Relationship between time spent grazing, quantity and availability of herbage consumed by grazing animals on kikuyu and Coastcross II.

Abstract

There is a need for determination of supporting data in grazing trials in order to improve the reliability of conclusions which can be drawn. Variables selected by the researcher must depend on the objectives of the research and on the resources available. In this study time spent grazing (TSG), intake and the availability of herbage were measured during short grazing periods on kikuyu and Coastcross pastures. In each case there was a decrease in intake and TSG with decreasing herbage availability. The relationship between intake and availability (or disc height) was similar for both grasses in spite of the fact the Coastcross herbage was of considerably lower quality. However, TSG was higher on Coastcross. In order to achieve the same overall intake pattern, the rate of intake was thus higher on the Kikuyu pasture. It seems that the variables determined were useful in explaining the different animal responses observed on the two pastures.

Keywords: coastcross ii; grasses; grazing; herbage availability; intake; kikuyu; kikuyu pasture; natal; pastures; south africa; ukulinga research station