Effect of Enclosure and Open Grazing on Diet Selection, Relative Preference Index and Voluntary Intake by Sheep at El-Khuwei Locality North Kordofan State Sudan

The nutritive value of a pasture depends mainly on its in-take and the selection animals exert in consuming the different species or the various parts of a determined plant (Mayes and Dove 2000). Animal production in North Kordofan State is mainly traditional depending on natural rangeland (Cook and Fadlalla 1987; DHP 1998). The State is rich in animal and range resources. It contains more than 13 million head of sheep, goats, camels and cattle (IFAD 2011). The study aims to provide information that contributes to a better understanding of the plant-animal inter-actions through knowledge of diet botanical composition, forage biomass production and voluntary intake

Effect of Enclosure on Botanical Composition, Forage Biomass and Other Range Productivity Parameters in a Semi-Arid Area of El-Khuwei Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan

Animal production in North Kordofan State is mainly traditional depending on natural rangeland (Cook and Fadlalla 1987), (DHP, 1998). The State has an area of about 25 million ha of which 14.5 million ha is rangeland (Africover 2004). It is among the leading Sudanese States in animal and range resources. It contains more than 13 million heads of sheep, goats, camels and cattle (IFAD 2011). This paper deals with the effect of enclosure and stage of maturity on botanical composition, forage biomass production and other range productivity parameters in this semi-arid area

Effect of Growth Stage on the Macro Mineral Concentrations of Forbs and Grasses in a Semi-Arid Region of Sudan

Ruminants grazing forages in severely mineral-deficient areas may be more restricted by this condition than by inadequacy of energy or protein. Mineral imbalances in soils and forages are responsible for low production and reproduction in grazing livestock. As grazing livestock are not usually offered mineral supplements apart from common salt, they depend upon forages for their requirements. However forages rarely fully satisfy all mineral requirements. Mineral intakes of livestock are influenced by the factors that determine the mineral content of plants and their seeds. The concentrations of minerals in plants depend largely on plant genotype, soil environment, climate and stage of maturity. Leguminous species are generally much richer in macro-elements than grasses growing in similar conditions, whether temperate or tropical. The objective of this study is to assess the status of the macro-mineral elements Na, K, P, Ca, and Mg in the dominant native species during the flowering and seed set stages of plant growth at Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan

Dry Matter Intake, Digestibility and Diet Selection by Sheep Grazing on Reseeded and Naturally Regenerating Range Sites at Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan

The aim of this study was to evaluate range quality for sheep from reseeded and naturally regenerating (un-reseeded) range sites at Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan. The study area suffers from over-grazing, excessive tree cutting and frequent cyclic droughts, which have led to a domination of short–lived un-preferred annual plants

Effect of Water Harvesting and Re-Seeding on Forage Biomass Production from Rangelands in Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan

This study was conducted at Sheikan Locality, North Kordofan State, Sudan. The area has a unimodal annual rainfall of 300-400 mm occurring during July-October. The main economic activities are crop and livestock production. Livestock are raised either under sedentary or migratory systems where natural grazing is practiced. The dominant livestock species are sheep, cattle, goats and camels. A main determinant of livestock production is low forage production resulting from low soil moisture due to low total precipitation and is also due to poor water infiltration rate associated with the prevalent type of sandy clay soils locally known as “gardud”. These soils are widespread and are prone to excessive runoff. Water harvesting is thought to increase soil moisture content and hence pasture productivity. This study aims to investigate effect of three water harvesting techniques namely contour ridges, runoff strips and flat (control); and two planting methods specifically reseeding and natural regeneration (un-reseeded) on forage biomass production, plant density and vegetation cover. Forage biomass production in the reseeded site was 3.65, 2.25 and 0.65 t/ha for the three treatments respectively. In the un-reseeded site the values were 2.85, 1.75 and 0.55 t/ha respectively (P \u3c 0.001). A similar trend was found for plant density and plant cover. It was concluded that water harvesting and reseeding resulted in increased forage biomass production and plant cover from rangelands. The results were discussed in relation to effect of increasing soil moisture content on improving livelihoods and mitigating environmental degradation

Diet Selection by Goats at Kalemando, North Darfur, Sudan

Pressure on rangelands of Sudan has increased in the last few decades due to increase in human population and in animal numbers. The rangelands were also impacted by climate change, desertification, agricultural expansion, mining, and overgrazing. Decreased amounts of rainfall have impoverished the natural rangelands. Goats are capable of grazing on semi-desert regions characterized by low rainfall and scarce grazing plants. It is therefore necessary to know and enhance plant species preferred by goats to properly manage the rangelands. The present study was conducted at Kalemando, North Darfur State during the rainy season of year 2017 when most plants were flowering. The aim was to investigate plant preference by goats under free grazing conditions. A range site of one km2 was selected for the study. The Parker loop method was used to determine botanical composition of herbaceous plants while the point centre quarter method was used to determine density and relative density of trees and shrubs. The bite count technique was used to determine goat diet botanical composition. The herbaceous layer manifested 34 species of which 50.76% were forbs, while grasses constituted 49.24%. The dominant herbaceous plants were Dactyloctenium aegyptium (16.08%), Aristida spp (13.04%), Zaleya Pentandra (9.27%), Trigonella hamosa (8.70%), Echinocloa colona (6.38%) and Aerva javonica (5.36%). Tree and shrub of highest relative density were Acacia tortils (67.86%), Boscia sengalensis (14.29%), and Grewia tenax (3.57%). The diet selected by goats comprised trees/shrubs (42.17%), forbs (36.15%) and grasses (21.68%). Plants most preferred were Commelina kotschyi, Justicia kotschyi, Tribulus terrestris, Trigonella hamosa, Echinocloa colona, Permina resinosa, Grewia tenax. and Acacia mellifera. It is concluded that rehabilitation of rangelands can best be effected by resort to plant species preferred by goats

Isolation and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains and Their Effects on the Fermentation Quality of Elephant Grass (\u3ci\u3eCenchrus purpureus\u3c/i\u3e) Silage

This study aims to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria and examine their effects on the fermentation quality of elephant grass silage. The isolated strains were identified based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as 16S rRNA analysis. Three strains namely Pediococcus acidilactic (AZZ5), Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. Plantarum (AZZ4), Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. Argentoratensis (AZZ6) were isolated from elephant grass silage. Isolation of the microbes was done by serial dilution method. Three LAB and one commercial bacteria Lactobacillus Plantarum, Ecosyl MTD/1(CB)) were used as additives to fresh material of elephant grass. To follow the fermentation quality during ensiling, samples were taken on days 30, 60 and 90 of ensiling for chemical analysis. The strain AZZ5 was identified as Pediococcus genus while AZZ4 and AZZ6 were Lactobacillus genus. Compared to the control, all the isolates improved the silage quality of elephant grass silage. In conclusion, AZZ4 performed better among all inoculants

Feed Intake and Diet Selection by Sheep on Rangeland at Two Phenological Stages in North Kordofan State, Sudan

North Kordofan is a leading State of Sudan in animal and range resources. Animal production is traditional and extensive, depending on natural rangeland. Sheep rank first in importance amounting to about 12.9 million heads. This study was conducted at El Demokeya Forest Reserve, North Kordofan State, Sudan at two range sites, protected and open. The objectives were to determinate feed intake and assess the plant species selected by sheep and development of preference indices for use in managing the rangeland

Effect of Microbial Inoculant on Fermentation Period and Chemical Composition of Sweet Sorghum Silage

Sorghum is one of the most suitable plants for silage production and becoming an increasingly important forage crop in many regions of the world. Due to its high water-soluble carbohydrates contents (WSC) and low buffer capacity, it is easy to ensile. This study evaluates the effect of adding Lactobacillus plantarum AZZ4 and Pediococcus acidilactici AZZ5 isolated from elephant grass on the fermentation period and chemical composition of sweet sorghum silage. Two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. Plantarum (AZZ4) , Pediococcus acidilactici (AZZ5), and one commercial bacteria Lactobacillus Plantarum, Ecosyl MTD/1(CB)) were chosen as additives at 6 log colony forming units (cfu)/g of fresh sweet sorghum grass in laboratory silos (1000g). Silos for each treatment were opened after 15,30, and 60d, respectively. Compared to the control, all the isolates improved the silage quality of sweet sorghum silage, indicated by significantly (P \u3c 0.05) lower ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) content and undesirable microorganism counts, and higher lactic acid (LA) contents and ratios of lactic acid/acetic acid (LA/AA). During ensiling, AZZ4 performed better among all inoculants, indicated by a significantly (P \u3c 0.05) decrease in pH and ammonia- N contents and a higher increase in lactic acid contents

Diet Selection by Goats on Rangeland of North Kordofan State, Sudan

This study was conducted at El Demokeya forest, North Kordofan State, Sudan. The objective was to evaluate goat diet botanical composition as an indicator for pasture quality. Bite counts were obtained from seven goats in protected and open rangeland sites. Percent plant cover in the two range sites were 81.9% and 87.5% respectively. Density was 260.9 and 181.9 plants / m2 respectively (P \u3c 0.05). At flowering, goat diet contained 10.8% ± 1.12 and 11.8% ± 5.94 CP in protected and open sites respectively. At seed set CP% was 8.1 ± 1.32 and 8.2 ± 3.01 respectively (P \u3e 0.01). Diet CP% was higher in diet than in forage biomass vegetation. At flowering, in protected range Acacia senegal (26.6%), Echinocloa colonum (11.34%) and Zaleya pentandra (9.08%) were the browse, grasses and forbs most selected, respectively. In the open range site Acacia senegal was 22.58%, Eragrostis tremula 13.78% and Zaleya pentandra 11.05% of the diet. At seed set, in the protected range site, the diet contained 18.36% Justica kotschyi, 15.02% Acacia senegal and 4.28% Eragrostis tremula.While in open range site Eragrostis tremula was 52.92%, Acacia senegal 25.58% and Chrozophora brocchiana 1.62%. Grasses and forbs with highest relative preference indeces (RPI) at flowering in protected range site were Cenchrus biflorus (RPI=2.05) and Justica kotschyi (RPI=7.93). In open range site the grass and forb with highest RPI were Echinocloa colonum (RPI=1.17) and Zornia glochidiata (RPI=6.7) respectively. Diet botanical composition is an indicator of plant preference and is useful in selecting plants for reseeding of deteriorated range and in identifying key species for range management