Grassland Composition and Current Livestock Feeding Systems in Nekemte Awraja
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Date
1982-06
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Abstract
In thi s study , grassland compos ition and current livestock feeding
systems practiced in Nekemte Awra j a were investigated. For the investigation
of the grassland compositi on, plant materials from ninteen different sites of
this Awraja wer e collected and identified. For the current livestock feeding
systems practiced in the Awraj a, rep r esentat ive farmers were interviewed about
the current li'ij'stock feeding systems practiced in their respective zones .
As the r esult of this study shows , the vegetation of Nekemte Awraja
changes with ~hange in elevation and based on this , the region is divided
into three main e~ological zones, namely : Highland , Medium altitude and l owland
zones. A total of 36 grasses, f our legumes, four s edges and 24 tree species
were identified for the region. During the survey soil samples were also
collected and analysed and the r esults are incluged.
Grasses such as Andropogon abyssin i cus , Cynodon dactyl on , Pennisetum
Schimperi and Fennisetum glabrum were dominant in t he highland zone of Nekemte
Awr aja. ayarrhenia hirta, Hyparrhenia rufa and Sporobolus natalensis Commonly
occur in the medium a ltitude zone . Penni se t um Schimperi and Pennisetum g l abrum
were also f r equently f ound in this zone. I n the l owl and zone of this
region Hyparrhenia species s uch as ~arrhenia diplandra, Hyparrhen i a antistirio
i des and Hyparrhenia Collina were large l y grown . In general, grasses
of good grazing va lue were found in larger proporation in the highland zone .
The proportion of l egumes in all of the grasslands s tudied was very low.
Soils in this Awraja in general are strongly t o moderately acidic .
Phosphorus in these soils is low t o very low , organic carbon and total
nitrogen are medium to high.
In Nekemte Awraja , mixed farming is practiced , but farmers are engaged
more in the production of cereal crops for family subsistance. Livestock
are raised for draft purpose and to provide money in case of emergency.
In this region , fire is used as the only tool of pasture management system.
Fodder conservation method for the dry s eason feed is virtually unknown.
Cattle in this region mainly feed on natural pastures. 'Atela' (a residue
from preparing 'tella' or 'araki ' ), teff straw, boiled barley and finger
millet bread are given mainly t o oxen and milking cows as a supplimentary
feed.
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Current Livestock Feeding Systems