Open Access

Cattle Feed Resource, Water Sources and Housing System in the Central Rift Valley of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Aman Gudeto

Adami Tulu Agriculture Research Center, Ethiopia

Sandip Banerjee

College of Agriculture Science and Technology, India

Tadele Mirkena

Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nation (FAO), Addis Ababa

Tesfaye Alemu Tucho

Adami Tulu Agriculture Research Center, Ethiopia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/njas.v3i1.140

Received: 9 October 2020; Published: 31 January 2021

Copyright © 2021 Aman Gudeto, Sandip Banerjee, Tadele Mirkena, Tesfaye Alemu Tucho. Published by Nan Yang Academy of Sciences Pte. Ltd..


Abstract

The study was conducted in Adami Tulu Jidokombolcha (ATJK), Bora, Dodola, Shala and Negele-Arsi districts with objective to assess main cattle feed resources, water sources and housing systems. A pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to conduct survey.  About 240 respondents were identified using random sampling techniques. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS statistical software (Ver. 24). Study result indicates that household in average had three hectares of land and allocated about two hectares of land for crop cultivation. Most respondents reported that cattle herding is not common during dry season while it is common during wet season.  Survey result indicate that natural pasture, weed and maize tiller and stored crop residues are main feed resources in wet  season while crop after math, crop residue and fodder trees are main resources during dry season. Brackish, local mineral and common salt are mineral sources for cattle in study areas. Lake, river and boreholes are important water sources in dry season where as ponds and rivers are main water sources during wet season for their cattle. The observed cattle watering frequency is mainly once a day. Housing system practiced in the study areas is mainly Kraal. The information generated from this study on land size per household, cattle herding system, feed resources, mineral sources, water sources, water utilization and housing type can be used as a baseline for any livestock development programs in those and similar areas. 

Keywords: Cattle, Water, Mineral sources, Feed resources, Housing system, Central rift valley


References

Online ISSN: 2661-3328, Published by Nan Yang Academy of Sciences Pte. Ltd.