Survey of Goat Feed Sources and Supplements in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

A survey was conducted in three districts of the East Shoa Zone in Fentale, Lume and Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha (ATJK) districts, with the objective of describing the types and sources of goat feed and supplements. The study was carried out on 180 purposely selected households using a pretested structured questionnaire. The results of the analysis showed the presence of signifi cant (P < 0.05) differences in the number of goats per household in Fentale (52.3), ATJK (20) and Lume (19.9) districts. Most respondents in Lume and ATJK districts reported communal/private natural pastures, crop stubble, crop residues, local browsing and fodder trees as the main sources of goat feeds. Communal grazing lands, browsing and fodder trees were found to be the dominant feed sources in Fentale district. The study also revealed a declining trend in the size and quality of natural grazing lands mainly due to crop expansion in Lume and ATJK districts and from drought and bush encroachment in Fentale district. The most common feed supplements were crop residues, legume trees, household waste, local brewery byproducts, green grass/hay, mineral soil and agro-industrial byproducts which were proportionately used in ATJK district at 25, 33.3, 8.3, 10, 20 and 3.3%, respectively. The corresponding fi gures for Lume district were 33.3, 30, 8.3, 3.3, 16.7 and 8.3%, respectively and for Fental district were 5, 58.3, 3.3, 10, 18.3 and 5%, respectively.