International Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Soil Science Vol. 1(1) pp.

020-028 March 2011

Available online@ http://www.interesjournals.org/IRJAS
Copyright ©2011 International Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of farming systems on livestock feed resources

and feeding systems in Benishangul-Gumuz region,
western Ethiopia
Beyene Teklu1*, Tegene Negesse2 and Ayana Angassa2
1*
Hawassa University, Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resource, P.O.Box 128, Shashamene, Ethiopia.
2
Hawassa University, College of Agriculture, Departement of Animal and Range Sciences, P.O.Box 5, Hawassa,
Ethiopia
Accepted 11 February, 2011

A study was conducted with the objectives of assessing the livestock feed resources and feeding
systems of Assosa Zone of Benishangul-Gumuz Region using group discussions, structured
questionnaire and personal observations. The average total family size of the study area was 7.49 of
(shifting FS = 9.08; permanent FS = 5.9). Overall, 55% of respondents in the two farming systems were
illiterate of which about 43.3 % was found in shifting cultivation where as the rest in permanent farming
system. The farm size of households from shifting cultivation (SC) was (6.04 ha) significantly higher
(p<0.05) than that of (1.26 ha) permanent farming systems (PFS). About 70.8% of respondents from SC
get new land by clearing of land without shifting to other places on average within 5.66 years. The
number of cows, goats and chicken from SC were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of PFS, while
the number of oxen from PFS was significantly higher (p<0.05) than SC. Natural pasture and crop
residues were the most commonly utilized feed resources. Stubble grazing and browse species also
play a significant role during dry season. Among the most commonly used browse species, lowland
bamboo (Oxytenantheria abyssinica) was the most abundant. The size of natural pasture as well as its
quality is declining from time to time mainly due to expansion of farmland and replacement of palatable
species by less palatable species like Sporobolus pyramidalis and Hyparrhenia collina species. About
59.1% of respondents from SC and 37.5% from PFS indicated that expansion of farmland was the main
cause of shrinkage of their communal grazing land. Crop residues were also used for construction, fuel
and sale. Grazing was the main livestock feeding system in both farming systems. In SC, the first
priority was given to weak animals for feeding crop residue, while draught animal take the lead in PFS.
Agro-industrial by-products, improved forage crops and hay were less available. In both farming
systems, river was the main source of water for livestock. The major livestock production constraints in
the study area were disease and parasite followed by shortage of livestock feeds. It is suggested to
study the estimated amount of crop residues and contribution of other feeds (grazing lands, forest
areas, stubbles and fallow lands) produced in the study area to know the feed balance in relation to
livestock population in the area.

Keywords: Feed resources, feeding system, shifting cultivation, permanent farming system

INTRODUCTION

Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State is one of the nine governance. According to Benishangul-Gumuz Region
regional states established in 1994 by the new Rural Development Coordination Office (2004) about
constitution of Ethiopia that created a federal system of 93.2% of the people’s livelihoods in the region depend on
agriculture. The agro-ecology of the region is conducive
for growing different types of food and cash crops.
*Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] Different types of livestock are also raised including
 Teklu et al. 021

cattle, goat, sheep, donkey and poultry (AsARC, 2006, Assessment of livestock feed resources and feeding
unpublished). system
Though the region is blessed with various potentials
and opportunities, it has remained one of the least Feed resources and feeding systems were assessed by
developed and food insecure regions in the country. The interviewing 60 randomly selected households from each
low productivity of both crop and livestock production are of the farming systems (SC and PFS) using structured
the major factors that retard development in the region. questionnaire. Farmers who reared at least one animal
Livestock production is constrained by many factors and and were willing to participate in the survey were
the return obtained from the sector is very low mainly due selected. The survey was conducted between September
to livestock diseases, shortage of feed and water supply and December 2008.
during the dry season (AsARC, 2006, unpublished). The Group discussion was conducted with key informants
problem of feed supply and quality is even more (elders and leaders) on the issue related to livestock feed
aggravated when indigenous people burn natural pasture resources and feeding systems, such as livestock
during the dry season and the rain delays (AsARC, 2006, population, land holding, livestock production constraints,
unpublished). Low feed supply both in terms of quality income of household, feed resource, feeding system,
and quantity results in retarded reproductive and growth water availability, and earlier interventions like improved
performance of animals (Sisay, 2006). forage species, feed conservation mechanisms and
Inadequate information about livestock feed resource availability of concentrate feeds in the area.
and feeding systems is the main problem in the Assosa
zone where this study was undertaken. There is a
problem of designing appropriate livestock feeding Statistical Analysis
strategies. Therefore documenting the livestock feed
resource and feeding systems of the area is crucial to The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS,
design appropriate interventions to enhance productivity. Version 13 computer software package (SPSS, 2003).
Feed resource assessment in the area helps to design
the feeding alternatives during worse season of the year
to mitigate the livestock feed shortage in the area. Such RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
studies have not been carried out in Assosa zone.
Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the major Land holding and land use pattern
livestock feed resources and feeding systems in Assosa
zone in Benishagul-Gumuz region, western Ethiopia. The average farm size owned per household (hh) in
shifting cultivation (SC) was about 6.04 hectares, which
was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the average farm
MATERIALS AND METHODS size (1.26 hectares) owned by permanent farming
systems. In both farming communities, every land
Study area allocated for livestock including stubble grazing were
communal. The average communal pastureland of
Assosa zone is located in Benishagul-Gumuz region, shifting cultivators and permanent farming communities
Ethiopia. It is located approximately 680 km west of the were 1.63 ha per hh, which was significantly higher
capital, Addis Ababa. According to National (p<0.01) than PFS (0.27 ha per hh). Farm size allocation
Meteorological Service (NMSA) (2007), the average to crop production was 72.2% and to grazing land was
annual rainfall is 1316 mm with uni-modal type of rainfall 27.04% in SC and 79.02% and 20.98% in PFS,
that occurs between April and October. Its mean annual respectively. This implies that a large proportion of farm
temperature ranges between 16.75oc and 27.9oc. March size was allocated to crop production. The reports of CSA
o
and May are the hottest months (31 c) (1995) also confirm that the largest proportion of the land
There are two types of farming systems used in the study owned by peasant farmers is used for food crop
zone, namely SC and PFS. The majority of the production. The land holding per hh in permanent farming
indigenous communities, Berta people in Assosa zone communities were very small compared to the findings of
practice SC while settlers practice permanent farming. Agajie et al. (2001) in the western Shewa of Ethiopia. Out
Assosa zone has 35.6% of the livestock population of of the total land allocated for cultivation per hh in PFS,
the region (CSA, 2005) and has 81,939 cattle, 73,181 1.83 hectare of land was obtained through rent from
goats, 10,231 sheep, 14,089 donkeys, 40, 3153 poultry, nearby shifting cultivators.
29 horses and 59,695 beehives. Major crops grown in the The higher landholding of shifting cultivators may be
area are sorghum, maize, soya bean, finger millet and due to expansion of farm land without restriction by
ground nut. Minor crops produced include teff (Eragrostis clearing of forest either by shifting or without shifting to
tef), haricot bean, hot pepper, sweet potato, banana and other places. In addition to this, low population density of
coffee. the area could have allowed individual farmer’s larger
022 Int. Res. J. Agric. Sci. Soil Sci.

Table 1. Number of livestock owned and cattle herd composition per household in shifting cultivation (SC) and
permanent farming system (PFS)

SC (N=60) PFS(N=60)
Livestock species Mean + SD Mean + SD
Cattle 4.7 + 1.76 5.17+ 2.36
Sheep 3.55 + 2.50 4.27 + 2.69
Goat 8.32 + 2.47a 4.65 + 1.81b
Donkeys 1.44 + 0.89 1.158 + 0.50
Chickens 10.77 + 1.64a 5.58 + 2.93b
Cattle herd Composition
Calves 1.49 + 0.7 1.33 + 0.52
Heifers 1.56 + 0.96 1.34 + 0.53
Bull 1.48 + 0.76 1.41 + 0.56
Oxen 1.36 + 0.76b 1.93 + 0.74a
Cow 1.86 + 1.15a 1.47 + 0.65b
Means with different letters within a raw are significantly different (P<0.05); N = number of respondents; SD =
standard deviation

landholding. Aryal and Kerkhoff (2007) reported similar number of goats and chickens reared per hh in SC was
observation that shifting cultivators should have large significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of PFS (Table 1).
size of land to practice shifting cultivation. It was also Low number of chickens and goats in PFS may be due to
indicated that lack of large land size is the main reason intensive cultivation of the land and reduced space for
for their poverty, because it deprives them of their scavenging and development of browse vegetation which
principal means of production. Kerkhoff and Sharma is a source of feed for chicken and goats, respectively.
(2006) also reported that traditional shifting cultivators Variation in size of herd per hh from place to place with
require and maintain a wide range of natural resources the availability of water and grazing lands, prevalence of
as part of their farming system, by cultivating the steep diseases and parasites as well as the management of the
slopes; growing wide range of crops; collecting wild livestock owner have also been reported earlier
foods; hunting animals; and fallowing the forests. (Tessema et al., 2003).
The livestock holding per hh in the study area was less
than the figure reported of North Gindar by Sisay (2006)
Means of getting new land and of central highlands of Ethiopia by Gryseels (1988).
The number of cows per hh in SC was significantly higher
The cultivable land in SC is replaced by new land at an (P<0.05) than PFS while in permanent farming system
interval of 5.66 years. This is longer than the two to four number of oxen per hh was significantly higher (p<0.05)
years period of cultivation reported in African rain forest than in SC (Table 1).
(Negi, 1983). According to this survey, 70.8% of farmers The higher number of oxen in PFS than in SC could be
get new land by clearing of land without shifting, 11.1% related to use of oxen for plaughing of land in PFS and
by clearing of land with shifting and 18.1% by fallowing. the higher number of cows in SC was due to the
The larger proportions of farmers practiced SC without presence of enough grazing land per hh for cows and
moving to other places which indicates that shifting also oxen which are not fully used for plaughing purpose.
cultivators were fallowing both for long and short periods.
This is similar to earlier report (FAO, 1984) that in long
fallow period’s characteristic of SC, housing may be semi Major Livestock production constraints
permanent, or farmers may have permanent homes in
villages and temporary homes in the fields/rangelands. Livestock production in the study area has primarily been
Shorter fallow periods on the other hand are associated hampered by disease and parasites in both farming
with permanent housing. systems. This is because of high infestation of tsetse fly
that causes trypanosomiasis and cross border movement
of cattle from the Sudan also causes the transmission of
Livestock holding livestock diseases of economic importance like blacklegs
and pastuerollosis (Sisay 2006; Agajie et al., 2001;
Cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys and poultry were reared by Berhanu et al., 2007). The second most limiting
the local community of both farming systems. The constraint to production of cattle, small ruminant and
 Teklu et al. 023

Table 2. Value index of major feed resources calculated from ranking results of respondents from shifting
cultivation during wet and dry seasons of Assosa zone

Rank
st nd rd th
Variables (N=60) season 1 2 3 4 Index
Natural pasture Wet 47 5 8 - 0.31
Dry 46 11 2 1 0.20
Crop- residue Wet 1 14 42 3 0.17
Dry 34 21 5 - 0.19
Browse species Wet 6 10 24 20 0.15
Dry 24 16 5 15 0.17
Hay Wet 1 6 11 42 0.12
Dry 17 9 10 24 0.13
AIB Wet - 5 27 28 0.14
Dry 18 18 10 14 0.15
Stubble wet - 1 12 47 0.10
dry 32 17 7 4 0.18
N= number of respondents; AIB= Agro-industrial by-product; Index: sum of single feed resource ranked (4*first
ranked feed resource) + (3* second ranked feed resource) + (2* third ranked feed resource) + (1* forth ranked feed
resource)/Sum of all weighted feed resource mentioned by the respondents

equine is shortage of feed. Shortage of feed in SC may natural pasture, crop residues, stubble grazing and
be due to the invasion of the communal grazing land by browse species, which agrees with earlier reports
less palatable species of forages like Hyparrhenia, which (Gambiza, 1996; Alemayehu, 2004; Ayantunde et al.,
have bushy nature and hinders development of other 2005).
species resulting in feed deficit. Natural pasture as the primary source of feed to
There is seasonal fluctuation in the availability of feed. animals in SC was ranked first both during the wet and
rd
This is in agreement with the findings of Goe (1987) dry seasons (Table 2). Crop residue were ranked 2
where the most abundant feeds in Sub-Saharan Africa followed by stubble grazing as source of feed during the
are over mature natural grasses and crop residues, which dry season. Farmers were not engaged in hay making.
are limited both in quantity and quality during the dry Quality grass species for hay making were less available.
season resulting in low growth rates. The advancement in The ranking of natural pasture and crop residues in PFS
growth rate of pasture increases cellulose and lignin followed similar trend as in SC (Table 3).
content which resulted in low digestibility (Kitaba et al, The least in the order of importance as feed resources
2007). This can be aggravated when the indigenous in the area were stubble grazing and hay during the wet
people burns pasture land in dry season with the season. This is due to unavailability of stubble grazing in
assumption that this practice kills tsetse flies and wet season and more use of fresh pasture instead of hay
improves grass development for the next season. Feed during the wet season. The grazing lands in both farming
shortage in the area becomes very important in the dry systems were open and communal grazing were covered
season when pastureland is burnt and rainfall is delayed with trees and shrubs. About 78.3% of hh in the SC
(AsARC, 2006). In PFS feed shortage is an important ranked natural pasture as the primary feed resource
constraint, next to diseases and parasites liming cattle, during the wet season and 76.7% of them ranked it as
small ruminant and equine production. This might have dry season feed (Table 2). In both farming systems
been caused by the high human population density that natural pasture was the major livestock feed resources
demanded more land for crop production leading to a followed by crop residues, which is in agreement with the
reduction in grazing areas with the resultant overstocking report of Gambiza (1996).
of communal grazing lands. Thus communal grazing
lands are not any more productive to supply livestock
with adequate quantity of quality forages. Condition of the natural pasture and constraints

The size and forage quality of the communal grazing

Major livestock feed resources areas of both farming systems are decreasing from time
to time. About 59.1% of the cause of reduction in grazing
The ranking in availability of feed resources and land size in SC and 37.5% in PFS was the expansion of
preference of farmers to the feed resources during the crop production. As a result the feed obtained from
dry and wet seasons in SC and PFS are shown in Tables grazing lands is inadequate both in terms of quantity and
2 and 3. quality throughout the year. The major causes for
The main feed resources to livestock in SC were deterioration of forage quality were over dominance of
024 Int. Res. J. Agric. Sci. Soil Sci.

Table 3. Value index of major feed resources calculated from ranking results of respondentsfrom permanent
farming system in the wet and dry seasons of Assosa zone

Rank
Variables (N=60) Season 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Index
Natural pasture Wet 52 2 6 - 0.31
Dry 40 11 6 3 0.19
Crop- residue Wet 3 16 16 25 0.16
Dry 46 10 2 2 0.20
Browse species Wet 4 8 14 34 0.14
Dry 15 11 11 23 0.13
Hay Wet 1 11 15 33 0.14
Dry 40 10 3 7 0.19
AIB Wet 5 8 14 33 0.14
Dry 27 4 4 25 0.14
Stubble wet 0 1 16 43 0.11
dry 26 16 7 11 0.16
N = number of respondents; AIB= Agro-industrial by-product; Index: sum of single feed resource ranked (4*first ranked
feed resource) + (3* second ranked feed resource) + (2* third ranked feed resource) + (1* forth ranked feed
resource)/Sum of all weighted feed resource mentioned by the respondents

Table 4. Value index of preference of crop residues as livestock feed based on ranking by respondents in
shifting cultivation and permanent farming systems of Assosa Zone

Rank
Variables 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Index
Shifting cultivation (N=60)
Maize stover 40 16 3 1 0.28
Sorghum stover 22 22 6 10 0.23
Teff straw 21 22 8 9 0.23
Finger millet 3 8 24 25 0.14
Pulse straw 1 5 10 44 0.11
Permanent farming (N=60)
Maize stover 17 30 12 1 0.23
Sorghum stover 17 25 10 8 0.21
Teff straw 44 11 2 3 0.27
Finger millet 16 14 24 6 0.19
Pulse straw 1 5 11 43 0.10

Number of respondents; shifting = 60; permanent = 60; Index: sum of single crop residue preference ranked (4*first
ranked crop residue preference) + (3* second ranked crop residue preference) + (2* third ranked crop residue preference)
+ (1* forth ranked crop residue preference)/Sum of all weighted crop residue preference mentioned by the respondents

less palatable species like Hyparrhenia in SC and during the dry season when feed is scarce. Among other
Sporobolus pyramidalis in PFS. Hyparrhenia hirta was browse/shrub species were Rhus natalensis, Bauhinia
the most abundant species in the communal grazing land farea Grewia ferruginea, Acacia seyal and Deinbollia
of SC and it suppress less competing species like kilimandscharica. Browse species are utilized as livestock
legumes resulting in poor quality forages. In addition, the feed more in SC than in PFS because they are less
population growth resulted in high demand of cultivable available in the later.
land per hh to meet food requirement within the limited
land that led to cultivation of pasture land and reduced
grazing areas (Teferi, 2006). This might have caused loss Preference of crop residues as livestock feeds
of palatable forage species due to high grazing pressure.
Reduction in pastureland and expansion of farm land In shifting cultivation maize stover was most important
were more prominent in SC than PFS. livestock feed followed by sorghum stover and teff straw
The communal grazing lands of the study area were from (Table 4). This was mainly due to the suitability of
covered with trees and shrubs which serve as protein the area for cereal crops that provide straws and stovers
source to livestock. Shifting cultivators use bamboo for animals. This is in agreement with the work of Jonah
(Oxytenanthera abyssinica) as the main browse species (2004) that reported among crop residues, straws and
 Teklu et al. 025

stovers are the major feed resources in other developing Zinash, 1995; Solomon, 2004; Tessema, 1984; Mayer,
world, and even more important than cultivated forages 1983; Urio, 1985).
due to less competition with cultivable land.
Palatability, quality and leafiness of crop residues were
used as the major criteria by respondents to select crop Agro-industrial by products
residues as livestock feeds. In PFS teff straw, maize
stover and sorghum stover were ranked in decreasing About 90% of respondents from SC and 83.3% from
order of importance (Table 4). The least preferred as permanent farming system respectively, reported that
livestock feed in both farming system was crop residues there were no agro-industrial by-products available on
from pulses because animals refuse to eat it due to rough local market for their animals partly due to the
structure of the residue and lack of adaptation of animals remoteness of the area. The supplemental feeds
to this type of crop residues. available in the area were noug cake and salt but farmers
rarely utilize noug cake because it is expensive. is. Due
to lack of supplemental feed resources, livestock are fed
Socio-economic importance of crop residues on natural pasture, browse species and crop residues. A
variety of nonconventional traditional feeds of different
Crop residues were also used for construction, fuel and forms were commonly used. Left over of Enjera and
source of cash income through selling livestock owners. Porridge were supplemented to livestock by more than ½
This type of benefit obtained from crop residues results in and 1/3 of the respondents in the SC and by over 1/3 and
sustainable interaction between crop and livestock ¼ of them in PFS.
production systems. In both farming systems, the largest
proportion of crop residues was used for livestock feeding
than for any other uses because of the critical shortage of Stubble grazing
livestock feed during the dry season. Previous studies
(e.g. Tesfaye, 2008) reported that crop-residues have After harvesting the crops, livestock are allowed to graze
been the main source of livestock feeds especially for stubbles of maize, sorghum, teff, and pulses between
ruminant animals during the dry season next to natural October and December. The stubbles are accessible to
pasture. They also serve as a source of fuel, construction all animals in the community as opposed to the report of
and sale (Van Raay and de Leeuw, 1970). In SC, Sisay (2006) where stubbles are accessible to livestock
sorghum and maize stovers were used as feed more than owned by individual farmers in central highlands of
other crop residues available in the area. This was Ethiopia. The highest proportion of respondents from
probably because of the supply of other feed sources both farming systems graze animals on aftermath of
could not meet most of the demand for nutrients and this maize followed by aftermaths of sorghum and pulses.
argument is in agreement with earlier reports (e.g. de Less number of respondents from SC were grazing
Leeuw and Van Rey, 1995). Pulse hualms were the least animals on aftermath of any of the crops due to the
utilized crop residue as a source of feed and sale. availability of large grazing lands and less amount of
In the PFS, sorghum stover was used for fuel more aftermath which agrees with the report of Seyoum et al.
than other crop residues while, teff straw was used for (2001) that the contribution of crop residues and
livestock feeding. Respondents from this farming system aftermath to the total feed resource base vary from place
also indicated that the utilization of sorghum stover and to place based on intensity of cropping.
maize stover as a source of fuel was due to the scarcity
of fire wood in the area. Teff straw was less utilized as a
source of fuel because it was the main source of feed Cultivated forage species
during dry season. Therefore, crop residues contribute
most of the DM intake especially during the dry season, Cultivated forage species are not widely produced in the
which is in agreement with the report of Ngongoni et al. study area. However, attempts were made to improve the
(2006) that suggested that for the majority of smallholder supply and quality of traditional forage in a few weredas
farmers, crop residues constitute 50-70% of total DM by the Regional Bureau of Agriculture and Rural
intake, especially during the dry season. Development (BoARD) and Assosa Agricultural Research
The size of land for crop production and the availability Center (AsARC). Napier grass, oat, lablab and Sesbania
and accessibility of fire wood were major reasons for have been introduced earlier (AsARC, 2006,
differences in crop residue utilization between SC and unpublished). Very small proportion (20%) of the hh from
PFS. Teff straw was the first priority as a source of feed PFS but only very small number (3.3%) from SC plant
in PFS than SC. In both farming systems, crop residues improved forage to alleviate feed shortage during the dry
play a significant role as source of livestock feed during seasons due to weak extension services and limited
the dry season when grass dry out. Similar observations involvement and devotion of research institutions.
were reported earlier (Reed and Goe, 1989; Seyoum and
026 Int. Res. J. Agric. Sci. Soil Sci.

Livestock Feeding Systems purchase agro-industrial by-products to feed oxen and

cows during peak time of ploughing and lactation.
Feeding of livestock in different places differs depending
on forage availability, climatic variability of a given
location or region to mitigate feed shortage problems Water Resources
during worse conditions, season of the year and type of
animal the owner prioritize to feed. Almost all The main sources of water in both farming systems
respondents from shifting cultivation herd and feed their during the dry season were rivers, springs and pond.
animals during the rainy season and 75% of them freely River is about 92% of the water sources to livestock
grazing animals during the dry season. during the dry season in SC while 87% in PFS. Most of
Almost all of the respondents from PFS herd and graze the farmers in the two farming systems watered their
animals during the rainy and dry seasons. Natural animals twice a day, only very small number of them
pasture was the most commonly utilized feed resource in water once in a day or two days. The finding here is in
both farming systems and grazing is the predominant congruence with Teshome’s (2006) and Tesfaye’s (2008)
form of ruminant feeding which was in agreement with findings. Livestock travel less than 1 km to get to water
earlier reports (Getnet, 1999; Yosef, 1999; Getachew, during dry season in SC compared to1 to 5 km in PFS.
2000; Solomon, 2004). When natural pasture becomes
less available during the dry season, farmers in the study
area supplement crop residues for their livestock. Feed CONCLUSIONS
shortage in SC is worsened when farmers burn the
natural pasture assuming that they can kill tsetse fly and A study was conducted to assess the livestock feed
obtain flush grass in the coming season. resource and feeding systems of Assosa Zone, western
In both farming systems bamboo was the most Ethiopia. The average land holding per household (hh) in
commonly utilized feed resources, fed as supplement to shifting cultivation (SC) was significantly higher than that
donkeys at night in SC and to oxen in PFS by cut and of permanent farming systems (PFS). The number of
carry feeding system and agrees with the results of goats, chicken and cows per hh in SC were significantly
previous studies (Simbaya, 1998; Alemayehu, 2006; higher than that of PFS while the number of oxen in PFS
Sisay, 2006; Elias, 2007). was significantly higher than SC. One of the major
livestock production constraints in both farming systems
was shortage of feed.
Crop residues feeding system Natural pasture and crop residues were the most
commonly utilized feed resource in both farming systems.
Feeding of crop residues for different class of animals Although, natural pasture was providing significant
during the dry season vary between the two farming amount of feed for the society, nowadays the contribution
systems depending on the severity of feed shortage and and also productivity of this feed resource was
the existing condition of animals. By respondents from deteriorating from time to time mainly by expansion of
shifting cultivation weak animals are given first priority to crop production at the expense of grazing land. Crop
be fed with crop residues followed by drought animals, residues were also used for fuel, construction and source
while in permanent farming systems the first priority of of cash income besides serving as a source of feed.
feeding crop residues is given for drought animals Improved forage species, agro-industrial by-products
followed by sick animals. Sheep and goats are given the were less available in the area. Grazing was the main
least priority. livestock feeding system in both farming systems of the
study area. The main sources of water for livestock in
both farming systems during the dry season were rivers
Agro-industrial by-ptoduct feeding followed by springs and pond. Further study is
suggested to estimate the amount of crop residues
Eventhough there are limited accessibilty of agro- produced and contribution of grazing lands, forest areas,
industrial by-products in the area, respondents supply stubbles and fallow lands to the feed base of the Zone.
agro-industrial by-products to their animals during the dry
season to mitigate feed shortage. In SC, lactating cows
got the first priority of feeding agro-industrial by-products ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
followed by draught animals . Sisay (2006) reportd that
feeding of agro-industrial by-products are prioritized This research was funded by Rural Capacity Building
based on the productive potential of animals. In PFS, the Project (RCBP), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We are indebted
first priority of feeding agro-industrial by-product is given to thank the farmers who participated in this research.
to draught animals followed by lactating cows. Farmers
 Teklu et al. 027

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