The absence of updated information on the current status of the cattle feed bases and feed production practice is one of the important cattle feed production determinant that has been affecting cattle production in Jinka town of South Omo. This study was aimed to investigate cattle feed basis, feed availability, feed production constraints and opportunities in the Alga Kebele. A face-to-face household survey was conducted by interviewing 31 purposively selected cattle keeper households from the Alga Kebele base on cattle and cattle feed production experiences. The qualitative data such as cattle feed basis, feed availability, type of grazing land and productivity, grazing land management practices, feed conservation and feeding methods, improved forage production status and the extent of extension service in cattle feed production were analysed using non-parametric methods, while the means of the quantitative parameters such as age and sex of households, cattle number and categories and amount of land allocated for improved feed production were analysed by using parametric methods. The result showed that about 87.1% of cattle feed producers were male-headed, while 19.1% were female-headed. Almost all (96.8%) of respondents replied that natural pasture was the main cattle resource basis, while very few (3.2%) replied that crop-residue and crop aftermath were used as cattle feed bases. Most respondents (87.1%) reported that there was not enough feed production for cattle in the last five years, while very few (12.9%) said that there was enough feed produced for cattle. All respondents mentioned that the productivity of the grazing land has been decreasing since the last five years onward due to climate variability (54.8%), a lack of grazing land management strategies (38.5%), and increasing cattle populations (9.67%). Moreover, about 67.7% of respondents did not adopt improved forage production due to a lack of knowledge (41.93%), a lack of forage seed (12.9%), a lack of training and support (22.58%), and a shortage of land (19.35%). The shortage of land, climate variability, lack of forage seeds and capacity building are major cattle feed production constraints, while the existence of extension services and favourable agro-ecology is an important opportunities for cattle feed production in the study area.
cattle, feed, feed availability, feed production, constraints, opportunities, Ethiopia, climatic change
Adane, Z., Yemane, N. & Hidosa, D. (2021). Cattle Production System and Breeding Practices in Bena-Tsemay District of South Omo, Southwestern Ethiopia. International Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences- 3(4): 142-159.
Admasu T., Abule E. & Tessema Z.(2010). Livestock-rangeland management practices and community perceptions towards rangeland degradation in South Omo zone of Southern Ethiopia. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 22,(5), 1-5.
Adugna, T., Alemu Y. & Dawit, A. (2012). Livestock Feed Resources in Ethiopia: Challenges; Opportunities and the Need for Transformation; Ethiopian Animal Feed Industry Association: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1-120.
Amanuel Bekuma, Jabessa Ayele & Meskerem Asefa (2020). Evaluation of Beef Cattle Feed Resources, Fattening Practices and Marketing Systems in Selected Districts of Buno Bedele and Ilu Abbabor Zones, Western Ethiopia. American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 20 (1): 38-44.
Asefa D., Ajebu N. & Sandip B. (2013). Assessment of feed resource availability and livestock Production constraints in selected Kebeles of Adami Tullu Jiddo Kombolicha District, Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 8(29), 4067-4073.
Azage, T., Berhanu, G., Hoekstra, D., Berhanu B.& Yoseph M.(2013). Smallholder Dairy Production and Marketing Systems in Ethiopia: IPMS Experiences and Opportunities for Market-Oriented Development; Project Working Paper 31; IPMS (Improving Productivity and Market Success) of Ethiopian Farmers: Nairobi, Kenya.
Berhane, H. (2017). Ethiopian cattle genetic resource and unique characteristics under a rapidly changing production environment-A review. Int. J. Sci. Res. (IJSR), 6(2): 1959-1968.
Berhanu, Tekleyohannes, Girma Abebe, Jameroen Thingtham, Sayan Tusdri & Somkiert Prasanpanich (2017). Availability of feed resources for goats in pastoral and agro-pastoral districts of south omo zone, Ethiopia. International Journal of Research - Granthaalayah, 5(3), 154-160.
Central Statistical Agency(CSA) (2021). Agricultural sample survey report on livestock and livestock characteristics (private peasant holdings). In statistical bulletin. Addis Ababa, 2: 1–199.
Chufa A, Tadele Y& Hidosa D(2022). Assessment on Livestock Feed Resources and Utilization Practices in Derashe Special District, Southern-Western Ethiopia: Status, Challenges and Opportunities. J Vet Med Animal Sci., 5(1): 1110.
Dawit, A., Ajebu, N & Sandip, B. (2013). Assessment of feed resource availability and livestock production constraints in selected Kebeles of Adami Tullu Jiddo Kombolcha District; Ethiopia. Afr. J. Agric. Res, 8(3), 4067–4073.
Dejene Takele (2014). Assessment of dairy cattle husbandry and breeding management practices of lowland and mid-highland agro-ecologies of Borana Zone. Anim. Vet. Sci., 2 (3):62-69.
Demerew Getaneh, Kibrom Mebrahtu & Abadi Berhane (2020). Assessment of Livestock Production Constraints and Technology Need Identification in Dasenech District of South Omo Zone, Ethiopia. Int. J. of Life Sciences, 8 (1):28-39.
Demerew Getaneh, Sandip Banerjee & Mestawet Taye (2019). Husbandry and Breeding Practices of Malle Cattle Reared in Malle District South Omo Zone of Southwest Ethiopia, J. Anim. Vet. Adv., 18 (12): 323-338.
Denbela Hidosa, Yidinachachew Tesfaye & Ayele Feleke (2017). Assessment on Feed Resource, Feed Production Constraints and Opportunities in Salamago Woreda in South Omo Zone, in South Western Ethiopia. Academic Journal of Nutrition, 6 (3): 34-42.
Duguma B.& Janssens, G.P.J.(2021). Assessment of Livestock Feed Resources and Coping Strategies with Dry Season Feed Scarcity in Mixed Crop–Livestock Farming Systems around the Gilgel Gibe Catchment, Southwest Ethiopia. Sustainability, 13:1-28.
Endale Y. D. (2015). Assessment of feed resources and determinations of mineral status of livestock feed in Meta Robi district, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia. M.Sc. Thesis. Ambo University. Ambo, Ethiopia.
FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations). (2018). Africa sustainable livestock production systems spotlight Cattle sectors in Ethiopia: 1-11.
Haile W, Zelalem Y.& Yosef T. (2012). Challenges and opportunities of milk production under different urban dairy farm sizes in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia. Af J Agric Res., 7(26), 3860–3866.
Hidosa Denbela&Tesfaye Yidinikachew (2018). Assessment Study on Livestock Feed Resource, Feed Availability and Production Constraints in Maale Woreda in South Omo Zone. J Fisheries Livest Prod., 6 (2):1-5.
Hidosa, D., Adicha, A.& Sultan, M.(2022). Production and Commercialization Status of Improved Panicum Grass Cultivation in the Lowland Livestock Production System of South Omo Southwestern Ethiopia. Research on World Agricultural Economy. 3(4), 694.
Jerjero, T., Tadesse, A., Tadesse, A., Yosef, T.& Sultan, M. (2022). Participatory variety
selection of improved finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) Varieties at Debube Ari Woreda, SouthOmo Zone, Ethiopia. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech., 12(1), 129-136.
Mulugeta A. (2005). Characterization of Dairy Production Systems of Yerer watershed in Ada Liben Wereda, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. An MSc Thesis Presented to the School of Graduate Studies of Alemaya University, Alemaya University. 140pp.
Shapiro, B.I., Gebru, G., Desta, S., Negassa, A., Nigussie, K., Aboset, G. & Mechale, H. (2017). Ethiopia livestock sector analysis: A 15 year livestock sector strategy. ILRI Project Report.
Solomon B. (2004). Assessment of Livestock Production Systems and Feed Resource Base in Sinana Dinsho District of Bale Highlands, Southeast Oromia. M. Sc. Thesis. Alemaya University of Agriculture, Alemaya.141pp.
Terefe, E., T. Dessie, A. Haile, W. Mulatu & O. Mwai (2015). On-farm phenotypic characterization of Mursi cattle in its production environment in South Omo Zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Anim. Genet. Resource, 57(4): 15-24.
Yisehak, K., Taye, T. & Aynalem, H. (2013). Characteristics and determinants of livestock production in Jimma Zone/Southwestern Ethiopia. Afr. J. of Basic & Applied Sciences, 5 (2): 69-81.
