Assessment of Seasonality Availability of Livestock Feed Resources and Feeding System in Bahir Dar Zuria District of Amhara Region, Ethiopia
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Abstract
This study was conducted in Bahir Dar Zuria District, Ethiopia with the objective of assessing livestock feed resources. The study was conducted using survey (semi-structured questionnaire) from five rural kebeles. The data were analyzed by using SPSS software. Seasonal availability of livestock feed resources were assessed natural
pasture (89.2%) is mainly available during the wet season; crop residues (97.9%), hay (92.5%), and improved forage (71.4%) were available and more utilized in the dry season while browse trees/shrubs (100%), agro-industrial byproducts (61.3%), and attela (75.0%) were found in both seasons. Shortage of feed (0.34) was the first productionconstraint followed by disease (0.27) for all livestock species. Although crop residue is the major feed in the study area farmers are not treating it to improve its nutritional value thus giving training about crop residue treatment is necessary.
