Project Overview
Introduction
The EQUIP FEED initiative in Ethiopia is part of a regional effort to improve livestock feed systems in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. The initiative is transitioning from research-based interventions to private sector-led implementation. In Ethiopia, the project is focused on identifying and finalizing private sector partners, selecting priority interventions for piloting on commercial farms, and planning strategies for scaling up feed innovations.
Faculty lead
- Dr. Adegbola Adesogan, University of Florida, Global Food Systems Institute (GFSI)
Goals and Objectives
Goal
To scale feed innovations to improve dairy and beef productivity in Ethiopia through private sector-led implementation.
Objectives
- Identify and finalize private sector partners.
- Select priority interventions for commercial farm pilots.
- Conduct a 90-day feeding trial using corn silage as part of a total mixed ration.
- Monitor farm-level outcomes using a digital performance-tracking app.
- Develop tailored protocols based on local farm conditions.
Background
The EQUIP FEED project in Ethiopia builds on prior research efforts aimed at improving livestock productivity. However, adoption of improved practices by smallholders has remained low. The project now seeks to pilot validated feed innovations through private sector partners. At a strategic partners meeting held on June 17, 2025, researchers and stakeholders discussed how private sector leadership could modernize feed systems and improve productivity.
Top-ranked interventions selected by participants included:
- Corn silage production and feeding
- Sourcing and multiplication of forage seeds and cuttings
- Urea treatment of crop residues
- Establishment of feed and fodder cooperatives
- Genetic improvement of dairy cattle
- Black Soldier Fly farming
Challenges discussed included limited land for silage production, irrigation needs, agroecological suitability, and the affordability and availability of inputs such as urea.
Research Approach
The research and implementation approach includes:
- Feeding Trials: A 90-day pilot will be conducted on selected commercial farms, using corn silage as part of a TMR.
- Digital Monitoring: A mobile app will track key dairy performance indicators, including milk yield, heat stress, and reproduction.
- Tailored Protocols: Each farm will receive a customized protocol informed by questionnaire data and technical assessments.
- Technical Collaboration: A corn planting protocol, developed with University of Florida agronomists, will guide implementation.
- Stakeholder Engagement: An August 2025 workshop will engage government officials, banks, and cooperatives to align support for scaling the interventions.
- Showcasing Success: The experience of Anan Agro—a business managing 300 hectares of maize silage and influencing local farmers through social media—will be used as a model for impact.
