United States Agency for International Developmen

Adie, Aberra

Alene, Temesgen

Asfaw, A.

Bezabih, Melkamu

Dubale, Workneh

Ebrahim, M.

Mekonnen, Kindu

Thorne, Peter J.

CGSpace

Livestock: Africa RISING science, innovations and technologies with scaling potential from the Ethiopian HighlandsMelkamu Bezabih, Kindu Mekonnen, Abera Adie, Addisu Asfaw, Mohammed Ebrahim, Temesgen Alene, Workneh Dubale, Peter Thorne International Livestock Research Institute(ILRI)Key messages• Adoption of improved forage cultivation is indispensable to improve livestock productivity, income and environment health • When farmers are allowed to experiment with improved forage production and utilization, they are willing to invest land and  resources • Matching the right forage with the right niche is key in triggering crop-livestock intensificationThis poster is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence. January 2017We thank farmers and local partners in Africa RISING sites for their contributions to this research. We also acknowledge the support of all donors which globally support the work of the CGIAR centers and their partners through their contributions to the CGIAR systemObjectives and approach1. Demonstrate and evaluate improved forage cultivation and utilization practices for wider adoption 2. Integrate multipurpose fodder trees in the mixed system (Fig.1)3. Test and evaluate improved postharvest feed handling and utilization techniques Technologies: tree Lucerne; oat-vetch mixture, desho grass, sweet                          lupine, feed troughs and storage sheds, choppers Approach: Action research was initiated by involving more than 600 farmers across the Africa RISING sites.  Innovation platforms and farmer research groups were used as vehicles.  Key results• Farmers produced high amount of good quality feed biomass from smallplot of land (Fig. 2)• By supplementing the forages produced with the local feed resources,production was improved by about 60%• Key determinants of survival and growth of tree Lucerne fodder havebeen identified (fencing, watering; mulching; manuring; farm typology)• Wastage of feed resources reduced by about 30-50% as a result of use ofimproved feeding troughs and shedsSignificance and scaling potential• Feed is the single most important input for livestock production; adoptionof these technologies boosts productivity• The role of forages in biological soil and water conservation has been recognized; additional growing niches created in arable lands• The demand for livestock products (milk and meat) is increasing; foragemarkets are developing steadily• The technologies can be scaled across the highlands with a potential toreach hundreds of thousands of farmersFig 1. Tree Lucerne fodder on farmers’ fieldsVariablesSupplementation levels (g DM/d)  P100 200 300 400Dry matter intake (g) 477d 559c 635b 717a <0.001DM digestibility (%) 57.6c 60.3c 66.1b 72.1a <0.001Daily weight gain (g) 19.8d 40.3b 55.7ab 72.5a <0.001FCE* (g DWG/g DMI) 0.04c 0.07b 0.09ab 0.10a <0.001Dressing percent (%) 40.5c 45.0b 47.0ab 48.2a <0.001Table: Effect of tree Lucerne leaf supplementation on the weight gain of Menz sheep fed barley straw  basal diet05010015020025005101520ME (GJ/ha)Yield (ton/ha)Oat-vetch DM Crude protein MEFig 2. Yield and nutritional quality of oat-vetch mixture Africa RISING in the Ethiopian HighlandsCore partners 

Livestock: Africa RISING science, innovations and technologies with scaling potential from the Ethiopian Highlands

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Livestock: Africa RISING science, innovations and technologies with scaling potential from the Ethiopian Highlands

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