Feed Resources Potential, and Nutritional Quality of Major Feed Stuffs in the Three Agro-Ecological Zone of Mixed Farming System in Arsi Zone, Ethiopia

The poor nutritional quality of feed resources is one of the major constraints to optimize livestock productivity in the mixed farming systems of the country; however, there is lack of information on the nutritional quality of feeds utilized in the area. Thus this study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of the livestock feed resources in the three agro-ecologies and farming systems of Arsi zone. Using stratified purposive sampling technique, 150 households who owned cattle were selected from three agro-ecologies to assess feed resources potential and to evaluate the nutritional quality majorly used feed resources. Structured questionnaire and field observation were used to collect detail information. The feed samples were analyzed for dry matter basis for organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral-detergent fiber (NDF), acid-detergent fiber (ADF) acid-detergent lignin, in vitro digestibility organic matter in the dry matter (IVDOMD) and Metabolizable energy (ME). The result had shown that nutrient content of feeds showed variation between the three agro-ecologies. The overall mean OM, CP, NDF, ADF, and ADL contents of natural pasture (dry and rainy season) ranged from 88.4±0.06-90.4±0.2, 7.0 ± 0.3-9.7 ± 0.2 %, 55.6 ± 0.5- 68.4 ± 0.5 %, 27.0 ± 0.97- 37.9 ± 0.3 %, 3.3 ± 0.08-7.3 ±0.3 % and55 ±0.3-78.7±0.8% and 8.2±0.05 -11.8 ± 0.1MJ/kg DM respectively, the corresponding values for crop residues varied from 88.6±0.04-94.7±0.06, 2.4 ± 0.1- 5.7 ± 0.6 %, 63.0 ± 2.8- 78.4 ±1.5 %, 43.2 ± 0.6 – 46.8 ± 0.7%, 7.8 ± 0.9 -14.8 ± 0.2, 49.4 ± 0.1- 54.8 ± 1.3 % and 7.4 ± 0.1 – 8.2 ± 0.2 MJ/kg DM respectively. During rainy season grasses in natural pasture had higher CP than dry season natural pasture grasses and crop residues. In such condition the inclusion of the green grasses during the absence of feed when the quality feed decrease in CP content could be essential. Treating of crop residue (chemical, physical and biological treatment) when reasonable to improve its nutritional quality must be imperative to enhance livestock performance in the study area and for similar situation.