Assessment of the feeding potential and utilization of Erythrina burana and Casimiroa edulis in Eastern Harerghe zone of Ethiopia

Freweini Assefa, Getachew Animut, Yoseph Mekasha and Mengistu Urge

School of Animal and Range Sciences, Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
assefafreweini@yahoo.com

Abstract

An assessment of the feeding potential and utilization of Erythrina burana and Casimiroa edulis was made in Eastern Harerghe zone of eastern Ethiopia through survey questionnaire. Two districts, namely; Gursum and Haramaya and a total of 90 respondent farmers were selected on the basis of availability and utilization of Erythrina burana and/or Casimiroa edulis. A questionnaire was used to interview farmers individually. Data was supplemented with information obtained from key informants and secondary data was collected from different stakeholders.

Over 85% and 50% of respondents replied Erythrina burana and Casimiroa edulis to be the dominant fodder trees in Gursum and Haramaya, respectively. Both plants are owned privately and over 85% and 65% of respondent farmers responded Erythrina burana and Casimiroa edulis to be available in the backyard and the rest as part of the agro forestry system, respectively. The current ownership of these fodder trees appears to be a good opportunity for their utilization as feed through cut and carry system. The major means of propagation of Erythrina burana is by seed and vegetatively from stem cuts while Casimiroa edulis is solely propagated by seed. Over 60% and 35% of respondents recognized Erythrina burana as a drought tolerant plant and demanding less agronomic practice, respectively. More than 65% of interviewees reported Casimiroa edulis as a plant that can easily be established. These plants are currently utilized as source of feed, fuel, shade for livestock and coffee, fence and fruit (particularly Casimiroa edulis). Erythrina burana is intensively utilized as feed source but it is reported to shed its leaves from February to May. On the other hand, Casimiroa edulis is an ever green plant but not intensively utilized as feed source due to lack of awareness among the respondents. The present study highlighted that both Erythrina burana and Casimiroa edulis can be good sources of feed for livestock. However, the existing low level of understanding on the feeding value of Casimiroa edulis in particular and the deciduous nature of Erythrina burana are constraints for their efficient utilization as feed for livestock. Hence, extension work needs to be strengthened to create awareness among the respondents on the feeding value of Casimiroa edulis and conservation of the leaves of Erythrina burana before being over-mature and fall to the ground.       

Key words: feed, forage trees, livestock, survey

Introduction

The Oromia region, one of the nine National Regional States of Ethiopia, has a huge number of livestock that significantly contributes to Ethiopia’s overall economic growth. The region is dominated by the subsistence smallholder mixed-crop livestock farming system (Abate et al 1993) where there is an inter-relationship and complementarities between crop and livestock production prevail (Ostergaard 1995). In the high and mid-altitude areas where mixed farming system is practiced, livestock remains an important safety resource, a living bank and a buffer during periods of crop failure, and represent more than half the average wealth of rural households (WISP 2008). In such a system, the livestock is greatly constrained by feed shortage, in terms of quality and quantity, as land is primarily used for crop production. These areas have high human population density that has led to intensive crop production causing continuous conversion of grazing lands to crop production (MacDonald and Simon 2011). Crop production contributes a lot to the livestock production via the provision of crop residues as the major source of livestock feed. However, crop residues do not provide enough nutrients to support optimum livestock productivity (Rehrahe and Ledin 2004; Kassahun 2008).

Crop residues are fibrous and high in lignin content, which limit the feeding value (McDonald et al 2002; Adugna 2009). The crude protein content is insufficient to fulfill even the maintenance requirement of animals (Van Soest 1994; Rehrahe and Ledin 2004). Hence, proper supplementation, with agro-industrial byproducts and/or concentrates, are suggested to make animals produce (Melese 2008; Girma 2010). However, such supplements are out of the reach for the poor farmers due to cost and availability (Nurfeta 2010). Another more practical way to improve the nutritional status of livestock is to include fodder trees, which are rich in protein and are already available and have a good chance to be integrated into the existing farming system (Alemayehu 2006; Mapiye et al 2009). Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the feeding potential and the utilization of two fodder trees, i.e, Erythrina burana and Casimiroa edulis in the Eastern Harerghe zone of Ethiopia. 

Materials and methods

Study area

The survey was conducted in two districts, Gursum and Haramaya of the Eastern Harerghe zone of the Oromia region, Eastern Ethiopia. Eastern Harerghe is one of the 18 zonal administrations found in Oromia National Regional States of Ethiopia and comprises 19 districts, out of which 4 districts are pastoral and the rest 15 districts mixed crop-livestock system (EHOARD 2013). Gursum district with a total area of 76,261 ha is located at a latitude between 9⁰7' to 9⁰32' N, at longitude of 42⁰17' to 42⁰38'҆E, and an altitude between 1200-2950 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l). The minimum and maximum tempratures are 15 and 35°C, respectively (OLZR 2006; EHOARD 2013). The annual average rainfall is 450-600 mm. Gursum has a unimodal rainfall pattern ranging from June to August (OLZR 2006; EHOARS 2013). Haramaya district with a total area of 55,000 ha is located at latitude of 9⁰9' to 9⁰32' N, at a longitude of 41⁰50' to 42⁰05'E, and an altitude of 1600-2100 m.a.s.l. The minimum and maximum tempratures are 5.2 and 24°C, respectively (EHOARD 2013). The mean annual rainfall is 492 mm ranging from 118-866 mm. The area has a bimodal rainfall pattern, the small rains being from March to May and the main rains from June to September (EHOARD 2013).

Data collection and statistical analysis

The two districts used for the study were selected on the basis of the availability and utilization of Erythrina burana and/or Casimiroa edulis as feed resource for ruminants and farmers experience on their utilization of the two fodder trees as livestock feed. A total of 6 rural Peasant Associations (PA is the smallest administrative unit in Ethiopia) and a total of 90 households in equal proportion from each PA were selected for data collection. A preliminary questionnaire was prepared and pretested. Based on the feedback of this questionnaire, a final questionnaire was used to interview respondents individually. The questionnaire included household characteristics, crop land and livestock holdings, income sources, purpose of keeping livestock and livestock husbandry practices, livestock production constraints, available feed resource, seasonal feed shortage and the cultivation and utilization of Erythrina burana and/or Casimiroa edulis as livestock feed. The data was supplemented with information obtained from key-informants and secondary data derived from zonal and district offices of the Livestock Production and Health Agencies and Natural Resource and Management.

The survey data was systematically coded and analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 12.0 (SPSS 2003). For data involving frequencies, descriptive statistics were employed and Pearson Chi-square was used to compare variables between the two districts. Quantitative variables were analyzed using analysis of variance procedure. 

Results and discussion

Household characteristics

The mean age of the interviewed household (HH) heads in the study was 37 years with a family size of 7. This family size is greater than the 5.2 persons/HH reported by CSA (2006) as national average. But, comparable results of 6.54 and 6.7 persons/HH were reported by Halima (2006) for Awi zone of the Amhara National Regional State of Ethiopia and by Tsedeke (2007) for Alaba district of Southern Ethiopia, respectively.

From the total interviewed HH heads, 44% were illiterate. The proportion of female household heads in Haramaya district was higher (P<0.001) than those found in Gursum district with values of 26.7 and 2.2%, respectively. Haramaya is a cash crop area, located on the main road and close to large towns and divorce was the main reason for the higher number of female headed households compared to Gursum.

Crop land and livestock holding

Average cropland of the households was 1.01 ha/HH, similar in the two districts (P>0.05). The average land holding is lower than the 1.60 ha per HH reported by FAO (2008) as a national average. Livestock is a component of the mixed farming system with similar species are found in both districts. Based on the conversion factor (Gryseels 1988), livestock holding in TLU (tropical livestock units) was higher (P<0.05) in Gursum (4.060 ± 0.237) than Haramaya (2.15 ± 0.236), mainly attributed to differences in cattle numbers. Unlike Haramaya where cultivation is mainly with human labor, farmers from Gursum use cattle for ploughing and threshing cereal grains, which might explain the higher number of cattle than in Haramaya district. Livestock per HH in the current study area is lower to other areas of the country (Niftalem and Peters 1999; Abdinasir 2000; Solomon 2004) mainly due to limited availability of feed resources. The area is densely populated, 175.8 and 360.2 persons/km² for Gursum and Haramaya respectively, and the available land is mainly utilized for crop production (CSA 1994) limiting the availability of grazing land and therefore, livestock numbers.

Major income sources

Around 84.4% of the respondents in the Gursum district solely depend on agriculture for income, while the rest derive additional income from off-farm activities, such as sale of fire wood and khat (Catha edulis). Whereas in the Haramaya district, 97.8% of the respondents depend solely on agriculture. In both districts, annual income derived from Khat (Catha edulis) ranked first, followed by income from livestock and livestock products.  Income from khat sales were higher in Haramaya (76.5% of the total) than Gursum (49.5%). This variation could in part be due to differences in market accessibility, since Haramaya is closer to the khat market for export than Gursum. Income derived from sale of livestock and livestock products was 41% and 23.4% of the total annual income of respondents of Gursum and Haramaya districts, respectively, and differences between the districts could be associated with livestock numbers in each district.

The proportion that cultivate groundnuts were 53.3% and 17.8% and the land allotted for groundnuts were 0.3 and 0.23 ha (P<0.001) for Gursum and Haramaya districts, respectively, consequently the income derived was higher in Gursum than in Haramaya. Cereal production was larger in Gursum and thus, more income than in Harmaya. The cereal produced in Haramaya is generally used for household consumption and little to for income generation.

Purpose of keeping livestock and husbandry practices

In both districts, livestock are reared for various purposes. Cattle are the most important component of the mixed farming system serving as source of draught power for land preparation, of meat and milk, of income and savings. In Gursum, cattle are primarily kept for draught power, the income generation and savings. In Haramaya, cattle are mainly raised for income followed by source of manure. In both districts, the main purpose of rearing sheep and goats is for immediate cash, as source of meat and milk and manure to improve soil fertility. In Gursum, donkeys are mainly kept for transportation of agricultural inputs and products followed by draught power, while in Haramaya donkeys are used for transport and manure. The purpose of livestock in the current study area is in line with earlier reports for other areas of the country (Yitaye 1999; Solomon 2004; Sisay 2006; Yeheyis et al 2010).

Traditional livestock production systems in the study area rely on household labor for management. Sale and purchase of livestock, fodder collection, feeding, watering and caring for sick animals was primarily the responsibilities of men. On the other hand milking, milk processing, sale of dairy products and barn cleaning was mainly performed by women. Children assist in almost all activities. Share of labor among the household members in the feeding and management of livestock in the current study is in agreement with that reported by Getachew (2002).

The housing of livestock differs between the two districts, in Gursum they use corrals followed by separate barns, while in Haramaya mainly separate barns followed by family houses. This is consistent with the higher number of female headed households at Haramaya district, and the tendency of females to try to have a more secured housing for their livestock.

Livestock production constraints

Shortage of feed followed by water is the main factor hindering livestock production and productivity. More than half of the respondents indicated shortage of feed both in terms of quantity and quality, to be the dominant constraint of livestock production. Progressive encroachments of grazing lands for crop production followed by drought were reported to be the major reasons for feed shortage. The decline in natural pastures due to crop land expansion associated with rising human population is a common phenomenon in Ethiopia (Adugna 2009).  Increased animal and human population and decline in the productivity of grazing lands were other reasons. The effect of drought on feed availability is higher (P<0.05) in Gursum than Haramaya, the former being a more drought prone area (OLZR 2006).

Feed resources

Crop residues serve as a basal feed for a large proportion of livestock in the study area. The major crop residues are maize and sorghum stover, which last 4 to 6 months starting from January. Chopping crop residues is more common in Gursum (97.8% of respondents) than in Haramaya (73.3%). Animals are also allowed aftermath grazing in both districts for around a month, from December to February. Hay making was reported to be low, higher (P<0.001) in Haramaya (34.5%) than Gursum (4.5%), probably associated with higher moisture stress prevailing in Gursum which limits herbage growth (Ritten et al 2010). In general terms, the available grazing land mismatches the existing livestock numbers, due to the dominating crop cultivation, soil degradation and increasing livestock population accounting to 64.4, 24.1 and 11.5% of the respondents, respectively.

Agro-industrial byproducts are not common due to availability and cost. The only by product used as feed is wheat bran. Around 92% of the respondents have used wheat bran, 463 kg/year per household in Haramaya and 286 kg in Gursum, perhaps due to accessibility and transportation costs. In Haramaya wheat bran is primarily used as supplement during drought season and when additional feed is required for milking animals and during fattening. In Gursum, wheat bran was given to draught oxen engaged in the preparation of crop land.

More farmers in Haramaya (75%) practice improved forage activities compared to Gursum (54.5%). Respondents reported that competition for land with crop production and difficulty of forage establishment are the major limitations with improved forages. Thus, continuous extension on different forage strategies that can be efficiently integrated into the existing farming system as well as the introduction of more adaptable and early maturing forage varieties needs to be done.  Moreover, farmers use different locally available feed resources to tackle feed problem during months of insufficient feed supply. The use of browse fodder trees is the major strategy, among them are Erythrina burana and Casimiroa edulis.

Seasonal feed shortage and coping mechanisms

Seasonal feed shortage is common in both districts. The critical months in both districts are March to June, although feed shortage starts earlier in Gursum compared to Haramaya. According to the respondents, during March to June livestock are solely dependent on crop residues. Farmers are known to have different coping mechanisms during periods of feed scarcity: utilization of browse/fodder trees, use of purchased supplement feeds, reducing the herd size via selling of animals, traveling to other areas in search of feed, and using stored surplus feed.

Figure 1. Erythrina burana plant (Source: own photo from Eastern Harerghe zone)

Figure 2. Erythrina burana after shedding its leaves (Source: own photo from Eastern Harerghe zone)

Figure 3. Casimiroa edulis (Source: own photo from Eastern Harerghe zone)

Figure 4. Erythrina burana newly propagated from stem cut (Source: own photo from Eastern Harerghe)

Planting of C. edulis and E. burana 

Majority of the respondents utilize local browse or fodder trees to feed their animals especially during the dry season when other green feeds are barely available. The dominant fodder tree species reported in Gursum is E. burana, and that of Haramaya is C. edulis indicated on Figures 1 and 3, respectively. Both E. burana and C. edulis are privately owned in the backyards and/or as part of the agro-forestry system around their farm land (Table 1). This ownership creates favorable conditions for cut-and-carry systems. Majority of the respondents (>85%) in the study area reported that E. burana is propagated by both seed and from stem cuts, while 14% of the respondents stated that the plant was propagated from seeds only. Similarly Kass (1998) noted that E. burana is easily propagated using stem cuttings. On the other hand, all respondents (100%) of the study area responded that C. edulis to be propagated exclusively from seeds.

Uses of E. burana and C. edulis

Respondents replied that both E. burana and C. edulis provide additional services apart from livestock fodder (Table 2). E. burana and C. edulis are used as shade (livestock and coffee), source of fuel and for fencing. This is in agreement with the reports of Paterson (1994) that Erythrina species are generally used as a shade and support tree, as windbreak, as live fence, as ornamental plant, as firewood and medicinal plant. Erythrina indica (Deb et al 2009) and Erythrina variegata (Kongmanila and Ledin 2009) are also reported to be traditionally utilized as medicinal plants. Erythrina species are known for their anti-cancer and antimicrobial action (Payne 1991) and for the treatment of asthma and toothache (Kass 1998). In addition to this, being a leguminous plant, Erythrina species are known for their ability to fix nitrogen and hence expected to improve soil fertility (Deb et al 2009; Kongmanila and Ledin 2009) which could be beneficial to companion plants while serving as shade. However, C. edulis is primarily used as source of fruit. The higher use of these fodder trees as source of fuel in Haramaya than Gursum (Table 2) is associated with the double population density in Haramaya (CSA 1994).  

Use of Erythrina burana and Casimiroa edulis as livestock feed

Leaves of Erythrina burana in the current study were found to be spineless. Compared to C. edulis, E. burana is commonly utilized as feed. Irrespective of the prevailing shortage of livestock feed in the study area, C.edulis is not intensively utilized as feed source mainly due to lack of awareness (Table 2). The use of E. burana as source of livestock feed is more common in Gursum than in Haramaya district (Table 2). However, over 80% of respondents reported that E. burana sheds its leaves from February to May, which forces to do the harvesting and conservation of leaves before shedding. E. burana and C. edulis are fed primarily to oxen in Gursum, while in Haramaya priority is given to lactating and fattening cattle (Table 3). The feeding of both fodder trees to small ruminants is not practiced apparently due to lack of awareness of their feeding value. C. edulis and E. burana are used during the extended dry season when other green feeds are exhausted (Kass 1998). Such fodder trees can be an important and cheap source of protein to ruminants (Dicko and Sikena 1992). The crude protein content of E. burana is reported to be 20.6% (Paterson 1994) and that of C. edulis to be 15.4% (Guillermo et al 2007), an adequate level to supplement a basal diet of low feeding value such as crop residues (Getu 2006).

The leaves of E. burana and C. edulis are the edible portions. According to the respondents, 65% of E. burana and 86.5% of C. edulis are given to livestock as cut-and-carry and the rest, livestock browse on them. Livestock are normally kept around homestead, which facilitates the utilization of these fodder trees by cut-and-carry.  

Various studies have indicated that Erythrina foliage have the potential to improve the performance of ruminants. Fresh Erythrina poeppigiana foliage supplementation to a basal diet of king grass and banana fruit increased milk yield from 326 to 820 g/day and DM intake from 2.96 to 4.3% of body weight (Esnaola and Rios 1990). Similarly, Cuêllar et al (1992) reported improvement in daily weight change of Holstein x Zebu heifers fed a basal diet of fresh grass (cane tops or king-grass) when supplemented with fresh or wilted Erythrina fusca. Kongmanila et al (2012) also reported that Erythrina variegata replaced up to 60% of CP from a mixed diet with soybean meal without any negative effect on growth of goats.

Special features of the fodder trees

E. burana and C. edulis, in addition to their multipurpose nature, are reported to have special characteristics. According to the respondents, the plants are drought tolerant, demanding less agronomic practice, easily adaptable and can be easily established with minimum management practice (Table 4). This is in agreement with the reports of Guillermo et al (2007) for C. edulis, regarding its easy establishment, with minimum agricultural practices, and can easy management. These features facilitate their incorporation into the agro-forestry systems.

Conclusion

• E. burana and C. edulis are the dominant fodder trees in the backyards and as part of the agro-forestry systems in Gursum and Haramaya districts. E. burana is planted and/or protected as feed source while C. edulis is primarily used as fruit. These plants are also known for their versatility, serving as shade for livestock and coffee, as fuel and as fence. The ability of these plants to tolerate drought, their adaptability to the local condition and the easyness for establishment might draw the attention of farmers to increasingly incorporate them into the existing farming system. The current low level of understanding on the feeding value of C. edulis in particular and the deciduous nature of E. burana is impeding their utilization as feed resources, and hence extension work needs to be strengthened to create awareness so as to make maximum use of these fodder plants as feed in order to bridge the feed gap and to enhance the feeding value of low quality roughages.  

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank SIDA/SAREK for the research funding and Haramaya University for facilitating the budget use and allowing access to all facilities; to local extension workers in the study districts for their help during the survey work and to experts for providing secondary data. Farmers who took part in the interviews and group discussions are gratefully acknowledged.

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Received 19 January 2014; Accepted 3 April 2014; Published 1 May 2014

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