Nutritional quality of feed resources used by smallholder dairy farmers in the Northern Province of Rwanda

The study aimed to analyse both the type and quality of available feed resources used by smallholder dairy farmers in the Northern Province of Rwanda during the transition period from the short rainy season to the short dry season. A total of 218 feed samples were collected from 178 households. Twenty different feed types were identified and classified into: roadside vegetation (51%), cultivated grasses (45%), crop residues (23%), and cultivated trees (2%). Similar feeds from the same village and district were pooled, and the results from 175 feed samples were analysed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and ash. Organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) content of the samples was calculated based on in vitro gas production at 24 h (GP24). Among all feed resources used, 42, 32, 12, and 9% of the households, respectively, minimally used feed such as Napier grass, assorted grasses, Digitaria, and maize stover. The CP content varied (p < 0.0001) between 4.4% in banana pseudo-stem and 34.8% in Elderberry tree. Only sweet potato vines, elderberry trees, and maize stover had significantly (p < 0.0001) higher OMD than the other feeds. The ME values ranged from 4.2 to 10.7 MJ/kg DM, with the lowest values reported for roadside vegetation (Commelina and gallant soldier), and the highest for Elderberry tree. Possible interventions such as training farmers in forage management and optimising the use of available feed resources, along with supplementing of higher-quality feed, can escalate productivity.