Assessment of Feed Resources Availability and Utilization in Daro Labu district, Western Hararghe Zone

The study was conducted in Daro Labu District of West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia to assess the availability and utilization practices of feed resources in the study area. Data was collected by semi structured interview, focus group discussion and secondary data was collected from different sources. Three Rural Kebeles (villages) were purposively selected in the highland, midland, and lowland in the district. The purpose of keeping livestock species in the study area were for milk (for sale and home consumption), meat, draft power, source of cash (from sale of animals and their products), source of manure and transport. The survey result indicated that mixed crop-livestock production is the key farming activity in the study district. Both sale of crops and livestock were the main sources of income. Crop residues and leaves of fodder trees and shrubs were the major sources of feed in dry season while thinned plants and weeds from crop fields were the primary sources of feed in the wet season of the study area. It is concluded that crop residues, fodder trees and shrubs, and thinned plants and weeds from crop fields are the major feed resources in the study area. Feed shortage, livestock disease, water shortage, extended drought and market problem is the major identified problems and constraints of livestock production in the study area. Finding of the study also revealed that frequent occurrence of drought, over population, and cropland expansion account for the major causes of feed resource shortage in the study area. Proper cultivation and utilization of improved forage and fodder trees and shrubs can serve as a means of improving animal feed availability. This opportunity should be recommended to supplement with other feed resources to improve the nutritional quality of available feed resources. More and effective extension services and strengthening the capacity of farmers in feed resource conservation techniques should focus on solving for livestock feed shortage in the study area. Keywords: Crop residues, Feed, Feed resources, Fodder trees and shrub