Determination of feed balance for smallholder mixed crop–livestock farming system in Adwa district of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

A feed inventory and feed balance assessment study was conducted in Adwa district of central Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, with the objective to investigate available feed resources and evaluate livestock feed requirements under the smallholder mixed crop–livestock production system. Sixty livestock households were selected systematically from two farmer associations that were selected for their livestock potential. Livestock holding size, feed types, feed availability and feed demand were estimated using household interviews. Representative feed sampled were collected at field and analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and in vitro DM digestibility. Metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible CP (DCP) were estimated from equations. Feed balance was evaluated as the difference between feed supply and feed demand. The collected data were subjected to a descriptive statistical analysis. The major livestock feed resources available in the area included crop residues, crop stubble, grazing lands and mixed hay. On average, about 1.84 tonne DM feed, 13,635 MJ ME and 99.13 kg DCP were produced at farm level in year-round base. Crop residues (51%) was the dominant contributor of the annual feed resource base followed by grazing lands (34%), stubble grazing (11%) and mixed hay (4%) in descending order. A negative feed balance was seen for all nutrient types. The livestock are faced with critical deficiency of 56% DM, 52% ME and 57% DCP. This implies that the livestock production is practiced under annual feed deficit conditions.

Keywords:

• feed demand
• feed gap
• feed resources
• feed supply
• livestock

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Livestock production is a key economic activity for the smallholder farmers in Adwa district of Northern Ethiopia. Feed situation is the main concern of the smallholder livestock production system. Understanding the feed type and feeding status of livestock is necessary to address feed shortage problem. Accurate scientific investigation of feed availability and livestock feed gap is considered as a prerequisite for making the best use of available resources. Livestock feed balance analysis is undertaken to determine the feed status at national and farm levels. This can suggest a clear strategy for the development of feed resources and their efficient utilization that guides the proper way of feed production, management and utilization.

Acknowledgments

We are very much pleased with Mekelle University for the financial support (CDANR/RB/6/2012) to conduct this study. We are also grateful to Abergelle Agricultural Research Centre for the logistic support. Our appreciation goes to the local farmers who made the study successful through providing the required information.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Mekelle University [CDANR/RB/6/2012].

Notes on contributors

Tikabo Gebremariam

Tikabo Gebremariam is working with an academic rank of Associate Professor at the Department of Animal, Rangelands and Wildlife Sciences, Mekelle University, Northern Ethiopia. He has been engaged in teaching and research activities for the last 20 years. His research interests focus on animal production, animal nutrition, forage production and meat sciences.

Shumuye Belay

Shumuye Belay is serving as a full time researcher at Mekelle Agricultural Research Center, Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Northern Ethiopia. He has been working as an extension expert and researcher for the last 15 years. Currently, he is a PhD fellow at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. His key research interests are animal production, poultry production and animal genetics.