Groundnut Hay Research Articles

Napier or groundnut hay as supplements in diets of sheep consuming poor quality natural pasture-hay 2. Effect on intake and rumen digesta kinetics

Three experiments, each of a 5 × 5 Latin square design, were carried out using sheep to assess the effect of supplementing poor quality natural pasture (veld) hay with graded levels of napier or groundnut hay on feed intake, rumen fermentation, digesta pool size and passage rate. In experiment 1, napier hay was fed at 0 g day −1 , 100 g day −1 , 200 g day −1 , 300 g day −1 or ad libitum. In experiment 2 the same levels of feeding were used with groundnut hay, while in experiment 3, napier and groundnut hay were each fed at 0 g day −1 , 150 g day −1 or 300 g day −1 to enable a direct comparison of the two supplemental forages. All the forages used were chopped to a particle size of about 1 cm prior to feeding. The veld hay was supplemented with 1% urea and was always offered ad libitum. The forage supplements were fed separately. In all the experiments, the forage supplements increased total feed intake, digestibility and concentration of ammonia and volatile fatty acids in the rumen. Incubation of veld hay in the rumen of sheep given napier and groundnut hay as supplements or as sole feeds, showed no effect on degradation pattern including rate of degradation. Rumen digesta pool size was not altered, but fractional outflow rate was increased by supplementation. The increase in feed intake was therefore largely facilitated by an increase in digesta passage rate.

Napier or groundnut hay as supplements in diets of sheep consuming poor quality natural pasture hay 1. Effect on intake and digestibility

Abstract Three experiments, each of a 5 × 5 Latin square design, were carried out using sheep to assess the effect of supplementing poor quality natural pasture (veld) hay with graded levels of napier or groundnut hay on intake and digestibility. In Expt 1, napier hay was fed at 0, 100, 200, 300 g/day or ad libitum. In Expt 2 the same levels of feeding were used with groundnut hay, while in Expt 3 napier and groundnut hay were each fed at 0, 150 or 300 g/day to enable a direct comparison of the two supplemental forages. All the forages used were chopped to a particle size of about 1 cm prior to feeding. The veld hay was supplemented with 1 percent urea and was always offered ad libitum. The forage supplements were fed separately. In all the experiments, the forage supplements increased total feed intake (P

Use of an in vitro gas production method to investigate interactions between veld hay and Napier hay or groundnut hay supplements

Measurement of gas produced during in vitro fermentation was used to investigate the fermentability of poor quality natural pasture (veld) hay mixed with different amounts of Napier hay or groundnut hay. In vitro fermentations were conducted in nitrogen-rich (NR) and nitrogen-free (NF) media. Groundnut hay was more rapidly fermented than Napier hay, the nitrogen content of the medium making little difference to the fermentation characteristics of either hay. Veld hay was the least fermentable substrate, particularly when NF medium was used. Statistically significant positive interactive effects were observed between both supplements and veld hay fermented in both media as gauged by gas production and dry matter disappearance. Evidence of significant interactions had not been obtained from earlier measurements of in vivo digestibility using the same feeds, but they may have been obscured by increased rates of passage with increased supplementation. Differences between gas productions in NR and NF media were explored as possible indicators of nitrogen deficiency in feed mixtures. Both Napier hay and groundnut hay appeared to be balanced in terms of energy and nitrogen fermentable by rumen microbes.

The influence of plane of nutrition on the effects of infection with Trypanosoma congolense in trypanotolerant cattle

Thirty-two N'Dama heifers were offered ad libitum Andropogon hay plus 10·2 g/kg liveweight (LW) groundnut hay (GNH) (L) or 10·2 g/kg LW GNH and 3·9 g/kg LW groundnut cake (GNC) (H). After 4 weeks on the diets, half of each group were infected intradermally with Trypanosoma congolense clone (ITC 50) (LI and HI). Peak parasitaemia occurred 6–8 days after infection and started to decrease c. 56 days later. No differences in parasitaemia were observed between LI and HI animals. Packed cell volume (PCV) fell in all treatments (by 5·4, 13·8, 3·7 and 9·4 units after 49–63 days post-infection (p.i.) for the L, LI, H and HI groups respectively) and significant effects of infection and diet were observed. GNH and GNC intakes were maintained during the trial; however, infected animals had a decreased intake of Andropogon hay. LI animals lost significantly more weight during the experimental period than the non-infected controls (−71·4 v. −13·7 g/day). Meanwhile, HI animals gained less weight compared with the H group (52·2 v. 167·6 g/day). Weight losses appeared to be due to decreased food intake. In the period 54–68 days p.i., plasma concentrations of albumin were lower and plasma protein was higher in infected animals. Plasma cholesterol concentrations were also lower in infected animals 54–68 days p.i. Plasma urea concentrations were higher in supplemented animals but were not affected by infection. The results showed that animals on a higher plane of nutrition showed less severe clinical signs of infection. However, for all the parameters considered, the magnitude of the difference between groups on different diets was similar for both infected and control animals, suggesting that mechanisms of resistance were not affected by the planes of nutrition considered.

Potential of crop residues and agricultural by-products for feeding sheep in a Gambian village

The quantity and potential use of crop residues and agricultural by-products for feeding sheep were determined in a Gambian village. The crop residues present were millet and maize stover, rice straw and groundnut hay. The yield of crop residues was estimated by sampling quadrats which were randomly placed along transects in ten fields per crop. Agricultural by-products included millet bran, maize bran, rice bran, sesame cake and groundnut cake. Yields of agricultural by-products were determined by estimating the amount of crop which was processed in the village and directly measuring extraction rate. The nutritive value of crop residues and by-products was determined by the detergent systems of forage analysis. Most of the cereal crop residues were grazed in the field. Groundnut crop residue was harvested and stored for feeding livestock but only 47% of this hay was collected. Groundnut leaves contained high concentrations of crude protein and metabolizable energy, and the groundnut stems were higher in crude protein than all fractions of the cereal crop residues. Stored groundnut hay was of lower nutritive value than immediately after harvest, since substantial loss of nutrients occurred during harvest and storage. Millet bran was the most abundant by-product available in the village, and was higher in crude protein and metabolizable energy and lower in neutral-detergent fibre than either maize and rice bran. Rice bran had a low nutritive value because of contamination with hulls that contain high amounts of lignin and biogenic silica and are not removed before milling. The high content of ether extract in groundnut and sesame cakes indicated that the oil press used in the village was inefficient. Only 10% of the groundnut cake was available in the village because most of the groundnuts were sold to the government marketing board. The results indicated that the village has adequate quantities of crop residues and by-products to meet the feed requirements of improved sheep production systems. However, many production constraints exist and research and extension programmes for improved sheep production are needed. Simple diets for sheep based on available feed resources are presented.

Effect of Feeding Napier or Groundnut Hay as Supplements to Sheep Consuming Poor Quality Natural Pasture (Veld) Hay.

In the tropics, forage available to livestock for much of the year is of poor quality. With low nitrogen and high fibre content which limit their digestion and intake resulting in low productivity. In these studies sheep offered poor quality veld hay were given napier hay or groundnut hay as supplements.EXPT 1. Five diets, veld hay (plus 1 % urea) alone (Control), or supplemented with 150 g or 300 g Napier or Groundnut hay (150Nap, 300Nap, 150Gnut & 300Gnut) were given to five mature rumen cannulated Dorper x Merino male sheep (about 65 kg live weight) for three week periods as a 5 x 5 latin square. All forages were chopped (about 1 cm). Veld hay was offered ad libitum, with supplements fed separately at 08.00h. At the end of each period, feed intake, digestibility, nitrogen retention, rumen ammonia and in sacco degradability of veld hay were measured.

The effect of plane of nutrition on the response by Trypanotolerant cattle to infection with Trypanosomiasis

Tse-Tse flies inhabit over 11 million km2 of Africa and are vectors of trypanosomes which cause trypanosomiasis in domestic livestock. The disease has a negative effect on productivity and is fatal in non tolerant breeds. The effect of nutrition on response to the disease was studied.Thirty two N'Dama heifers (initial mean liveweight 113 + 17.0) were offered ad libitum andropogon hay plus 10.2 g/kg LW groundnut hay (GNH) (L) or GNH and 3.9 g/kg LW groundnut cake (GNC) (H). After 4 weeks on diet, half of each group were inoculated intradermally with trypanosomes (T. Congolense) (LI and HI). Intake was measured daily and liveweights weekly, while thrice weekly blood samples were examined for parasitaemia and packed cell volume (PCV).

Effect of feeding groundnut hay as supplement to a basal diet of sorghum stover on intake and growth rate of zebu cattle

The most important crop residues in Northern Nigeria are sorghum, millet, groundnut and cowpea straws. The cereal straws especially sorghum is the most important for cattle feeding during the dry season when grass and fodder is limiting, but cereal straw has a poor nutritive value due to low nitrogen and extensive lignification. The use of chemical methods (acids, alkalis or urea) to improve the nutritive value of crop residues has not found acceptance among pastoralists. These chemicals are expensive and not readily available. The leguminous straws of groundnut and cowpea have a higher nitrogen content. Their use as supplements to improve the feeding value of cereal straws is a cheaper and more practical approach. jThis experiment examine the potential of groundnut hay as a supplement to cattle fed basal diet of sorghum stover in Northern Nigeria.

Effects of poor pasture conditions and type of feeding on some biochemical values of gobra zebu in Senegal

Blood samples were obtained from 70 healthy gobra zebu from three different farms each one with a different feed (natural pasture, concentrates and groundnut hay) to exhibit the influence of type of feeding. To evaluate effect of poor pasture conditions, animals in an extensive system on natural pasture were sampled twice with a monthly interval in the late dry season. Blood samples were analysed for calcium, inorganic phosphate, total protein, glucose, urea, creatinine and haematocrit. Poor pasture conditions caused a decrease of plasma components such as haematocrit, total protein, inorganic phosphate, glucose and urea. The impact of type of feeding by comparing values from animals grazed on natural pasture with those from animals which received concentrates showed significantly higher values of total protein, urea and inorganic phosphate for animals fed with concentrates. Comparison between animals grazed on natural pasture and those which received groundnut hay indicate a significantly higher value of total protein and urea for animals fed with groundnut hay.

Effects of source and level of protein on milk yield and reproductive performance of high-producing primiparous and multiparous dairy cows

ABSTRACTNinety primiparous and 150 multiparous Israeli-Holstein dairy cows were allotted at random into three groups. One group (LSBM) was given 170 g crude protein (CP) per kg dry matter (DM). The two other groups were given 210 g CP per kg DM with the extra 40 g CP per kg DM supplied either by soya-bean meal (HSBM) or by fish meal (HFM). Roughage supplied proportionately 0·20 of the dietary DM and was maize silage with groundnut hay in the winter and wheat silage with oat grass in the summer. The primiparous and multiparous cows were offered the experimental diets for 16 and 24 weeks, respectively.Milk, milk fat and milk protein production (kg/day), for treatments LSBM, HSBM and HFM, were: 39·3, 40·0, 40·8 (P > 0·05); 1·12, 118, 1·06 (P < 0·05) and 1·21, 1·23, 1·26 (P > 0·05) for multiparous cows and 29·4, 31·2, 33·4 (P < 0·05); 0·89, 1·07, 0·93 (P < 0·01) and 0·92, 0·98, 1·05 (P < 0·05) for primiparous cows, respectively. Cows of high yield potential responded more to increasing dietary protein level than did cows of low yield potential. Average live-weight gains on treatments LSBM, HSBM and HFM were (g/day): 220, 160 and 310 (P < 0·05) in multiparous cows and 220, 170 and 230 (P < 0·05) i n primiparous cows, respectively. Pregnancy rates, 16 weeks after parturition, were 0·65, 0·52 and 0·72 (P < 0·05), in the LSBM, HSBM and HFM groups, respectively. The decrease in pregnancy rate in the HSBM cows, occurred in primiparous cows and cows in their fourth or later lactation but not in cows in their second or third lactation. The milk production of primiparous and multiparous cows in relation to the level and source of dietary CP and the utilization of energy and protein for milk production is discussed.