Responses to a Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of Leucaena forage to crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics

Smallholder dairy production based on zero-grazed Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum CV Bana) fed to crossbred Bos taurus X Bos indicus cows has been introduced to tropical sub-humid East Africa. Leucaena leucocephala forage offers a cheap convenient source of supplementry protein. Thirty-six Ayrshi...

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Main Authors: Muinga, R.W., Thorpe, W.R., Topps, J.H., Mureithi, J.G.
Format: Conference Paper
Language:Inglés
Published: International Livestock Centre for Africa 1992
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/49956
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author Muinga, R.W.
Thorpe, W.R.
Topps, J.H.
Mureithi, J.G.
author_browse Muinga, R.W.
Mureithi, J.G.
Thorpe, W.R.
Topps, J.H.
author_facet Muinga, R.W.
Thorpe, W.R.
Topps, J.H.
Mureithi, J.G.
author_sort Muinga, R.W.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Smallholder dairy production based on zero-grazed Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum CV Bana) fed to crossbred Bos taurus X Bos indicus cows has been introduced to tropical sub-humid East Africa. Leucaena leucocephala forage offers a cheap convenient source of supplementry protein. Thirty-six Ayrshire/Brown Swiss X Sahiwal cows with one to four previous lactations and which calved during the period 26 March to 2 August 1990 were stall-fed individually to evaluate the effects of harvesting height of Napier grass (1.0 or 1.5m) and level of Leucaena supplement (0.4 or 8kg fresh weight) on dry-matter (DM) intake of Napier grass, total DM intake, liveweight change and milk yield. The study began on day 15 of lactation and lasted 98 days. Average daily milk yield and liveweight during the second week of lactation were covariates for milk yield, and for DM intake and liveweight change, respectively. Harvesting height of Napier grass significantly (P<0.001) affected Napier fodder and total DM intakes, liveweight losses and average daily milk yield. Supplementation with Leucaena tended to increase Napier fodder intake, significantly (P<001) milk yield. The results indicate the importance of stage of harvesting & napier fodder and the benefits from Leucaena supplementation in attaining an acceptable level of performance from crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics.
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spelling CGSpace499562021-08-09T04:29:51Z Responses to a Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of Leucaena forage to crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics Muinga, R.W. Thorpe, W.R. Topps, J.H. Mureithi, J.G. subhumid zones tropics pennisetum purpureum feed grasses leucaena leucocephala crossbreds dairy cattle cows diet statistical analysis feed intake milk yield lactation body weight Smallholder dairy production based on zero-grazed Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum CV Bana) fed to crossbred Bos taurus X Bos indicus cows has been introduced to tropical sub-humid East Africa. Leucaena leucocephala forage offers a cheap convenient source of supplementry protein. Thirty-six Ayrshire/Brown Swiss X Sahiwal cows with one to four previous lactations and which calved during the period 26 March to 2 August 1990 were stall-fed individually to evaluate the effects of harvesting height of Napier grass (1.0 or 1.5m) and level of Leucaena supplement (0.4 or 8kg fresh weight) on dry-matter (DM) intake of Napier grass, total DM intake, liveweight change and milk yield. The study began on day 15 of lactation and lasted 98 days. Average daily milk yield and liveweight during the second week of lactation were covariates for milk yield, and for DM intake and liveweight change, respectively. Harvesting height of Napier grass significantly (P<0.001) affected Napier fodder and total DM intakes, liveweight losses and average daily milk yield. Supplementation with Leucaena tended to increase Napier fodder intake, significantly (P<001) milk yield. The results indicate the importance of stage of harvesting & napier fodder and the benefits from Leucaena supplementation in attaining an acceptable level of performance from crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics. 1992 2014-10-31T06:08:36Z 2014-10-31T06:08:36Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/49956 en Open Access International Livestock Centre for Africa
spellingShingle subhumid zones
tropics
pennisetum purpureum
feed grasses
leucaena leucocephala
crossbreds
dairy cattle
cows
diet
statistical analysis
feed intake
milk yield
lactation
body weight
Muinga, R.W.
Thorpe, W.R.
Topps, J.H.
Mureithi, J.G.
Responses to a Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of Leucaena forage to crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics
title Responses to a Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of Leucaena forage to crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics
title_full Responses to a Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of Leucaena forage to crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics
title_fullStr Responses to a Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of Leucaena forage to crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics
title_full_unstemmed Responses to a Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of Leucaena forage to crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics
title_short Responses to a Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass) basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of Leucaena forage to crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics
title_sort responses to a pennisetum purpureum napier grass basal diet harvested at two different heights and fed with three levels of leucaena forage to crossbred dairy cows in the subhumid tropics
topic subhumid zones
tropics
pennisetum purpureum
feed grasses
leucaena leucocephala
crossbreds
dairy cattle
cows
diet
statistical analysis
feed intake
milk yield
lactation
body weight
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/49956
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