This study aimed to assess the production and utilization of sugarcane tops (SCTs)
by livestock farms in and around Wonji-Shoa and Metehara sugar estates. A total of
308 households were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire, where data on household characteristics, and acquisition, utilization, feeding practices, preserving and marketing of SCTs were collected. Secondary data on sugarcane production were taken from the sugar factories. The estimated production of SCT is proportional to the volume of sugarcane produced or milled and area of sugarcane field harvested, which was higher in Metehara compared to Wonji-Shoa sugar estate. The volume of burnt SCTs surpassed that of green SCTs as the pre-harvest burning practice of sugarcane fields favors the abundant availability of the former. Sugarcane tops were used as feedstuff by the entire surveyed households, primarily for ruminants feeding. Besides, a significant proportion of farmers reported to use SCTs for other purposes viz. fuel source (50%) and construction (37%). Availability and feed use of the burnt SCT surpassed that of green SCT, mainly during the dry season, or dearth period. Sugarcane tops were sold to urban livestock producers, their price being varied with the sugar estate, SCT type and distance from the source (field). Farmers preferred the burnt to green SCTs, and thin-stem to thick stem varieties for livestock feeding. Sugarcane tops were usually fed to animals intact or chopped. Farmers practiced preserving intact SCTs by sun-drying and
stored in open-air. Limitations in the feed use of SCTs in the study area included its
low quality (91.2%), lack of technical supports (89%), lack of transport (26%), mouth injury on animals associated with feeding unprocessed SCTs (16.2%) and lack of family labor and capital (11.7%). In conclusion, SCTs are available yearround and contribute significantly as livestock feed in the study areas. However, it was poorly utilized due to harvesting method employed by the industry, poor handling by farmers and lack of technical supports. Therefore, intervention in areas of SCTs processing, conservation, feeding and marketing is important to enhance its feed use by livestock farms around sugar industries or beyond.
