Abstract

Livestock rearing in Rwanda, including the Bugesera and Nyamagabe districts is practised under stalling. This livestock farming is due to high human population resulting to land shortage where land is devoted more to cropping than to livestock production. In the Nyamagabe district, animal feed is constrained by low rainfall whereas in the Nyamagabe is constrained by the acidic soil with aluminium toxicity. The objective of this study was to determine feed resources and the availability of each feed resource that was used by farmers in the dry and wet seasons. Focus group discussions of 20 farmer representatives from each district were concerned. In each district, 20 farmers identified criteria to rank the identified feed resources. Individual farmers gave score to each identified feed resource according to farmers’ criteria and the scores were considered as quantities measured. In the low rainfall district (Bugesera), four exotic, three indigenous fodder species and six crop residues were identified with preference scores ranging from zero to ten. Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) was given the highest scores ranged between six and eight because of its availability all year round. The native grass received a median score of five for its availability year round. In acidic soil area (Nyamagabe district), five exotic fodder species, five indigenous fodder species and 11 crop residues were identified. Napier grass and Commelina benghalensis were scored high with a median score of eight. The preference ranking confirmed that overall Napier grass was the major fodder crop used throughout the two districts followed by some indigenous species and crop residues. The availability of quality and quantity of feeds has shown a shortage of livestock feed resources in both districts and it requires a suitable forage species adapted to these areas of low rainfall and acidic soils.

Key words: Zero grazing, preference ranking, seasonal calendar development.