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Background: Green fodder followed by crop residue, agro-industrial by-products and non-conventional feeds make a large contribution to livestock feeding in Ethiopia. Objective: To identify and estimate chemical composition of major feed resources in south western Ethiopia. Methodology: The study was conducted in the highland, midland and lowlands of south western Ethiopia. A total of 26 indigenous browse and 12 grass species, 3 crop residues, 3 cereal grain mill by-products and 8 non-conventional feeds (2 local brewery by-products, 6 enset, vegetable and fruit by-product) were identified for this study. Triplicate feed samples were collected and assessed for nutrient analysis. Results: Crop residues in highlands and, natural pasture followed by crop residues and browses in midland and lowland agro-ecologies were the dominant feed resources. Most browse species, few indigenous grass species, Colocasia esculenta L., Enset ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesem, Ipomoea batatas L. leaves, and local brewery by-products possessed crude protein (CP) content >110 g kg−1 dry matter (DM). Conversely, CP concentration of Acokanthera schimperi (A.DC.) Benth. and Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. across all agro-ecologies, crop residues, grass species in the lowlands, sugar cane leaf, banana peel and cereal grain screenings was 550 g kg−1 DM. All the tested feed resources but, Ricinus communis L., Acacia oerfota (Forssk.) Schweinf., Rhus natalensis Krauss and Balanites aegyptiaca L. possessed |
