Chapter 2 Improved Forage Crops Production and Strategies of Their Development 1 (original) (raw)
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Improved forage crops production strategies in Ethiopia: A review
2016
There are various strategies to integrate forage crops into crop-livestock farming system in Ethiopia. The method of integration used for a specific farming system mainly depends on the type of forage crops, food crops, soil type, rainfall pattern and other social and economic factors. Cropping systems are expanding and intensifying to feed growing human populations and overcome decreasing productivity due to soil degradation and poor husbandry. By adopting strategies, which integrate livestock and cropping systems, there is considerable potential to not only increase crop yields but also increase the quantity and quality of forage for ruminant livestock. The use of forage legumes frequently increases soil nitrogen available for food crops because of their ability to fix nitrogen. Moreover, multipurpose browse trees and shrubs increases fuel wood resources available to farming households, decreasing the need to use dung as fuel and increasing the availability of dung for use as fert...
Potential of forage production on dry land agriculture with mixed cropping pattern
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2019
Mixed farming system is an alternative to overcome the shortage of ruminants feed. This study aimed to observe the potential forage production in mixed cropping pattern on dry land agriculture. This research was conducted at the Agro Technology Innovation Center (PIAT) Universitas Gadjah Mada, from January until November. The research field size was 3.000 m2 divided into 2 blocks for monoculture and mix-cropping. During rainy season the sweet corn was planted on monoculture plot; on mix-cropping plot 1.000 m2 was planted with sweet corn and the rest was planted with Brachiaria brizantha, Arachis hypogaea, and Manihot utilissima. Gliricidia maculata is planted as a hedge that surrounds the mixed plot. After the first harvest, both plots were re-processed and planted with Arachis hypogaea. Forage sampling was done using the quarter method. The variables observed were the production of dry and organic matter of agricultural by-product, in vitro digestibility of dry and organic matter, ...
Training module on livestock feed and forage innovations
2021
This chapter intends to provide relevant information on selected forage crops that have high potential to contribute to feed availability in the smallholder system. At the end of this chapter, learners will be able to: • Understand the potentials of cultivated forages towards the intensification of the mixed croplivestock system and climate change mitigations • Describe the essential features of selected forage crops and their utilization practices • Identify suitable forage growing niches for their effective integration in the smallholder system • Provide advice to livestock keepers and feed producers on the proper production and utilization of cultivated forages.
Biodiversitas, 2018
Shiferaw M, Asmare B, Tegegne F, Molla D. 2018. Farmers perception and utilization status of improved forages grown in the natural resource areas of northwestern Ethiopia. Biodiversitas 19: 1568-1578. A study on the perception and utilization of improved forages grown in natural resource conservation areas was conducted in selected districts of northwestern Ethiopia. This study aims to investigate the perception of improved forage production and utilization system on natural resource conservation areas in selected areas of northwestern Ethiopia. Primary data was collected from selected households by interviewing using semi-structured questionnaire. Field observation and focus group discussion were also employed to enhance the survey data. A total of 180 households (90 from each district) were selected and interviewed. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics using SPSS software version 20. The result indicated that the average land and livestock holding of respondents were 2.24 ha and 5.56 TLU per household, respectively. The most common forage production methods used by the smallholder farmers were broadcasting (41%), cutting (28%) and row seedling (18%) for both districts. For the majority of respondents (44%), the purpose of forage production of respondents was for animal fodder. Farmers in the study areas had a good perception about improved forage production as forages due have multifunction to the household in the form of soil conservation, fodder production, and income generation. Though improved forages have many roles in the livelihood and environmental management of the study districts, respondents had problems of skill in production and utilization of forages. This study elucidates that, relevant development and research interventions such as management and utilization of improved forage production should be the future direction of research and development. Sustainable forage development and use for nature conservation and is becoming very important to be a livestock feed source if cut and carry system is regularly applied.
OMO International Journal of Sciences
Feed shortage has been the persistent problem hampering livestock production and productivity in Ethiopia. The conventionally available feed resources (natural pasture and crop residues) are not only limited in quantity but also inferior in quality and cannot meet even the maintenance requirement of the country`s livestock resources. Hence, improvement in livestock production and productivity is unthinkable without intensification in feed production using other complementary feed resources in addition to the existing ones. Improved forage crops have untapped potential to resolve the feed shortage problem and lay down the basis for intensification of livestock production if properly promoted, adopted and utilized in the farming systems. This review paper provides an overview of improved/cultivated forage research and development efforts, important achievements, major constraints associated with forage development in the country and recommendations on the way forward.
2021
is study was conducted to identify major livestock production constraints and improved forage production efforts in the Damot Gale district. Four representative kebeles, two associated with our NGO project and two from nonproject outreach activities, were selected. Forty farmers from each kebele were randomly chosen for the purpose of individual interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS (version 20) and Excel. e topmost livestock production constraint was feed shortage where a larger proportion of farmers (75.6%) suffered from the problem with higher (p ≤ 0.01) severity in nonproject intervention areas. Of these, 38.6% were challenged for a period of three months while another 61.4% suffered for about four months. Purchasing grass (31.4%) and concentrate (33.5%) and feeding enset (Ensete ventricosum) leaf (21.49%) were the most commonly adopted coping mechanisms to alleviate feed shortages during the dry season, while using purchased grass and enset leaf was the main coping strategy in nonproject intervention (p ≤ 0.01) areas. e majority of households (90.75%) participate in improved forage production regardless of farm size. Desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum) (71.38%) and elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) (42.63%) are the most common improved forages in both study areas. ese forages are produced for the purpose of two or more functions (feed, cash, and preventing erosion) that vary (p ≤ 0.01) among intervention status. Major niche locations adopted for improved forage production include farm land, soil and water conservation structures, and perimeter fencing. Greatest constraints on improved forage production were seed/material shortage followed by land shortage and lack of awareness. Project intervention (p ≤ 0.01), tropical livestock unit (TLU) holding (p ≤ 0.01), and forage seed/planting material access (p < 0.05) were identified as factors (among others) having significant relationship with improved forage development. Strong extension services and efficient input delivery for farmers are vital to support profitable livestock production and resource utilization.
An analysis on factors effective in benefiting from forage crops support
Scientific Research and Essays, 2010
This study aims to determine what factors are effective for farmers to benefit from forage crop support which is very important for animal growers. In order to determine factors that affect utilization of government support as well as to make regional comparisons in terms of benefit levels of these supports in Northwest of Turkey where meat and milk productivity is the highest and Northeast of Turkey where number of animals is the highest. The number of the survey conducted in the provinces was determined to be 540 based on random sampling method. The regression analysis was performed in the LIMDEP package program with Univariate (binomial) probit model. According to the results of the study, the farmers in the Northeast intend to benefit more from this support than those of Northwest. Increasing the forage crops support in the Northeast, in which especially the animal husbandry and forage crops cultivation have comparative advantages. Therefore, when implementing this policy, it is very important to consider these regional differences in order to meet the goals of the support policies efficiently.
Forage Introduction to Support Development of Cattle in Sangkub District
International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology, 2018
Farmers in SangkubDistrict develop cattle as a source of income, so the government seeks to give serious attention to its development.The problem is there are constrains in its development, one of them related to feed.This research has been conducted with the aim to know how far the availability of feed for cattle.The research method used is survey method, with the respondents amounted to 15 farmers determined by purposive sampling ie farmers belonging to the group, the development of science and technology for the region.Data analysis used is descriptive analysis.The results showed the ownership of cattle by each farmer ranged from 2-6 tail with a total of 43 tails.The results showed ownership by each farmers ranged from 2-6 cattle to a total of 43 cattle.Cattle have the potential to be developed in terms of available resources. However, the food consumed is the grass that grows wild and corn waste.This is due to high quality forage, not yet available continuously.Knowledge of farmers about quality feed is still low, so the introduction of feed has been done by the team. Based on results of the research can be concluded that the introduction of cattle feed has been done and responded well by farmers. Suggestions submitted, need to socialize about the development of forage with business orientation and environmentally friendly.