# Assessment of Yield and Nutritional Quality of Crop Residues at Different Harvesting Phases and Feeding Priorities in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This study analyzed crop residues in Ethiopia to determine their yield and nutritional value for livestock feed at different harvesting times.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how harvesting timing affects the nutritional quality of crop residues for animal feed in the Amhara region.

## Key findings

- Teff straw from Dembya had the highest dry matter, crude protein, and digestibility among residues.
- Dembya consistently showed better nutritional quality of crop residues compared to other districts.
- Early harvesting and proper storage improve residue quality, making them suitable as supplementary feed.

## Abstract

This study aimed to estimate the biomass yield and quality of crop residues at different harvesting stages used for animal feed. A longitudinal trend study was conducted to assess changes in crop residue availability across districts over time. A total of 135 feed samples (45 sub‐samples were taken in each district) were collected, from Dembya, Gondar Zuria and Mecha at three harvesting phases. Phase 1 (side‐by‐side cutting with grain harvest), Phase 2 (during threshing, the amount of residue remaining after grain separation) and Phase 3 (from storage or feeding troughs). Samples were collected between December 2023 and February 2024, focusing on residues from teff, sorghum, maize, finger millet and vetch. The result in Dembya, teff straw showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) dry matter (93.38%), crude protein (5.93%), neutral detergent fibre (71.99%), in vitro dry matter digestibility (57.84%) and ash content (11.47%). Finger millet quality varied significantly (p < 0.05) in DM, CP, NDF, ash and IVDMD, except for ADF, HEM and ADL in certain districts. Dembya had higher CP and IVDMD contents compared to other districts. Teff straw was a primary feed resource, yielding 4.0, 3.8 and 2.96 tons per hectare in Dembya, Gondar Zuria and Mecha, respectively, while vetch straw yields were 3.45, 1.33 and 0.6 tons per hectare. Farmers prioritized feeding plowing oxen and lactating cows during the first and third quarters of the year. In conclusion, harvesting crop residues early improves their nutritional quality, especially when paired with better storage and ensiling methods. In the study area, crop residues are more suitable as supplementary rather than primary feed. Future research should assess animal performance, such as productivity and weight gain, when fed various crop residues.

In Dembya, Gondar Zuria and Mecha districts, cereal residues particularly teff, maize, sorghum, finger millet and vetch straws were identified as the most significantly available livestock feeds (p < 0.05). Among these, teff straw from Dembya exhibited superior quality, with 93.4% dry matter (DM), 5.93% crude protein (CP), 11.5% ash and 57.8% in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Overall, Dembya recorded the highest nutritional quality, leading in CP (8.7%) and IVDMD (58.5%), followed by Mecha with 7.6% CP and 55.2% IVDMD levels supportive of optimal rumen microbial growth.