The influence of rest period during the growing season on the potential of four perennial tropical grass species as foggage

Abstract

The foggage acceptability of Digitaria eriantha Steud., Anthephora pubescens, Panicum maximum (cultivar Green panic) and Cenchrus ciliaris(cultivar Gayndah), subjected to three different treatments during the growing season, were evaluated during three seasons (1987/1988, 1988/1989 and 1989/1990). Treatments comprised of a full season rest (FSR), closing at the end of December (CED) and closing at the end of January (CEJ). Each treatment was grazed annually as foggage by 12 ten-month-old Afrikaner weaners. The number of animals on any specific treatment was determined daily. Dry matter production was determined when grazing started and at the end of the grazing period. Furthermore, the leaf to stem ratio was determined at the start of the grazing period for the first two trial seasons. The physical foggage height was also determined before grazing started and after termination. An exclusion cage (1m × 1m) was placed in each plot at the beginning of the grazing period. The material from exclusion cages was clipped at the end of the grazing period according to the grazing pattern of the adjacent area of the plot. These clippings were analyzed for crude protein, in vitro dry maller digestibility and acid detergent fibre content. The in vitro dry matter digestibility values were relatively normal. The average crude protein value for all the species in the CEJ treatment was 7.47% compared to 5.85% and 5.83% for the CED and FSR treatments respectively. Furthermore, the CEJ treatment had the lowest fibre content. In practice the clipping (or grazing) of tropical grass species at the end of January and resting till winter is indicated. If the environment allows any choice of species. Anthephora pubescens is indicated.

Keywords: foggage; palatility; production; quality; tropical grass species

African Journal of Range and Forage Science 16(1): 19–25