The nutritive value of forage legume crop residues and native pasture in southern Ethiopia

Presents data on the nutritive value of residues from three legume crops, viz. Cajanus cajan, Lablab purpureus and Vigna unguiculata, grown in southern Ethiopia; compares findings with those for native grasses

Forage and crop trials in the southern rangelands, 1985 and 1986

The report describes and discusses results of forage work conducted in the southern rangelands of Ethiopia between 1985 and 1986 with the aim of identifying legume species that perform well under the prevailing climatic conditions and that is then considered for introduction into pasture and cropping system of the Borana people to elevate the nutritional stress of livestock during the dry season

Seasonal diets of camels, cattle, sheep, and goats in a common range in eastern Africa

A study on the seasonal diets of camels, cattle, sheep, and goats in a common range in northern Kenya carried to gather information as a basis for better management of the Semi-Arid rangelands of eastern Africa

Seasonal Diets of Camels, Cattle, Sheep, and Goats in a Common Range in Eastern Africa

Although there have been several reports on the food habits of domestic herbivores in various semiarid regions of the world, there has been no previous report on the partitioning of forage resources by camels (Camelus dromedarius) and sheep (Ovis aries), goats (Capra hircus) and cattle (Bos indicus) using a common range. In the semiarid region of northern Kenya, the seasonal exploitation by these herbivores resulting from herding by the nomadic Rendille pastoralists makes the system for management of these rangelands very complex. Information on the food habits of animals utilizing a common range is important in offering a basis for assessing the usefulness of the range components to the animals. Consequently, food habits information becomes an important tool in making management decisions. Camels were predominantly browsers while cattle were predominantly grazers. Sheep and goats were intermediate feeders. Cattle browsed most during the 'green' season when the browse shoots were most abundant and easiest for their large mouth parts to harvest. Camels grazed most during the very dry season when most trees and shrubs had shed their leaves. The observed variations in food habits among the 4 herbivores suggest that they may require different management to obtain optimum production.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Digestive capabilities of sheep, goats, cattle, and camels

Reports on a study conducted to compare the digestive capability of sheep, goats, cattle and camels for a given forage species. Shows how the rumen digestive power would be different between the green and dry seasons by using the nylon bug technique

Plant Selection and Performance of Two Cattle Types and Camels on Semiarid Rangelands in Kenya

Plant selection pattern and performance of lactating cattle and camels were compared on semiarid savanna rangelands in Kenya in the rainy season (RS) and a transition period (TP) between the RS and the main dry season. It was further evaluated whether supplementation with rumen-degradable protein (RDP) had an effect on these parameters. In both seasons, two cattle types (local ‘Pokot’ cattle and Guernsey × Boran crossbreds) and camels were used, with six females per treatment group (supplemented and nonsupplemented) each (n = 72 animals in total). The experimental periods consisted of 8–10 d of adaptation and 36–40 d of data and sample collection. The diet selected by the cattle types was similar and consisted almost exclusively of grasses. The camel diet consisted mainly of herbs and shrubs with higher contributions of woody plants in the TP than in the RS. Forage from woody plants overall made up a higher proportion of the diet, which was also reflected by a longer browsing time (overall and in the TP) of the supplemented camels compared with the nonsupplemented camels. This result indicates that supplementation of browsers like camels with RDP can be used to increase the intake of forage from woody plants rich in plant secondary compounds, which could be an effective measure for managing rangeland to limit bush encroachment. Overall, no seasonal differences in milk yield were found for the camels and Pokot cattle, but crossbreds had a lower yield in the TP compared with the RS. Overall, the cattle had higher milk fat content than the camels while the camels had slightly higher protein content. Supplementation had no effect on milk yield and composition. The results of diet selection and performance (milk yield) reflect the advantage of camels in arid rangelands.The Rangeland Ecology & Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information