Effects of browse legume species addition on nutritional composition, fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of Opuntia cladodes silage.

Forage legumes are commonly used as an absorbent additive in high-moisture silages. Thus this study was carried out to assess the nutritive value, fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of Opuntia–legume browse mixed silages. Five browse legume species (Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia mellifera, Searsia lancea, Prosopis velutina, and Grewia flava) were mixed with Opuntia cladodes. The silage mixture was formulated at a ratio of 60 Opuntia cladodes: 40 leguminous browse species and ensiled in polythene bags and kept in a laboratory for 42 days to determine chemical composition and fermentation characteristics. Silage samples were also subjected to an aerobic stability test. One-way analysis of variance in a completely randomised design was used to analyse the data. The pH values for silages made from Opuntia cladodes with L. leucocephala, A. mellifera and G. flava were lower than 4.8, which is considered an indicator of good-quality silage. The water-soluble carbohydrates content of silages made with Opuntia cladodes and S. lancea and G. flava was within the range of 8–12 g/kg dry matter, which is sufficient for good fermentation. The highest CO2 production, which signifies poor aerobic stability, was recorded for the control silage (Opuntia) compared to all Opuntia–legume mixed silage treatments. The addition of legume browse leaf-meal to Opuntia cladodes improved nutritive value, fermentation characteristics, and silage quality. Therefore, despite some limitations, Opuntia–legume browse silages, particularly Opuntia–G. flava and Opuntia–L. leucocephala, proved to be beneficial for livestock, as they meet the nutritional requirement of a ruminant.Significance:This study underlines the importance of co-ensiling Opuntia cladodes and high protein legume browse hay to offer an alternative feeding strategy for ruminant livestock and ensure sustainable provision of high-quality feed during dry periods

Dry season feeding strategies and winter forage production by communal area sheep farmers of the Eastern Cape province in South Africa

AbstractThe potential of using winter forages as a cheap, high-quality winter supplement has been investigated at an experimental level with positive results. There is no information on the extent, practices, and challenges of winter forage production by communal farmers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In this study, we assess farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of winter forage production and the challenges that come with it, as well as the perceived benefits of communal sheep production. A total of 32 sheep farmers involved in winter forage cultivation were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in Swartwater village. Descriptive statistics were generated using SPSS 20 and categorical variables were evaluated using frequencies. Lambing was reported to be prevalent in June (36%), and poor nutrition was believed to be responsible for the high lamb mortality (42%). All respondents were supplementing mainly with maize grain (26%) and planted forages (26%). Oats (52%), radish (18%), and barley (14%) were the most planted forage species. Improved wool quality (22%) and ewe body condition (21%) were some of the benefits associated with winter forage production. For a wider adoption of forage production, the reported challenges of moisture stress (57%) and poor government support (19%) need to be addressed, and furthermore, farmer training and information sharing would speed up the process. In order to promote winter forage cultivation and integrate it into communal area farming systems, we propose further studies on proper planting guidelines to generate information to support context—specific production strategies

A comparative analysis of the morphology and nutritive value of five South African native grass species grown under controlled conditions

The comparative growth habits and nutritive value of native grass species of South Africa are largely unknown despite the utility of this information in rangeland restoration efforts. This article presents a comparative characterisation of the morphology, chemical composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation of Urochloamosambicensis, Cymbopogon pospischilii, Eragrostis superba, Fingerhuthia africana and Eragrostis bicolor when grown under controlled conditions. Species were analysed for height, number of leaves, number of tillers, stem diameter and leaf width at different growth stages, whereas chemical composition and in vitro ruminal dry matter degradability (DMD) were assessed at maturity stage. Grass species and growth stages significantly influenced morphological characteristics. Eragrostis superba and U. mosambicensis had the highest number of leaves at thereproductive stage. Urochloa mosambicensis ranked highest in terms of rangeland restoration potential when all morphological parameters were considered, followed by E. superba and C. pospischilii. With the highest crude protein, low acid-detergent lignin and higher DMD at 48 h, F. africana and C. pospischilii have the highest potential feed value. Across the three most suitable native grass species, U. mosambicensis, E. superba and C. pospischilii, there is sufficient genetic diversity that suggests that these plants may play different and complementary ecological roles in the communal rangeland ecosystem.Keywords: communal areas, ecological niche, morphology, restoration, semi-ari

Effects of browse legume species addition on nutritional composition, fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of Opuntia cladodes silage

Forage legumes are commonly used as an absorbent additive in high-moisture silages. Thus this study was carried out to assess the nutritive value, fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability of Opuntia–legume browse mixed silages. Five browse legume species (Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia mellifera, Searsia lancea, Prosopis velutina, and Grewia flava) were mixed with Opuntia cladodes. The silage mixture was formulated at a ratio of 60 Opuntia cladodes: 40 leguminous browse species and ensiled in polythene bags and kept in a laboratory for 42 days to determine chemical composition and fermentation characteristics. Silage samples were also subjected to an aerobic stability test. One-way analysis of variance in a completely randomised design was used to analyse the data. The pH values for silages made from Opuntia cladodes with L. leucocephala, A. mellifera and G. flava were lower than 4.8, which is considered an indicator of good-quality silage. The water-soluble carbohydrates content of silages made with Opuntia cladodes and S. lancea and G. flava was within the range of 8–12 g/kg dry matter, which is sufficient for good fermentation. The highest CO2 production, which signifies poor aerobic stability, was recorded for the control silage (Opuntia) compared to all Opuntia–legume mixed silage treatments. The addition of legume browse leaf-meal to Opuntia cladodes improved nutritive value, fermentation characteristics, and silage quality. Therefore, despite some limitations, Opuntia–legume browse silages, particularly Opuntia–G. flava and Opuntia–L. leucocephala, proved to be beneficial for livestock, as they meet the nutritional requirement of a ruminant. Significance:This study underlines the importance of co-ensiling Opuntia cladodes and high protein legume browse hay to offer an alternative feeding strategy for ruminant livestock and ensure sustainable provision of high-quality feed during dry periods