Availability, Distribution, and Chemical Composition of Dairy Cattle Feeds in Kamba District of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Feed scarcity and poor nutrient quality remain major constraints to dairy production in Ethiopia. This study assessed the availability, distribution, and nutrient composition of feed resources in Kamba district of Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia. A cross‐sectional survey of 120 randomly selected households and laboratory analyses of major feeds was conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Natural pasture and crop residues dominate the feed basket across all zones. Conserved feed types, crop residues, and availability patterns varied markedly across altitude, reflecting enset‐based in the highlands and cereal‐based cropping patterns in the lowlands. The chemical composition of the feeds varied significantly among each other ( p < 0.05). Arundinaria alpine in high and mid altitudes (crude protein [CP] = 12.17%–14.50%) and Terminalia brownii in low altitudes (CP = 11.55%) were feeds of medium protein sources expected for optimum animal performance promoting potential; the rest feeds, having 4.30%–8.52% CP, 51.34%–76.11% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and 44.38%–60.94% acid detergent fiber (ADF), were all judged as low quality feeds. CP content had a positive correlation with ether extract (EE) ( r = 0.477, p < 0.05) and ash ( r = 0.509, p < 0.05) but negative correlation ( r = −0.906 to −0.595, p < 0.01) with all fiber components. Feed shortage was the most critical while poor genetic potential was the least challenging bottleneck of dairy operations. Findings indicate that nutritional limitations are pervasive district‐wide. Integrated zone‐specific interventions combining enhanced crop residue treatment, strategic supplementation, and improved service delivery are recommended to sustainably intensify dairy operations in all agroecological settings of the area.