Abstract:

In this study, the roughage production and its status of sufficiency for the presence of current livestock in Muş province were examined. The large and small ruminant existence of the province was a total of 307.660 animal units in 2019 and, it was calculated that 1.403.699 tons of quality roughage was needed to meet only the maintenance requirements of these animals. The main roughage source for the farm animals in the province is composed of natural meadows and rangelands. However, early and heavy grazing having been continued for a long time has led to the weakening of the yield potential of rangelands. Moreover, the cultivation of forage crops, another important source of quality roughage apart from the meadows and the rangelands, is not at sufficient level. Since the roughage production obtained from the meadows, rangelands and forage crops cultivation was calculated to be 748.160 tons in 2019 in the province, it was concluded that the existing quality roughage production met only 53.3% of the maintenance requirements of animals. However, for a rational animal feeding, not only their maintenance requirements should be taken into account but also at least 5-7 kg of milk production should be met from quality roughages. In the province, quality roughage deficit is met from such poor quality feed sources as hay, straw and stubble (507.369 tons) and these feeds with poor quality feed value compose the basic component of rations. In order to develop livestock farming, firstly, the need for quality roughage should be available sufficiently, cheaply and regularly

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