This study was attempted to investigate the potentially available feed resources and challenges in
the commercial dairy farms found in Mekelle, Wukro and Adigrat. A total of 60 dairy farms were selected
randomly from the study areas and were divided into three scales. A semi-structured questionnaire was
prepared and the farm owners, workers, managers and professional employees were interviewed and the farms
were also visited. The major feed composition types used by the different dairy farms visited during the study
period were hay, straw and concentrate (41.67%); hay, straw, concentrate and alfafa (20%); straw and
concentrate (18.33%); hay, straw, concentrate, alfalfa and atella (10%);. hay, straw and ‘atella’ (8.33%); and hay
and straw (1.67%). The educational status of the farm owners and workers was correlated with the type of feed
formulation that they followed in each farm as well as the type of feed to be given. The major constraints
described by the various dairy farms in terms of feed resources were feed availability problems (36.67%), price
inflation problems (23.33%) and both feed availability and price inflation problems (40%). The majority of
illiterate farm workers/owners (74.43%) didn’t use feed formulation in their dairy farms but the degree of usage
of feed formulation by the educated ones was in accordance with their educational level. Therefore, to fill the
gaps seen in the current study an intensive promotion of extension work should be done to create awareness
among the farm owners and workers about good feeding management practice, feed formulation and cultivation
and treatment of forages and crop residues so as to minimize the scarcity of feed in dairy farms.