The utilization of Pennisetum purpureum (Napier grass var Bana) based diets and the lactation performance of dairy cows in coastal lowland Kenya was studied in a series of five experiments. In experiments 1 and 2, the effects of 300g/day additional crude protein from locally available fishmeal, copra cake and Leucaena were compared using Jersey cows fed ad libitum Napier grass. Experiment 1 carried out in early lactation, showed that supplements (fishmeal or copra cake) could increase dry matter DM intake, reduce live-weight loss and increase (P< 0.05) milk output (7.8 v 6.4kg/day) with no differences between the supplements. Experiment 2 was carried out in mid lactation. Cows fed supplements (a mixture of copra cake/maize bran or Leucaena) consumed more (P< 0.01) DM with no effect on Napier grass intake and produced more (P< 0.05) milk no difference between supplements. No significant changes in live weight were observed. Ayrshire/Brown Swiss x Sahiwal cattle were used in experiments 3 to 5. In experiment 3, the effects of Napier grassharvesting height (1.0 v 1.5m) and level of Leucaena (0,4 and 8kgFW) were evaluated in early lactation. Feeding Napier grass harvested at 1.0m compared with 1.5m increased (P&60 0.01) Napier grass intake (9.3 v 6.8kg/day), reduced live-weight losses (0.16 v 0.49kg/day) and increased milk yield (8.6 v 6.9kg/day). Feeding Leucaena (0, 4 and 8kgFW; DM280g/kg) significantly (P< 0.01) increased total DM intake (7.8, 9.3 and 10.4kg/day), reduced live-weight loss (0.53, 0.23 and 0.17kg/day) and increased milk yield (7.3, 7.7 and 8.3kg/day).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:336187 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Creators | Muinga, Rahab W. |
| Publisher | University of Aberdeen |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk/R?func=search-advanced-go&find_code1=WSN&request1=AAIU547034 |
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