Feeds and Forage Development: Africa RISING science, innovations and technologies with scaling potential from Ethiopian highland

Jane Wamatu, Ashraf Alkhtib, Teklu Wegi, Seid Ahmed Kemal. (9/1/2017). Feeds and Forage Development: Africa RISING science, innovations and technologies with scaling potential from Ethiopian highland. Amman, Jordan: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

Abstract

This work sought to determine the possibility of selecting crop varieties which combine superior grain and straw traits. Initially, assessments of feeding systems, feed resource availability and crop residue utilization as well as participatory evaluation of feed technologies were undertaken. Nutritive quality of crop residues stored under current traditional method was determined. Genotypes of grain legumes cultivated across multiple locations over consecutive years were collected and evaluated for straw fodder quality traits. Relationships between straw traits with grain and straw yields and genotypic x locational interactions were determined and validated through on-farm live animal feeding demonstrations.