LIVESTOCK HUSBANDRY PRACTICES, MAJOR FEED RESOURCE AND DROUGHT COPING STRATEGY IN AYSAITA DISTRICT, AWSI RASU ZONE, AFAR NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract:

This study was conducted in selected pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of Aysaita district of the Awsirasu Zone of Afar Regional State, Ethiopia. The main objectives of the study were to assess the livestock husbandry practices, the major feed resource; prioritize major constraints that influence livestock production and the drought coping mechanisms in the study area. A total of eight kebele were selected purposively out of 11kebeles in the district (Four kebele from each pastoral and agro pastoral production systems). A total of 195 households were selected using purposive sampling method, where 80 households were from the agro pastoral area and 115 households from the pastoral area, based on population size of the kebele in the study district. Data were collected through interviewing the selected households using semi-structured questionnaire, field observation and group discussions, supported with secondary information from different sources. The average family size in the study district was 5.76±0.13 persons per household. There was significant (P