Chemical composition of major livestock feed resources in the medium and low agroecological zones in the mixed farming system of Haru District, Ethiopia

The poor nutritional quality of feed resources is one of the major constraints to optimal livestock productivity in Ethiopia. In the current study area, there is lack of information on the chemical composition of major feed resources to quantify their nutritional quality for interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the chemical composition of livestock feed resources (natural pasture, crop residues, local liquor byproduct (atella) and indigenous fodder tree and shrub species) in the medium and low agroecological zones (AEZs) in the mixed farming system of Haru District, Ethiopia. The feed samples were analysed in dry matter basis for ash dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), acid-detergent fiber (ADF), neutral-detergent fiber (NDF) and ether extractor (EE)). The results revealed that nutrient content of feeds showed variation between the two AEZs. The overall mean DM, Ash, NDF, ADF, EE, and CP content of natural grass species ranged from 91.40 ± 0.84–92.26 ± 0.55 %, 6.88 ± 0.11–12.56 ± 1.04 %, 64.67 ± 1.51–70.14 ± 1.98 %, 47.47 ± 1.11–50.51 ± 1.30 %, 1.31 ± 0.11–1.58 ± 0.11 %, and 9.15 ± 0.31–12.07 ± 0.44 %, respectively, and the corresponding values for crop residues varied from 90.19 ± 0.77–93.67 ± 0.45 %, 7.20 ± 0.30–12.18 ± 0.66 %, 72.59 ± 2.26–78.19 ± 0.77 %, 53.70 ± 1.41–8.70 ± 0.82 %, 1.21 ± 0.09–1.97 ± 0.28 %, and 2.70 ± 0.16–6.43 ± 0.37 %, respectively. The overall mean DM, Ash, NDF, ADF, EE and CP content of Areke Atella in both AEZs ranged from 89.73 ± 0.67–93.71 ± 0.34 %, 7.55 ± 0.20–8.29 ± 0.04 %, 36.05 ± 0.42–42.38 ± 2.27 %, 30.31 ± 0.76–36.62 ± 0.49 %, 1.45 ± 0.01–1.68 ± 0.16 %, and 13.54 ± 0.27–16.43 ± 0.71 %, respectively. The overall mean DM, Ash, NDF, ADF, EE, and CP content of the indigenous fodder trees and shrubs (IFTS) varied between 90.49 ± 0.94–93.32 ± 0.58 %, 9.26 ± 0.46–11.82 ± 0.58 %, 45.29 ± .69–57.81 ± 2.80 %, 34.70 ± 0.48–36.90 ± 1.99 %, 2.34 ± 0.31–3.69 ± 0.19 %, and 8.12 ± .28–20.35 ± 0.42 %, respectively. In conclusion, IFTS had higher CP content followed by Areke atella, natural pasture grasses and crop residues. It is suggested that the supplementation of the studied IFTS and atella, particularly during the dry season when the quality of natural pasture decreases in CP content would be essential. Urea treatment of crop residues when affordable to improve its nutritional quality would be imperative to enhance livestock performance in the study area and for similar settings.