Temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western Kenya
Objective The study aimed at quantifying seasonal and spatial variations in availability and nutritive value of herbaceous vegetation on native pastures and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in Western Kenya. Methods Samples of herbaceous pasture vegetation (n = 75) and local supplement f...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
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Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies
2019
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/99011 |
| _version_ | 1855532212937555968 |
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| author | Onyango, A.A. Dickhoefer, Uta Rufino, Mariana C. Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus Goopy, John P. |
| author_browse | Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus Dickhoefer, Uta Goopy, John P. Onyango, A.A. Rufino, Mariana C. |
| author_facet | Onyango, A.A. Dickhoefer, Uta Rufino, Mariana C. Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus Goopy, John P. |
| author_sort | Onyango, A.A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Objective The study aimed at quantifying seasonal and spatial variations in availability and nutritive value of herbaceous vegetation on native pastures and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in Western Kenya. Methods Samples of herbaceous pasture vegetation (n = 75) and local supplement feedstuffs (n = 46) for cattle, sheep, and goats were collected in 20 villages of three geographic zones (Highlands, Mid-slopes, Lowlands) in Lower Nyando, Western Kenya, over four seasons of one year. Concentrations of dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), gross energy (GE), and minerals were determined. Apparent total tract organic matter digestibility (dOM) was estimated from in vitro gas production and proximate nutrient concentrations or chemical composition alone using published prediction equations. Results Nutrient, energy, and mineral concentrations were 52 to 168 g CA, 367 to 741 g NDF, 32 to 140 g CP, 6 to 45 g EE, 14.5 to 18.8 MJ GE, 7.0 to 54.2 g potassium, 0.01 to 0.47 g sodium, 136 to 1825 mg iron, and 0.07 to 0.52 mg selenium/kg DM. The dOM was 416 to 650 g/kg organic matter but differed depending on the estimation method. Nutritive value of pasture herbage was superior to most supplement feedstuffs, but its value strongly declined in the driest season. Biomass yields and concentrations of CP and potassium in pasture herbage were highest in the Highlands amongst the three zones. Conclusion Availability and nutritive value of pasture herbage and supplement feedstuffs greatly vary between seasons and geographical zones, suggesting need for season- and region-specific feeding strategies. Local supplement feedstuffs partly compensate for nutritional deficiencies. However, equations to accurately predict dOM and improved knowledge on nutritional characteristics of tropical ruminant feedstuffs are needed to enhance livestock production in this and similar environments. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace99011 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publishDateRange | 2019 |
| publishDateSort | 2019 |
| publisher | Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies |
| publisherStr | Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace990112025-01-27T15:00:25Z Temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western Kenya Onyango, A.A. Dickhoefer, Uta Rufino, Mariana C. Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus Goopy, John P. mixed farming animal feeding pastures livestock Objective The study aimed at quantifying seasonal and spatial variations in availability and nutritive value of herbaceous vegetation on native pastures and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in Western Kenya. Methods Samples of herbaceous pasture vegetation (n = 75) and local supplement feedstuffs (n = 46) for cattle, sheep, and goats were collected in 20 villages of three geographic zones (Highlands, Mid-slopes, Lowlands) in Lower Nyando, Western Kenya, over four seasons of one year. Concentrations of dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), gross energy (GE), and minerals were determined. Apparent total tract organic matter digestibility (dOM) was estimated from in vitro gas production and proximate nutrient concentrations or chemical composition alone using published prediction equations. Results Nutrient, energy, and mineral concentrations were 52 to 168 g CA, 367 to 741 g NDF, 32 to 140 g CP, 6 to 45 g EE, 14.5 to 18.8 MJ GE, 7.0 to 54.2 g potassium, 0.01 to 0.47 g sodium, 136 to 1825 mg iron, and 0.07 to 0.52 mg selenium/kg DM. The dOM was 416 to 650 g/kg organic matter but differed depending on the estimation method. Nutritive value of pasture herbage was superior to most supplement feedstuffs, but its value strongly declined in the driest season. Biomass yields and concentrations of CP and potassium in pasture herbage were highest in the Highlands amongst the three zones. Conclusion Availability and nutritive value of pasture herbage and supplement feedstuffs greatly vary between seasons and geographical zones, suggesting need for season- and region-specific feeding strategies. Local supplement feedstuffs partly compensate for nutritional deficiencies. However, equations to accurately predict dOM and improved knowledge on nutritional characteristics of tropical ruminant feedstuffs are needed to enhance livestock production in this and similar environments. 2019-05-01 2019-01-09T13:37:48Z 2019-01-09T13:37:48Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/99011 en Open Access Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies Onyango, A.A., Dickhoefer, U., Rufino, M.C., Butterbach-Bahl, K. and Goopy, J.P. 2018. Temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western Kenya. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences |
| spellingShingle | mixed farming animal feeding pastures livestock Onyango, A.A. Dickhoefer, Uta Rufino, Mariana C. Butterbach-Bahl, Klaus Goopy, John P. Temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western Kenya |
| title | Temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western Kenya |
| title_full | Temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western Kenya |
| title_short | Temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western Kenya |
| title_sort | temporal and spatial variability in the nutritive value of pasture vegetation and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in western kenya |
| topic | mixed farming animal feeding pastures livestock |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/99011 |
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