Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Nutritional Characterization of Selected Fodder Species in Abol and Lare Districts of Gambella Region, Ethiopia

Emana Megersa, Ashenafi Mengistu and Getahun Asebe

In Ethiopia the commonly identified feed resource are natural pasture, crop residue, improved pasture and forages, agro-industrial by-products, other by-products like food and vegetable refusal, of which the first two contribute the largest share. This research was done with the objective of nutritional characterization of selected forage species in two districts of Gambella regional state Lare and Abol, Southwest Ethiopia. The study was done using a formal survey, focus group discussions and field observations followed by sample collection, chemical analysis and In vitro Dry Matter Digestibility (IVDMD) of selected grass and browse species. Purposive sampling was employed to select 90 Households (HHs) having livestock. Four grasses and 10 browses species were collected during November to December 2013 and their nutritive values were evaluated. The average Crude Protein (CP) was 11.51% for the grasses and 13.16% for the browses, respectively. The average neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content was 75.37% for grasses and 56.43% for browse species whereas the IVDMD of grasses and browses were 64.45% and 59.3%, respectively. The selected grasses and browse species were good potential as livestock feed in the area and is recommended if further analysis in more species and study sites in the area.