Estimation of Demand and Supply Balance of Livestock Feed in Haru District, Western Ethiopia

The study showed that scarcity of feed supply in terms of DM, DCP and ME is a major constraint limiting livestock productivity in the study area. The feed supply showed a deficit (negative balance) of 43.6% and 30% DM, 66.1% and 61.2% DCP and 27.7% and 7.3% ME in ML and LL AEZs, respectively. The findings showed that livestock are being underfed in both AEZs of the study area. To address this, natural pasture improvement, grazing management, forage production, efficient utilization of the local conventional and NCFRs, feed conservation, urea treatment of crop residues, implementing alternative feeding practices, reducing livestock numbers and strategic supplementation are recommended to bridge the gap between feed supply and demand for sustainable livestock production in the study area.