1. Crop residues as livestock feed- the role of legume residues

2. Farming system – mixed crop livestock Livestock rearing important component of the system Feed – by far the most important constraint to livestock productivity

3. Feed resource – challenges Increased population pressure Conversion of grazing lands to arable lands Land degradation and loss of fertility

4. Crop residues (mainly cereals) form 30 – 80% of the diet of ruminant livestock Low in crude protein content (3-5%) High in fiber content (59-77%) Low in digestibility (<50%)

5. . Rumen microbes are responsible for fiber digestion in the ruminant system To function properly these microbes require nitrogen and readily available energy

6. Urea treatment of crop residues and urea molasses multi-nutrient blocks – considered potential remedies to improve the nutritive value of crop residues However, adoption of these technologies remained extremely poor

7. Compared to cereal, legume crop residues have higher crude protein content and nutritional value Neutral detergent fiber (%) Crude protein (%) Cereals Teff straw76.64.2 Wheat straw73.34.5 Barley straw75.53.4 Maize Stover70.55.1 Legumes Horse bean straw69.28.1 Field pea straw59.17.5 Lentil straw64.78.5 Piegon pea straw69.016.3

8. Legume crop residues have potential to provide much needed protein supplement to ruminant livestock Improvement in legume crop production - direct positive implication to ruminant livestock nutrition Increase crop residue biomass Increase the feeding value of the biomass

9. . Agricultural inputs Grain Residue Manure Farm power Milk Meat & Other products Systems Approach

10. N2 Africa Systems oriented planning To consider the value of legume crops/residues for livestock during Variety selections/evaluations Choice of agronomic practices Assessment of the benefits of the new technologies adopted

11. Thank you