Assessment of Major Sheep Forage Types, Feeding System, and Nutritional Quality Assessment, Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the major sheep feed types, feeding system and its nutritional quality evaluation in Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. A total of 100 households (hh) were taken from each district. For laboratory work, feed samples were collected from ten randomly selected farmers from each peasant association and nutrition composition like Dry matte, crude protein, Ash, Neutral detergent fiber, Acid detergent fiber, Acid detergent lignin, In vitro dry matter digestibility, Digestibility of organic dry mater were tested and Metabolizable Energy was calculated. The field survey data were analyzed using SPSS and SAS software used for nutritional composition test. The Pearson Chi-Square and Tukey HSD test was used to determine mean differences at (p < .05). The results of the field survey revealed that, the major feed resources available in both districts comprised of natural pasture (82%) followed by crop residue (25%) and Free grazing is the common feeding system in both districts. The overall mean of, Dry matter, Ash, crude protein, Neutral detergent fiber, Acid detergent fiber, Acid detergent lignin, In vitro dry matter digestibility, Digestibility of organic dry mater and Metabolizable Energy content of natural grasses were 89.5%, 5.9%, 68.5%, 68.5%, 37.1%, 4.9%, 55.5%, 43.8% and 7.4 KJ/kgDM, respectively. The corresponding values for barley straw were also 90.9%, 5.4%, 5.4%, 70.7%, 54.8%, 9.6% and 8.2 KJ/kgDM for Dry matter, Ash, Crude protein, Neutral detergent fiber, Acid detergent fiber, Acid detergent lignin and Metabolizable energy respectively. Significant (p < .05).) difference was seen on Ash and Digestibility of organic dry mater content in natural pasture between two districts and there was no significant difference on other composition It was concluded that, natural pasture and barley straw are the main sheep feed in area. Further studies are needed to see other feed resource and test nutritional composition.