Assessment of Locally Available Poultry Feed Resources and Their Chemical Analysis in Central Zone of Tigray; Ethiopia

Background: In case of Ethiopia, there is a large demand of poultry products (meat and eggs); this phenomenon hinders to commence and expansion of modern poultry farms throughout the country; particularly in pre-urban and urban areas. Progressively population growth and improvement of people income is a driving force. Food self-sufficiency is to be achieved and combat malnutrition in developing countries, particularly in Ethiopia, there is a need to give due attention to poultry production. Whereas, poultry production in rural areas of Ethiopia is dominated with traditional practices; which makes the sector to remain with low production and productivity. Therefore, it needs such interventions to enhance production and productivity of poultry.

Objective: To assess the major locally available poultry feed used as supplement for poultry in smallholder farmers and to undertake their chemical analysis

Methodology: Five districts were selected purposively from central zone of Tigray Regional State, northern Ethiopia and considering their road accessibility by giving equal chance for farmers who have different chicken flock size.

Results: Based on the ranking index, the major locally available feed resources in the study arrears were maize, sorghum, wheat, barley and hanfets. In addition to this, based on the rapid assessment conducted in three towns (Axum, Adwa and Enticho) of central zone commercial poultry feed, Wheat bran, wheat middling, noug seed cake, sesame seed cake, limestone and salt were available in the hand of animal feed traders. According to the lab result, the grains where farmers supplemented to their chickens were considered as energy feeds.

Conclusion: Those grains may not satisfy the protein demand of chickens. In this case, those chickens which are allowed to scavenge around the homestead may have a probability of getting additional protein-rich feed through scavenging. Whereas, farmers who do not give the chance to scavenge their chicken should supplement the protein-rich feed resources purchasing from the local market.

Recommendation: conducting experimental research by using list cost feed formulated from locally available feed resources to evaluate its importance on poultry production enhancement is mandatory.