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Characterization of Livestock Production Systems and Potentials for Enhancing Productivity through Improved Feeding in Menz and Angogela-Tera Districts in Ethiopia. b y Debre-Birhan Agricultural Research Centre. Objectives .
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Characterization of Livestock Production Systems and Potentials for Enhancing Productivity through Improved Feedingin Menz and Angogela-Tera Districts in Ethiopia by Debre-Birhan Agricultural Research Centre
Objectives • To assess feed resource availability and use in the subalpine highlands of Ethiopia using a feed assessment tool (FEAST) • To characterize the livestock production and feeding systems • To determine site-specific feed intervention potentials in selected villages in Menz and Angolela-Tera districts
Methodology The study site Menz-Gera district • Dargegnekebele • Sinambakebele Angolela-Tera district • Chefanenkebele • Chekikebele
The Farming Systems Land size (ha) Major food crops
Contributions to livelihoods Important livestock Species
Feed Resources Seasonality of feed supply Major fodder crops
Contribution to dry matter intake Contribution to ME content of the diet Contribution to CP content of the diet
Experiences Using FEAST • A holistic approach – FEAST considers resources, socio-economic status, cropping system and non-feed aspects of livestock system • Tool can be used for a rapid appraisal of other aspects of livestock systems • Integrates indigenous (participatory) and modern animal science knowledge and methods • A rapid and facilitated data collection, analysis and interpretation • FEAST is very friendly, also allows editing basic parameters • Data from individual interviews – FEAST accommodates 6, 2 per wealth class • Data from FGD – more reliable, but less used by FEAST • Some difficult questions – trend data by month (e.g. milk yield, prices, …) By season easier for farmers and more realistic? • Crop residue contribution to DM intake – Doubtful results!
Way Forward • Improvement in FEAST: • Accommodating larger sample size, and/or • Use of data from FGDs from 2 kebeles in FEAST Excel • Woreda-based study and recommendation domain: • Administrative boundaries for agricultural devt? • Within-woreda variability in agro-ecology (major factor in feed) • Narrows/Limits applicability of findings • ! Study site selection and recommendations by AEZs, prod system • Dissemination of tool – promotion to and training of users • Linking FEAST and TechFit