ASSESSMENT OF MAJOR HERBACEOUS FORAGE SPECIES FOR THEIR FEED QUALITY: THE CASE OF NORTH SHEWA ZONE OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

The study was aim to identify major indigenous herbaceous forage species for their nutritional values from Degem and Wachale districts, used to compare dry and wet seasons forage quality. A total of 180 plots were used to collect forage samples. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and independent sample t-test. Totally, 18 herbaceous forage species with three family groups, namely Fabaceae-Rosaceae mixed group, Cyperaceous and Poaceae, were identified. Trifolium cryptopodium had higher (p<0.05) crude protein (CP) (17.09%) and Relative Feed Values (RFV) (136); but with lower (p<0.05) Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF (48.20%) and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF %) (33.08%). Trifolium rueppilianum showed higher (p<0.05) Metabolizable Energy (ME MJ/kgDM) (8.79MJ/kg DM) and in vitro organic matter Digestibility (IVOMD) (59.39%). Cyperus atronervatus had lower (p<0.05) NDF (59.93%) and ADF (28.89%), while higher (p<0.05) ME (8.86MJ/kg DM), IVOMD (61.69%) and RFV (103.10). Pennisetum villosum had higher (p<0.01) CP (7.67%) and IVOMD (55.31%), while Pennisetum longistylum had lower (p<0.05) NDF (68.02%), 34.64%), but higher ME (8.03Mj/kgDM) and RFV (84.71) from the group. During dry season, species in Degem showed better (p<0.01) CP (6.61%), ME (7.42MJ /kg DM) and IVOMD (50.72%), while during wet season that of Wachale species had higher (p<.0.001) CP (8.45%), ME (7.82MJ/kgDM) and IVOMD (55.13%), lower (NDF 69.21%), and ADF (34.49%). The fabacea-rosaceae and cyperaceae had better feed potential that could supplement feed of low-quality origin. Generally, forage species in Degem had better feed quality during dry season than in Wachale, while the vice versa is true during wet season.