Effects of a digestive modifier, browse plus on ruminal and intestinal breakdown of forages containing high tannin levels

A journal article on the effects of a digestive modifier.The potential for enhancement of forage utilization of two high tannin containing tropical browse trees and three legumes through the use of a digestive modifier called Browse Plus was investigated in this study. The study was carried out in 1995. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the potential for improving digestibilities of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) of two browse tree species, namely; Acacia albida and Colophospermum mopane and three herbaceous legumes, namely; Chamaecrista rotundifolia, Stylosanthes scabra, and Stylosanthes guif/iensis by use of Browse Plus. The legumes were sampled at three’phases of growth in 1994, making a total of nine samples. Forages were obtained from Sanyati, a semi-arid area of Zimbabwe. Total tannin levels in the forage samples were determined using the radial diffusion technique and in WvoDM and CP digestibilities were determined using the mobile nylon bag technique following infusion of 0-3 g of Browse Plus Into rumens of each of the three cannulated Holstein steers that were used. Ruminal infusion of Browse Plus enhanced (P0.05) between total tannin level, DM and/or CP digestibilities. The results from this study indicated that Browse Plus can improve DM and CP digestibilities of forages containing high tannin levels. This is likely to increase nutrient availability at the level of the small intestines, thereby enhancing utilization of such forages by ruminants. From the results, we recommend that Browse Plus be utilized at an inclusion rate of 2 g per animal per day in order to realize benefits from improved utilization of forages high in tannins

Influence of communal area grazing management system on the nutritive value of forages selected by cattle in a semi-arid area of Zimbabwe

A study was conducted to determine the effect of grazing management system on the nutritive value of forages selected by cattle. Animals were observed while grazing and the grazed samples were collected. The samples were analysed for chemical composition and digestibility. There were significant (P0.05). These findings suggest that grazing schemes tended to compromise the quality of forages selected under poor range conditions, possibly due to limited range resources. The ability of cattle under traditional grazing system to switch effectively among the different range resources might have enhanced the quality of forages selected

Effects of a digestive modifier Browse Plus on ruminal and intestinal breakdown of forages containing high tanning levels

(Journal of Applied Science in Southern Africa: 2000 6(2): 87-98

Effect of protein and energy levels on faecal progesterone concentration in Sabi ewes during oestrus cycle

The study investigated the reliability of using faecal progesterone as an indicator of ovarian activity in Sabi ewes and how this is affected by level of feeding. Three diets were formulated to simulate feed availability in communal areas of Zimbabwe, a below maintenance diet, a maintenance diet and an above maintenance diet. Faecal and blood samples were collected from 18 ewes (six in each treatment) once every two days for two oestrus cycles in order to determine progesterone levels. Diet had a significant effect on the plasma progesterone concentration (P0.05). On all diets, faecal progesterone concentrations were higher than plasma progesterone concentration. The pattern of faecal and plasma progesterone concentration were positively correlated in on a maintenance diet (r=0.920, P0.05 and r=0.50, P>0.05). Response-relationship between faecal and plasma progesterone concentration profiles was non-linear (R-square=0.25, P>0.05) for ewes on an above maintenance diet and linear for a below maintenance diet and a maintenance diet (R-square=0.46, P<0.05 and R-square=0.84, P<0.05). Faecal progesterone can be used as an alternative method of monitoring the ovarian activity in ruminant animals on a maintenance level of feeding

Fattening mature indigenous (Matabele) goats: effects on animal performance, body and carcass composition

Complete cereal-based diets, containing either 50, 33, 22, or 10 veld hay (9. 7, 10.3, 11.6, and 12.1 MJ ME/kg DM, respectively) were fed to 40 wethers, to achieve a target body mass gain of 10 kg by 230 days. Ten animals were slaughtered at the start of the experiment to determine initial carcass mass and the body and carcass composition. for animals which attained the target, slaughter mass growth rate and feed intake were similar between diets. Animals fed the 22 per cent hay diet outperformed the others in terms of mean body mass gain feed conversion ratio. Means of performance traits had high coefficients of variation and it is suggested that the heterogeneity of the sample population may have masked treatment effects.Compared to the preliminary slaughter group, carcass mass and yield was significantly (P<0.05) increased by feeding as was fat deposition in both visceral and carcass depots. The quantity of fat deposited appeared to be positively related to dietary energy concentration