criteria used by farmers to select IFT were multifunctionality, availability, biomass yield, fodder value, and ease of propagation. By using these criteria, farmers selected 4, 5, and 4 IFTs from the highland, midland, and lowland areas, respectively. Erythrina brucei had high crude protein (CP) (20.95%) content in the highland and midland. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents varied from 43-60%, 34.9-59.9% and 43.4-54% in the highland, midland and lowland, respectively. Vernonia amygdalina had the highest ADF and ADL content compared to Hagenia abyssinica in the highland. In the midlands, the highest ADF and ADL contents were found in Cordia africana and V. amygdalina, respectively. The highest IVOMD was observed for Vernonia amygdalina, Dracaena steudneri and Balanites aegyptiaca in the highland, midland and lowland, respectively. A strong relationship was observed between laboratory results and farmers’ feed value score. Farmers were able to differentiate IFT that had high and low protein content using their indigenous knowledge for feed evaluation. Total gas production (GP) trends of IFT during the 94 h of incubation period increased with increasing incubation time. The total GP and CH4 production was highest for V. amygdalina, D. steudneri and B. aegyptiaca in the highland, midland and lowland, respectively. The lowest CH4 concentration was observed for E. brucei, V. amygdalina and B. aegyptiaca in the highland, midland and lowland, respectively. Implication. D. steudneri, E. brucei, B. aegyptiaca and V. amygdalina showed relatively lower CH4 concentration and had a considerable amount of CP. Conclusion. IFT can be used to supplement poor-quality feed; however, laboratory analysis of anti-nutritional factors and feeding trials are necessary. 

Keywords


Indigenous knowledge; fodder trees; farmers’ preference; methane; Ethiopia

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References


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URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v28i2.55297

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.5529

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