The study was carried out in Kedida Gamela Woreda of Kambata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia with the objectives of assessing the major dairy cattle feed resources, the feed quality and the feeding systems of dairy cattle in relation to agro-ecologies and seasons in the study area. A total of 160 respondents were included for the formal cross sectional study. Feed samples were analyzed in duplicates for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). The major available feed resources in the study area includes natural pasture, crop residues, enset, banana, sugar cane tops, improved forages, and agro industrial by products. The highest CP value was observed for leaves of fodder trees (korch and wanza) with range of (24.0 to 24.8%) and (16.2 to 16.9%), respectively. Overall feeding systems at wet and dry season were 37.5% and 5% herded grazing, 27.5% and 75% stall feeding and 35% and 20% tethering, respectively (p > 0.05). Further, an integrated effort of different stakeholders would be required in improving the quality of feed resources as well as feeding systems to exploit the potential of the dairy cattle.

Keywords: agro ecology, dairy cattle, feed, feeding practice, feed quality