Abstract
Two perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) varieties and 5 festulolium hybrids (L. perenne × Festuca spp.) were evaluated on-farm for their performance over one growing season on clay loam soils at Ol-joro-Orok in the central highlands of Kenya at about 2,600‒2,800 masl. Seed was sown in May 2015 and fertilizer (90 kg N + 90 kg P/ha) was applied at planting. The study continued for 8 months with harvests after 113, 99 and 32 days (3 growth cycles). Growth attributes assessed included dry matter yield (DMY) and plant height, while forage nutritive value was measured in terms of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations. At the end of the first growth cycle, 61 local dairy farmers rated the grasses on criteria they nominated as being important, including DMY, growth rate, height, frost tolerance, disease tolerance and leafiness. Total herbage yields for the whole study period (8 months) ranged from 14.6 to 18.0 t DM/ha for perennial ryegrass and 14.3 to 20.9 t DM/ha for festulolium with very poor growth in the third growth cycle. All perennial ryegrass and festulolium lines contained similar (P>0.05) concentrations of CP (163–190 g/kg DM), ADF (264–281 g/kg DM) and NDF (448–493 g/kg DM). For perennial ryegrass, farmers gave a minimum weighted score of 6.7 and for festulolium, 7.9. Based on herbage production, forage nutritive value and farmers’ assessments, we conclude that all perennial ryegrass and festulolium lines tested have the potential to contribute to improving the forage resource base in this and other similar areas, especially for farmers whose land sizes allow grazing instead of stall-based feeding only. Further studies with N applications after each harvest would determine whether yields can be maintained at high levels for longer than in this study, while grazing and feeding studies would determine how well the pastures support weight gains and milk yields. Studies over a number of years are needed to assess how persistent these varieties/hybrids are in this and other environments.
Highlights
In recent times, the dairy industry in Kenya has been growing because of improving milk markets coupled with increasing per capita milk consumption (Auma et al 2017)
Dairy is concentrated in the wet highlands and is practiced by smallholder farmers who keep either improved and/or crosses of Friesian or Ayrshire cattle (Muia et al 2011)
Due to decreasing land holdings because of land subdivision over generations, available grazing land has been reduced, leading to dairy intensification, where cattle are kept in confinement under cut-and-carry systems of feeding
Summary
The dairy industry in Kenya has been growing because of improving milk markets coupled with increasing per capita milk consumption (Auma et al 2017). Dairy is concentrated in the wet highlands and is practiced by smallholder farmers who keep either improved and/or crosses of Friesian or Ayrshire cattle (Muia et al 2011). Due to decreasing land holdings because of land subdivision over generations, available grazing land has been reduced, leading to dairy intensification, where cattle are kept in confinement under cut-and-carry systems of feeding. Inadequate fodder in terms of both quantity and quality, especially during the dry season (Lukuyu et al 2011; Njarui et al 2012), leads to low milk yields that fall in the range 1,300–4,575 kg/lactation (Omore et al 1999; Mugambi et al 2015). Forages adapted to temperate environments could possibly be preferable under such conditions
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