Evaluation of the local feed resources sustaining small ruminants’ production in drought prone areas of Mandera, Northern Kenya

Abstract

Small ruminant production contributes immensely to the livelihoods of the pastoral communities. However, the existing forages for small ruminants in the study area are not well understood due to limited information on their diversity, abundance, and nutritive potential. This study sought to characterize the small ruminant feed resources sustaining small ruminants in Mandera South. The available feed resources in the county were assessed using both ethnobotanical and ecological field techniques. FGDs were also conducted with pastoralists to triangulate the data on feed resources and small ruminant production practices and challenges. The nutritional profiles of six forages were determined using proximate analysis and in vitro digestibility methods. An ethnobotanical survey revealed livestock production as the main economic activity (100%), where indigenous sheep and goats were the main livestock type kept. Farmers practiced extensive grazing relying on natural pastures (73%) in both wet and dry seasons with limited supplementation. The major challenges facing goat production in the study area were drought (20.5%), diseases (20.3%), feed (18%), and water shortages (8.5%). Small ruminants were known to feed on 68 plant species belonging to 25 families and 47 genera, dominated by trees and shrubs. The most abundant browse species were: Cordia sinensis, Commiphora erythraea, Blepharispermum pubescens, Acacia nilotica, Acacia bussei, Acacia tortilis, Boswellia neglecta, Cadaba glandulosa, and Boscia minimifolia, while the most frequent herbaceous species were: Brachiaria leersoides, Latipes senegalensis, Sporobolus helvolus, Heteropogon contortus, and Chrysopogon aucheri. The CP content of the forage species ranged from 13.7% to 5.6%. The highest CP content was observed in Cordia sinenis (13.7%) followed by Commiphora erythraea (10.9%). The NFE content ranged from 58.1% in C. erythraea to 32.6% in B. leersioides. The highest NDF content was recorded in L. senegalensis, H. contortus, S. helvolus, B. leersioides and the values were significantly different (P<0.001). The highest content of ADF was seen in C. sinensis (56.7%), S. helvolus (50.1%), and H. contortus (50%), while the lowest was recorded in C. erythraea (19.8%). The ADL content ranged from 17.5% in C. sinensis to 5.4% in B. leersioides. There was a wide variation in IVOMD content of the forages, ranging from 93.2% (L. senegalensis) to 50.5% (C. sinensis). The highest ME was recorded in L. senegalensis (14 MJ/kg-1 DM), followed by S. helvolus (13%), which showed a significant difference (P<0.001). However, C. sinensis (7.3 MJ/kg-1 DM) recorded the lowest ME. Tannin content was highest in C. erythraea (12 Mg.TAE/g) while C. erythraea had numerically the highest phenol content (72.4 Mg.GAE/g) among the forages. In conclusion, pastures accounted for the bulk of the feed resources in Mandera South Sub-County. With proper management and utilization strategies, pastures have the potential to sustain small ruminants and hold a key to alleviating perennial feed shortages and enhancing small ruminant productivity in the county.