Temporal Change in Relative Availability/ Contribution of Different Livestock Feed Resources to the Total Feeds Available to Livestock Keepers in the Mixed Crop-livestock Highlands of Ethiopia: The Case of Household Perception in Tiyo District, Arsi Zone

Abstract

In this study, temporal change, over the last 30-40 years, in relative availability/ contribution of different livestock feed resources to the total feeds available to livestock keepers were assessed based on household perception. The study was conducted in the Tiyo District of Ethiopia in Arsi Zone -as a typical representation of the mixed crop-livestock highland system of the country. The results revealed that over the last 30-40 years relative availability/ contribution of communal and private pasture lands have significantly declined. On the other hand; aftermath grazings as dry season feeds;  crop residues particularly wheat and barley as year round feeds, and  flour and oil mill/ agro-industrial by-products as year round supplementary feeds have significantly  increased. Nevertheless, the relative contribution of cultivated forage grasses, herbaceous legumes and browses were low and remained unchanged over the study period. Thus the results suggest that efforts on livestock feed resources development, better focus on local level strategies aimed at maximizing productivity and quality of the increasing feed resources. The unchanged very low contribution of cultivated forage crops also require new innovative systems of technology generation, demonstration and dissemination over the approaches being followed for the last 30-40 years.