• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.381-385
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• 2006

This study examined the influence of re-growth periods on chemical composition, biomass production, nutritive value and digestion kinetics of Setaria sphacelata (SS) and Cenchrus ciliaris (CC) in ruminally cannulated buffalo bulls. Two re-growth intervals i.e. clipping every month ($CI_1$) and clipping after every two months ($CI_2$) were compared with the control (clipped after 4 months). Mean values of leaf to stem ratio in SS and CC grasses were decreased (p<0.05) with increasing re-growth interval. The lowest leaf to stem ratio was recorded in control plots of both grasses. In both grasses, increasing growth period increased the concentrations of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and organic matter (OM) and decreased crude protein (CP). Mean dry herbage, OM and CP yields of SS and CC were increased (p<0.05) with increasing re-growth interval. Ruminal DM and NDF digestibilities of SS and CC were decreased (p<0.05) with increasing interval. Ruminal rate of DM and NDF disappearance was higher while the ruminal lag time of these nutrients was lower with monthly than with bi-monthly clipping interval. The results from present study imply that SS and CC clipped after every two months is more beneficial than when clipped every month or every four months in terms of optimal biomass with adequate nutritional value for buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1127-1132
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• 2000

Forty yearling Tswana sheep and goats (20 sheep and 20 goats) of both sexes were used in a feeding trial conducted in Botswana College of Agriculture (B.C.A) Content Farm in Gaborone for three months. The animals were randomized into four treatment groups of five animals per species balancing for weight and sex such that average initial weights were not statistically different. The sheep and goats were individually housed and fed under a common roof. All the animals were fed on Lablab purpureus L. as a protein supplement which was 40% of the ration. In addition to L.purpureus L. the control groups of both species were fed on 60% Cenchrus ciliaris L. as basal diet. The other three treatment groups were fed on different forages namely; sorghum forage (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf), millet forage (Pearl millet, Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) Stapf and Hubb.) and veldt grass mainly Urochloa mosambicensis (Hack.) as basal diet (60%). Water was provided individually to all the animals on ad lib. basis. Daily intakes of feed and water were recorded and weighing of the animals was done every two weeks. The collected data were analysed statistically for differences. Average daily weight gain by Tswana sheep was significantly different (p<0.05), sheep fed on millet forage had a higher daily weight gain $(120.24{\pm}8.91g)$ compared with sheep fed on veldt grass $(92.86{\pm}6.94g)$. Treatment effects on daily total DM intake by sheep were significant, the control group (C. ciliaris L.) had higher intake $(705.77{\pm}10.22g)$ and those fed on sorghum forage had the least intake $(668.10{\pm}10.70g)$. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the average daily weight gain by Tswana goats and it was 84.52, 73.81, 83.33 and 78.57 g for goats fed on C. ciliaris L., sorghum forage, millet forage and veldt grass respectively. Average daily total DM intake by goats was 655.27, 652.64, 650.07 and 650.94 g for C. ciliaris L., sorghum forage, millet forage and veldt grass respectively. Feed conversion efficiency was 8.00, 8.98, 7.93 and 8.34 for goats fed on C. ciliaris L., sorghum forage, millet forage and veldt grass respectively and were not significantly different (p>0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.966-972
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• 2005

A study to compare the effects of supplementing Delonix elata, Grewia similis, Tamarindus indica and sunflower seed cake on intake and growth rate of dual-purpose goats fed low quality Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) hay was carried out. Twenty-eight male goats aged five to seven months (mean weight 12.93${\pm}$3.94 kg) were randomly allocated to four dietary groups in a completely randomised design. The diets were hay plus Grewia similis, hay plus Delonix elata, hay plus Tamarindus indica and hay plus sunflower seed cake. All diets were supplemented with maize bran. The experimental period was 90 days. Voluntary dry matter intake of the supplements was higher for Tamarindus indica (275.5 g/day) and Grewia similis (201.8 g/day) and lowest for sunflower seed cake (81g/day). Goats supplemented with Grewia similis had the highest hay intake (183.8 g/day) while those supplemented with sunflower seed cake had the lowest hay intake (98.9 g/day). Animals fed browse supplements gained significantly more weight (p<0.001) than those with sunflower seed cake. There were no significant differences in live weight change between goats fed the different browses. However, those fed Tamarindus indica gained an average of 20.79 g/d which was slightly higher than the gains for those on Grewia similis and Delonix elata while those fed sunflower seed cake lost weight. Correspondingly, goats supplemented with browse leaf meals had higher feed conversion ratios than those supplemented with sunflower seed cake and required 23.91 to 35.06 g DM of feed to produce one g of weight gain per day. In a separate study, the DM disappearance pattern indicated that Grewia similis and Delonix elata were highly degradable compared to Tamarindus indica. At 24 h of incubation, DM degradability was 627, 588 and 345 g/kg DM for Grewia similis, Delonix elata and Tamarindus indica, respectively. In another study in vivo DM digestibility ranged from 46.1% (for hay alone) to 56.2% (for hay plus Grewia similis). It was concluded that the addition of Tamarindus indica, Grewia similis and Delonix elata leaf meals to Cenchrus ciliaris hay resulted in increased total DM intake, in vivo digestibility and growth rate. Therefore, leaf meals of indigenous browses particularly Tamarindus indica and Grewia similis could be used as supplementary feeds for small ruminants grazing on poor quality roughages during the dry season rather than use of expensive, less effective and intermittently available sunflower seed cake.