DRY MATTER YIELD AND NUTRITIVE VALUES OF LOCAL GRASSES USED AS LIVESTOCK FEED IN ADOLA REEDDE DISTRICT OF GUJI ZONE, SOUTHERN OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

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Abstract:

A study was conducted in Adola Reedde district of Guji zone, to asses and identify the major grass species, evaluate their chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, and estimate the biomass yield of the major grass species. A total of 60 key informants taken from the sample kebeles of three agro- ecologies were interviewed to asses and identify common grasses in their vernacular name. Sample collection was done in the mid of September for three consecutive days. A total of 6 rural kebeles were stratified into highland (dega), mid altitude (woina dega) and lowland (kola) agro-ecologies based on the availability, potential and accessibility of local grass species and the specific sampling areas in the kebeles were identified based on slopes of kebeles. The relative feed value (RFV) and dry matter digestibility (DMD) were calculated using NDF and ADF contents. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to examine relationships between laboratory results and farmers perception on grass quality. A total of 15 common grass species were identified and ranked by farmers according to the species’ preferences to cattle. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers), Cenchrus ciliaris, Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv, Heteropogon contortus (L.) Roem & Schult and Chrysopogon aucheri were the top five species identified by farmers. The chemical composition of the grasses significantly (P

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DRY MATTER YIELD AND NUTRITIVE VALUES OF LOCAL GRASSES USED AS LIVESTOCK FEED IN ADOLA REEDDE DISTRICT OF GUJI ZONE, SOUTHERN OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

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