International Journal of Agricultural Research1816-48972152-2553Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/ijar.2016.40.55AmoleTunde Adegoke AyantundeAugustine Abioye 22016112Inadequate quantity and quality of feed resources are major factors limiting productivity of livestock systems in the Sahelian zone of West Africa. The possibilities of improving the livestock production systems by assessing potential feed resources and identifying points of intervention was investigated using feed assessment tool (FEAST) in two villages, Milli and Gourdjia in Maradi region of Niger. Results from focus group discussions and individual interviews indicated that mixed crop-livestock production systems are dominant in the study sites. Main livestock feed resources in the study sites were natural pastures, crop residues and agro-industrial byproducts particularly wheat bran. Purchased feed accounted for over 60% proportion of the livestock diets in Milli and Gourdjia in terms of Dry Matter (DM), Metabolizable Energy (ME) and Crude Protein (CP). Due to short supply fertile land and poor feed resource, more than 20% of the household income comes from off-farm businesses. Results further showed that farmers depended on purchased feed, which included crop residues, bush hay and cereal brans as major source of feed contributing more to the total diet of the livestock. Farmers were faced with low agricultural productivity due to declining soil fertility and declining grazing area principally due to expansion of cultivated land. Consequently off-farm businesses became a major strategy for sustaining their household. Provision of technical knowledge on how to improve the quality of existing feed resources and health management facilities will enhance productivity. The report also identified some potential feed resources that could be exploited for livestock nutrition.]]>Abdou, N., I.V. Nsahlai and M. Chimonyo,2011169176184ARC.,19841984Ayantunde, A.A.,19981998Ayantunde, A.A., S. Fernandez-Rivera, P.H. Hiernaux and R. Tabo,200872523533Ayantunde, A.A., P. Hiernaux, M. Briejer, H. Udo and R. Tabo,200975366Ball, D.M., M. Collins, G.D. Lacefield, N.P. Martin and D.A. Mertens et al.,2001Kubon, B.,20042004Bationo, A., J. Kihara, B. Wasw, B. Ouattara and B. Vanlauwe,20052005Bayala, J., C. Ky-Dembele, A. Kalinganire, A. Olivier and H. Nantoume,20142014Berhanu, G., H. Adane and B. Kalisay,20092009Bidjokazo, F., Z. Zacharie and E. Guillaume,20122012pp: 273-292pp: 273-292Bryceson, D.F.,19962497111Daodu, M.O., O.J. Babayemi and E.A. Iyayi,20092009Devendra, C. and R.A. Leng,201124303321Dore, T., D. Makowski, E. Malezieux, N. Munier-Jolain, M. Tchamitchian and P. Tittonell,201134197210Dillon, A.,20082008FAO.,20121st Edn.,Pages: 42Pages: 42FAO.,2014Pages: 64Pages: 64Fernandez-Rivera, S., P. Hiernaux, T.O. Williams, M.D. Turner and E. Schlecht et al.,20052005pp: 306pp: 306Geesing, D. and H. Djibo,20062006Grings, E.E., S.A. Tarawali, M. Blummel, A. Musa, C. Fatokun, S. Hearne and O. Boukar,20122012Herrero, M., P.K. Thornton, A.M. Notenbaert, S. Wood and S. Msangi et al.,2010327822825Hiernaux, P. and A. Ayantunde,20042004Kalunda, E.,20144130139Kayouli, C.,19961996Lamers, J. and F. Ermhard,19951995Lumu, R., C.B. Katongole, J. Nambi-Kasozi, F. Bareeba, M. Presto, E. Ivarsson and J.E. Lindberg,20134515711578Manlay, R. J., A. Ickowicz, D. Masse, C. Feller and D. Richard,20047983107Masikati, P.,20112011Matile, P., S. Hortensteiner and H. Thomas,1999506795McIntire, J., D. Bourzat and P. Pingali,1992Pages: 246Pages: 246Njarui, D.M.G., M. Gatheru, J.M. Wambua, S.N. Nguluu, D.M. Mwangi and G.A. Keya,20112011Nkedianye, D., M. Radeny, P. Kristjanson and M. Herrero,20092009pp: 115-149pp: 115-149NRC.,1981Pages: 91Pages: 91Nyamieri, A.,20112011Powell, J.M., S. Fernandez-Rivera, P. Hiernaux and M.D. Turner,199652143170Russo, S.L.,19901990pp: 165-185pp: 165-185Savadogo, M.,20002000Shetty, S.V.R., B.R. Ntare, A. Bationo and C. Renard,19951995pp: 293-304pp: 293-304SWAC-OECD/ECOWAS.,20082008Thebaud, B. and S. Batterbury,2001116978Thorne, P.J., D.B. Subba, D.H. Walker, B. Thapa, C.D. Wood and F.L. Sinclair,199981119131Tolera, A., R.C. Merkel, A.L. Goetsch, T. Sahlu and T. Negesse,20002000pp: 43-57pp: 43-57Turner, M.D. and P. Hiernaux,200217367385Wane, A., I. Toure and V. Ancey,200918232248Williams, T.O. and I. Okike,20072007Teferedegne, B.,200059209214Ayantunde, A.A., S. Fernandez-Rivera, P.H.Y. Hiernaux, H. van Keulen, H.M.J. Udo and M. Chanono,200071333340Duncan, A., L. York, B. Lukuyu, A. Samaddar and W. Stur,20122012Fuller, M.F.,20041st Edn.,Pages: 606Pages: 606Mpairwe, D.R., E.N. Sabiiti, N.N. Ummuna, A. Tegegne and P. Osuji,2002108197CIRAD.,20102010Corniaux, C., T.S. Fall and G. Rippstein,20052005Penning de Vries, F.W.T. and M.A. Djiteye,19911991Zonon, A.,20042004