No description available.

Rangeland resources play a significant role in household production and sustainability of livelihoods among pastoral communities in Kenya. Although wildlife is one of the rangeland resources, it is viewed by pastoralists as a competitor with livestock for grazing resources rather than an economic resource. It is assumed that competition between wild herbivores and cattle may have an impact on the forage biomass in rangelands as well as on livestock production. It is from this view point of competition between wildlife and livestock for forage resources, that this study assessed effects of forage utilization by wildlife on cattle diet, plant community composition, forage biomass and level of forage utilization in semi-arid lands in Kenya. The following hypotheses were tested: there is a decline in proportion of dominant grasses due to wildlife grazing; there is a decline in forage biomass due to grazing by wildlife and there are changes in the diet of cattle (Bos indicus Lichtenstein) due to grazing by wild herbivores. Grazing experiments were conducted at the Kenya Long-term Exclosure Experiment (KLEE) on Mpala Ranch, Laikipia District, Kenya. A number of techniques were used during data collection: line transects and 1m2 quadrats to assess plant species composition, richness and diversity. Forage biomass and increment in forage weight in grazed and ungrazed exclosures were determined by use of a disc pasture meter, whereas plant species consumed by cattle and wild herbivores were assessed by observation during feeding. The dietary forage composition of herbivores was done by micro-histological analysis of faecal samples of cattle, zebra, oryx, hartebeest and Grant’s gazelle. The results indicate that there was a high (>21 %) proportion of the tall coarse grasses (Pennisetum stramineum and P. mezianum) in the exclosures grazed by cattle with wildlife in wet and dry seasons, whereas 21 % in the exclosures grazed by wild herbivores. The proportions of Themeda triandra in the exclosures grazed by cattle with wildlife in the dry season was 18 %, whereas it was more than 25 % in the exclosures grazed by cattle with wildlife in the wet season. The results also indicate that there were very highly significant (p<0.0032 and p<0.0015) differences in percentage composition of dominant and less dominant grasses between the grazed and ungrazed exclosures during the dry seasons, whereas a significant (p<0.05) difference and a highly significant (p<0.01) difference in percentage composition between the grazed and ungrazed exclosures during the wet seasons. 5 – 6 % of the total herbaceous forage biomass (0.7 % dry matter intake) was consumed in the exclosures grazed by wildlife, whereas 13 – 17 % (2.8 % dry matter intake) was consumed in the exclosures grazed by cattle. There was a large decrease of forage biomass in the pasture grazed by cattle. However, there was no significant (p<0.133) difference in forage biomass in exclosures grazed by large wildlife or grazed by elephants (mega-wildlife). There was less than 12 % utilization of dominant grass species in the exclosures grazed by wildlife, whereas over 40 % utilization of dominant grass species in the exclosures grazed by cattle. The results indicate that there is no evidence that grazing by wild herbivores decreases forage biomass in the pasture. Wildlife, therefore, should not be hunted out on communal grazing lands because it has no significant impact on the available forage biomass for livestocks. Nonetheless, stocking rates of livestock should be consistent with forage production so that wildlife conservation is integrated in pastoral production systems.

The aim of the first study was to determine if barley could replace maize as an energy source in concentrates fed to dairy cows grazing on kikuyu/ryegrass pasture without affecting the milk production, milk composition, or cause metabolic disorders. Sixty Jersey cows, in early to mid lactation were randomly allocated to one of five treatments (n = 12) based on feeding concentrates with different ratios of maize to barley, ranging from 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100, respectively. Concentrates contained 12 MJ ME kg -1 and 130g CP kg-1 DM and cows were fed 3 kg (as-is) concentrate after each milking for a period of 42 days (14-day adaptation and 28-day measurement). Cows strip-grazed the irrigated kikuyu/ryegrass pastures (15.7 ± 1.8 percent DM; 20.2 ± 4.3 percent CP; 44.7 ± 3.5 percent NDF). Milk weights were recorded daily and milk samples collected weekly and analyzed for milk fat and protein content. Body condition score and live weight were recorded at the start and end of the experimental period. Data of all the studies were subjected to a one-way ANOVA. Daily milk yield, FCM, MUN, milk fat yield, milk fat percent, protein yield, protein percent, live weight change, or body condition score change were not affected by treatment and values were 15.8 kg, 17.2 kg, 14.9 mg dl-1, 0.72 kg, 4.56 percent, 0.59 kg, 3.77 percent, 6.67 kg, and 0.15 BCS; 15.6 kg, 17.4 kg, 15.2 mg dl-1, 0.73 kg, 4.3 percent, 0.57 kg, 3.71 percent, 1.33 kg and 0.04 BCS; 17.2 kg, 17.9 kg, 15.2 mg dl-1, 0.74 kg, 4.36 percent, 0.63 kg, 3.71 percent, 0.33 kg and 0.08 BCS; 15.6 kg, 16.4 kg, 15.5 mg dl-1, 0.67 kg, 4.33 percent, 0.60 kg, 3.83 percent, -1.46 kg and 0.11 BCS; and 15.0 kg, 16.0 kg, 15.5 mg dl-1, 0.67 kg, 4.57 percent, 0.57 kg, 3.85 percent, 8.86 kg, and 0.05 BCS, respectively for the cows fed 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 maize to barley ratio concentrate. According to these results, barley can replace maize without significantly affecting the milk production or milk composition. None of the cows presented any visible symptoms of acidosis. As it was clear from the results in the first study that maize could replace barley the aim of study 2A was therefore focused on determining the effect of feeding different levels of such a barley-based (2.4, 4.8 or 7.2 kg cow-1day-1) concentrate, on milk production, milk composition and live weight change of Jersey cows on kikuyu/ryegrass pasture (23.1 ± 2.95 percent DM, 11.1 ± 0.11 percent CP, 60.8 ± 0.58 percent NDF). Forty-five Jersey cows (early- to mid lactation), were randomly allocated to one of three treatments (n = 15) involving different levels of concentrate (12 MJ ME and 130g CP kg-1 DM) feeding for a period of 42 days (14-day adaptation and 28-day measurement). Milk weights were also recorded daily, and milk samples collected weekly, and analyzed for milk fat and protein. Body condition score and live weight were recorded at the start and end of the experimental period. The results of this study indicated that increasing the concentrate level from 2.4 to 4.8 and 7.2kg cow-1day-1 did not increase the milk yield (14.0 kg, 15.2 kg, 14.4 kg; P = 0.19). The FCM production increased from 15.8 to 17.5kg (P = 0.04) as the concentrate level increased from 2.4 to 4.8kg cow-1day-1. Increasing the concentrate from 4.8 to 7.2kg cow-1day-1 did not result in a significant increase in FCM. The milk protein percent increased significantly from 3.4 - 3.6 percent when the concentrate feeding level was increased from 2.4 to 7.2kg cow-1day-1. The MUN levels were 17.09 mg dl-1, 16.03 5 mg dl-1, and 16.36 mg dl-1 for the 2.4, 4.8 and 7.2kg cow-1day-1 concentrate levels, respectively. This is well within the recommended MUN levels (12 – 18 mg dl-1) indicating that sufficient protein was fed to cows. Increasing the concentrate level from 4.8 to 7.2 kg cow-1day-1 did not increase production, probably due to a higher pasture substitution rate. Supplementing large quantities of rapidly fermentable grains, such as barley, can suppress rumen pH and may have a negative effect on the rate and extent of fibre digestion in the rumen. Therefore the aim of study 2B was not only to determine the effect of feeding different levels of a barley-based concentrate, on milk production, milk composition and live weight change, but was also to determine the effect of a low (4.8 kg cow-1day-1) versus a high (7.2 kg cow-1day-1) level of barley-based concentrate supplementation on ruminal DM and NDF degradability of Westerworld ryegrass sampled from the pastures that these cows were grazing on. Sixty Jersey cows (early- to mid lactation), were randomly allocated to one of three treatments (n = 20) involving different levels of concentrate feeding. Concentrate (12 MJ ME, 130g CP kg-1 DM) was fed at 2.4, 4.8 or 7.2 kg cow-1day-1 for a period of 74 days (14-day adaptation and 60-day measurement). These cows stripgrazed irrigated kikuyu/ryegrass pastures (14.7 ± 4.37 percent DM, 25.1 ± 1.53 percent CP, and 44.4 ± 2.58 percent NDF) at a daily pasture allocation of 10 kg DM cow-1. Milk weights were recorded daily and milk samples collected weekly and analyzed for milk fat and protein. Body condition score and live weight were recorded at the start and end of the experimental period. Twelve Jersey cows, fitted with ruminal cannulae, were randomly allocated to two of the three treatments in the production study and received either 2.4 or 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1, of the same barley-based concentrate, in a two-period crossover design. These cows strip-grazed the same irrigated kikuyu/ryegrass pastures as the sixty cows in the production study. Each period consisted of 21 days for adaptation and seven days for data collection. Rumen liquor samples were collected every 4 hours within a 24-hour cycle and repeated once. Rumen pH was measured immediately, recorded, and the supernatant fluid preserved and frozen, pending VFA analysis. The in situ nylon bag technique was used to determine DM and NDF degradation and dried samples of Westerworld ryegrass pasture were incubated for 0, 4, 8, 12, 20, 30, 48, 72 and 96 hours. The data were fitted in the non-linear model p = a + b (1-exp-ct) (Ørskov & McDonald, 1979). Daily milk production, fat corrected milk, milk fat yield and milk fat percent were not affected by treatment and values were 17.3 kg, 18.4 kg, 0.76 kg and 4.42 percent; 19.0 kg, 20.0 kg, 0.82 kg and 4.35 percent; and 18.1 kg, 19.1 kg, 0.79 kg and 4.37 percent for the 2.4, 4.8 and 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1 concentrate treatments, respectively. Milk protein percentage of cows on the 7.2 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 was significantly higher than that of cows on 4.2 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 feeding level. Live weight increased significantly as the level of concentrate feeding increased and values were 17.9 kg; and 28.9 kg on the 2.4 and 7.2kg concentrate treatment, respectively. There was a significant increase in the live weight of cows that were fed 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1 (as-is) in comparison to those cows that were fed 2.4 kg concentrate cow-1 day-1 (as-is). This may have resulted from more nutrients being partitioned to live weight gain rather than milk production. No further response in milk production was observed when concentrate daily feeding was increased from 4.8 to 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1. It is postulated that the higher concentrate allowance resulted in a higher substitution rate and lower DMI intake from pasture. 6 There was no significant decline in the rumen pH (6.2 ± 0.4 and 6.2 ± 0.5) when the concentrate level was increased from 2.4 to 7.2 kg cow-1 day-1 (as-is). The total VFA (118.1 ± 45.9 and 139.4 ± 45.6 mmol L-1) and isovalerate (0.009 ± 0.07 and 0.248 ± 0.52 mmol L-1) increased significantly when the concentrate was increased from 2.4 to 7.2 kg cow-1day-1. No other rumen parameters were affected by treatment. Ruminal DM and NDF degradability of the Kikuyu/ryegrass pature were not affected by the level of concentrate supplementation. An increase in the concentrate level from 2.4 to 7.2 kg cow-1day-1 did not reduce degradability of either DM (94.67 ± 5.97, 94.49 ± 5.09; P = 0.919) or NDF (92.15 ± 8.69, 94.4 ± 11.73; P = 0.451), respectively. Results of rumen parameters and PD values were within the range reported by Bargo et al., (2003), viz. pH 5.76 – 6.29, NH3-N concentration 8.7 – 32.2 mg dl-1, total VFA concentration 90.3 - 151.4 mmol L-1 and PD values 89.5 – 93.5 % reported by Bargo et al. (2003). According to these authors, there is no simple relationship between any amount of the concentrate supplemented, and the ruminal pH and concentrate feeding only affects the in situ ruminal digestion of pasture when it is fed, at quantities higher than 8 kg DM cow-1day-1 (Bargo et al., 2003).

LD2668 .T4 1940 W52 / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1953 S9 / Master of Science

LD2668 .T4 1966 C58 / Master of Science

No description available.

The objectives of this study in the Nakuru District of the Kenyan Highlands, the major milk sources for the Nairobi milk market, were to evaluate current dairy cattle rearing and feeding practices, and suggest efficient feeding management strategies on large and small-scale commercial dairy farms. 139 small-scale farms with 738 dairy cows were surveyed and 6 large-scale dairy farms with 4379 dairy cattle. On the small farms, high mortality rates, cost of AI, and disease were the major causes of poor reproduction leading to a lack of replacement stock. Feeding systems used were: 24% free grazing system, 33% semi-zero grazing, 40% zero grazing, and 3% rotational grazing, but limited feeds were available – crops and feed crop residues, cut grass on the roadside, neighbouring farms with some purchased hay and straws in the dry season. After weaning, feed supplements were rarely given to calves, priority being given to milking cows, explaining the few replacement stock kept and their high mortality. The six large scale farms were from 200 to 3500 acres with milk production, cereal crops, fodder crops, the scale of replacement dairy stock and hay to other dairy farms the main activities with land allocated 65% to livestock, 20% to cash crops (Barley and Wheat), 10% to fodder crops and 5% to other land-uses. Replacement heifers for sale were insufficient to meet demands from small-scale farms. Grazing systems were mainly extensive with supplements fed at milking.  All the farms depended on planted forage grasses, mainly: Rhodes grass, Star grass, Sudan grass and Kikuyu grass. Calf mortality rate (10-18 %) was high caused mostly by respiratory diseases and East Coast Fever. Extended age at first calving (&gt;31.8 ± 4.5 months), long calving intervals (&gt; 406 days) and low average milk yields (6.81/day ± 3.9) for all breeds, occurred. Production and reproductive performances needs to be addressed by proper nutrition. Suitable pasture grasses, legumes and fodder crops not currently being used have been identified as potential options to complement the existing pasture. Among these are: Guinea grass (panicum maximum), Cynodon dactylon, Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Naivasha star grass (Cynodon plectostachyus) and Rhodesian star grass (Setaria sphacelata). Other studies examining supplementation of animals on low quality pastures with the above feeds resulted in increased body weights and milk yields. The greatest potential seems to be supplementing with home-grown proteinaceous feedstuffs such as Leucaena leucocephala, Calliandra, Sesbania or food crop residues like groundnut, cassava, sweet potato vines or pigeon-pea leaves and stems. Farmers could increase their pasture land productivity by establishing fodder grass, fodder shrubs and food crops as intercropping, hedgerows and along contour bands.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

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