N Karbo
Animal Research Institute, CSIR, P.O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale, Ghana
B Bruce
Animal Research Institute, CSIR, P.O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale, Ghana
AL Nyamekye
Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, CSIR, P.O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Tamale, Ghana
FK Fianu
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
Abstract
Efficient management of pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan var. Katinga, as a resource in crop/livestock integration in northern Ghana was studied. Pigeon pea plots with row lengths averaging 11 m and a planting geometry of 80 cm W 50 cm, were either pruned at 60 or 100 cm above ground level or not pruned. Pruning was done at 11 or 16 weeks after planting. Early pruning at a height of 60 cm above ground gave significantly higher (P<0.05) seed, pod, and husk yields. Feeding experiments were conducted to compare pigeon pea hay to urea treated rice straw as supplementary feed for Djallonke castrates. Diet 1 (Cajanus-N) consisted of pigeon pea hay, cassava peels, and untreated straw while Diet 2 (Urea-N) consisted of 4 per cent urea-treated straw and cassava peels. Total daily supplementary feed dry matter (DM) intake was 365 and 300 g/head for Diet 1 and Diet 2, respectively. DM digestibility was similar in both groups of animals (67.1 - 67.8 per cent). Weight gain was the same for both treatments but Cajanus-N enhanced lean tissue deposition.
Ghana Jnl.agric. Sci Vol.31(2), 1998: 161-168