Abstract
Forages from grazing lands comprise conventional feed resources for ruminants in the tropical region. A study was conducted to assess fodder productivity and nutritive potential of deferred forages of six silvopastoral traditional fodder banks in central northwest Tanzania, traditionally known as Ngitiri. The grazing lands were dominated by low quality increaser grass species: Eragrostis spp., Aristida spp., Urochloa spp., Rottboellia exaltata, Cenchrus spp., Cynodon spp. and Chloris spp., and forbs species. The grazing lands had low vegetative basal cover that varied (p<0.05) from 34.7 to 75%, and low forage biomass productivity that varied (p<0.05) from 0.76 to 3.69 tones (t) dry matter (DM)/ha. The forages contained low crude protein (CP) that varied (p<0.05) from 16 to 27 g/kg DM; and had high fibre contents, which varied (p<0.05) from 702-725, 497-573 and 119-225 g/kg DM for neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL), respectively. The forages were poorly degraded in sacco, and showed low DM degradability (DMD) characteristics of 74, 473 and 576 g/kg DM for DM washing losses (a), slowly degradable feed fraction (b) and potential degradability, (a+b), respectively; and low DMD at 48 h incubation, which varied from 317-345 g/kg DM, and contained low metabolizable energy (ME), (4.2-4.36 MJ/kg DM). The herbage forages would not meet protein and energy requirements for maintenance and production, which could be reflected through low animal productivity. Further work is needed to assess animal productivity (growth, milk, draft force) from conserved forages in traditional fodder banks in the dry season.
Highlights
Livestock production in the tropics depends entirely on rangeland forages whose quality and productivity varies tremendously, with wet or rainy season being characterized by high abundance of herbage as compared to scarce feeds during dry seasons
Multipurpose tree species (MPT) including Leucaena spp., Gliricidia spp., Sesbabia spp., Acacia spp., Dichrostachys spp., have been integrated in natural woodlots, rangelands and crop fallows by HASHI/ICRAF environmental conservation and afforestation programs to cater for fodder, fuel wood, restoration of soil fertility and environmental conservation goals
MATERIALS AND METHODS Study area and climate This study was conducted in Meatu district (3°-4° S; 34°-35° E) south of Lake Victoria in central northwest Tanzania (1,000-1,500 m above sea level) in the dry season between June and September 1997
Summary
Livestock production in the tropics depends entirely on rangeland forages whose quality and productivity varies tremendously, with wet or rainy season being characterized by high abundance of herbage as compared to scarce feeds during dry seasons. In most tropical regions including Tanzania, ruminant production is most critically limited by fodder shortages in the dry season. Forages from rangelands mostly do not meet adequate feeding and nutrition necessitating minimal exogenous protein and energy supplementation with crop residues, or browse legumes by either direct browsing in the field, or by cut and carry systems to supplement the animals in kraal (Rubanza, 1999). Multipurpose tree species (MPT) including Leucaena spp., Gliricidia spp., Sesbabia spp., Acacia spp., Dichrostachys spp., have been integrated in natural woodlots, rangelands and crop fallows by HASHI/ICRAF environmental conservation and afforestation programs to cater for fodder, fuel wood, restoration of soil fertility and environmental conservation goals
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