EFFECT OF STOCKING Chlorjs gayana - Stylosanthes guianensis PASTURE WITH SHEEP ON PLANT AND ANIMAL PERFORMANCE
EFFECT OF STOCKING Chlorjs gayana - Stylosanthes guianensis PASTURE WITH SHEEP ON PLANT AND ANIMAL PERFORMANCE
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Date
1992-01
Authors
ONIFADE, OLUFEMI SUNDAY
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Abstract
The effects of stocking rate (12, 18, 24, 30 and 36
sheep/ha) on the productivity of Rhodes grass (C. qayana cv.
Callide) pastures (i) alone or with Cook stylo (S. guianensi
cv. Cook) and (ii) with nitrogen (N) fertilizer (200 kg N/ha)
were examined during five grazing periods from late-August
to mid-April (154-210 days) during 1985-1990 at Shika in the
Northern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria. Phosphorus (30
kg/ha) was applied to the pastures in July before grazing
commenced while N was incorporated before the 1985-1986 and
1989-1990 grazing periods.
Dry matter (DM) yields of C. gayana components, green
(living portions of sown and other plant species) materials
and total herbage declined as stocking rate and days of
grazing increased. The amounts of stylo, other plant species
and dead material also decreased with increase in days of
grazing. The yield of dead material was highest at 12
sheep/ha.
Mean C. gayana sward height exceeded 100 cm at the
beginning of each grazing period while its bulk density and
tiller density fell as grazing days increased.
The crude protein (CP), phosphorus (P), potassium (K),
calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) contents in components of
C. gayana and stylo shoots were independent of stocking
rates. Calcium and CP contents declined with advanced
grazing days in all periods. Magnesium and K contents in
C.gayana remained constant and fell, respectively as grazing
days increased with N apolication. Herbage P content
remained constant when N was omitted.
There were no significant changes in the structural
components - acid and neutral detergent fiores (ADF, NDF),
acid detergent lignin (ADL) and cellulose as grazing days
increased. The effects of stocking rate was significant only
for NDF and cellulose contents of C. gayana in the 1986-1987
period.
Daily liveweight gain of sheep was negatively and
linearly related to stocking rate. Losses in daily and
cumulative liveweight gain commenced between mid-January and
mid-February. Calculated stocking rates giving maximum
liveweight gains per hectare were 17.8, 20.4, 24.9, 21.2 and
26.0 sheep/ha in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth
grazing periods, respectively. The highest liveweight gain
per hectare (202.4 kg) was recorded at 30 sheep/ha during the
1989-1990 grazing period.
Description
A Dissertation submitted to the Postgraduate School
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Depart merit of Animal Science
Faculty of Agriculture
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria
Keywords
EFFECT,, STOCKING,, Chlorjs gayana,, Stylosanthes guianensis,, PASTURE,, SHEEP,, PLANT,, ANIMAL,, PERFORMANCE