Beef Cattle Production System and Evaluating Nutrient Composition of Selected Browse Species in Kercha District West Guji Zone Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the beef cattle production system; available feed resources and to evaluate the nutrient composition of selected browse species in Kercha district West Guji Zone Southern Ethiopia. A total of 120 households were selected purposively for the survey study. Both primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed using SAS software. The 80% of farmers in the study area kept their beef cattle under an extensive production system and the beef cattle production opportunity in the study area was high demand for beef cattle, feed, and water availability, and accessibility of roads. The production constraints in the study area were feed shortage, knowledge of beef cattle husbandry, lack of initial capital, and disease occurrence. The major feed resources in the Kercha district were natural pasture, crop residues, browse trees, and kitchen left over. From the identified feeds, four major and highly utilized browse trees (Millettia ferruginea, Vernonia amygdalina, Triumfetta tomentosa, and Dombeya torrida), which were nominated by the respondents from the study area, were selected and subjected to chemical analysis, to determine the DM, Ash, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL and EE. The Millettia ferruginea has 92.7%DM, 17.4% Ash, 50.3%NDF, 24.76%ADF, 9.05%ADL, 23.85%CP and 7.11%EE, Vernonia amygdalina has 95.7%DM, 14.39%Ash, 35.31%NDF, 18.45% ADF, 8.63%ADL, 17.82% CP% and 10.25%EE, Triumfetta tomentosa has 89.7%DM, 10.19%Ash, 34.67% NDF%, 21.43%ADF, 9.01%ADL, 12.85%CP  and 7.25%EE and Dombeya torrida has 90% DM, 13% Ash, 33.54%NDF, 17.23%ADF, 5.92%ADL, 14.49%CP and 6.6%EE. To improve the performance of beef cattle production, especially under an extensive traditional production system, there is a need to supply adequate feed in terms of quality and quantity which could promote the frequency of fattening and an appropriate marketing system needs to be developed so that the farmers can be benefited from their business.