Assessment of Available Livestock Feed Resources in South Gondar Zone, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in four districts of South Gonder Zone of the Amhara National Regional State which represent highland and mid-altitude agro-ecology of the zone. In the study districts the existing livestock feed types, sources and the total DM obtained from each feed type has not been yet well addressed. So the objective of the study was to identify the major types and sources of available feed resources of livestock production. Two hundred ten rural households from both agro-ecologies were interviewed with semi-structured questionnaire. A single–visit-multiple-subject survey was carried out. The major types of feeds available are crop residues, natural pasture, hay, indigenous fodder trees and improved forage crops and pasture which vary in season. The annual average maintenance DM requirement per household was higher (p<0.05) in mid-altitude (10.47 TDM) than in the highland agro-ecology (8.92 TDM) districts. An average of 9.69 TDM of maintenance DM was produced per household from the major available feed resources, of which 62.08%, 12.24% and 12.19% was obtained from crop residues, conserved hay and grazing land, respectively. The average livestock population per household was 5.92 TLU and the average annual utilizable DM feed per household was 9.69 TDM. The study recommended that strategies like sustainable conservation of hay and crop residues during a surplus season, development of improved forages and proper storage and appropriate utilization of available feed resources are an option to mitigate feed shortage.