Graduate College of Texas-Msc Thesis-Influence of Browse Allowance on Nutritive Intake of Cattle Grazing In Kenya

Abstract

This study was conducted in a Cormmiphora savannah with two levels of bush canopy cover (68-70% vs. 30-32%) and two levels of herbage (434-499 kg/ha vs. 846-872 kg/ha) in August (dry season) and December (beginning of wet season), respectively, in 1983 on the National Range Research Station, Kiboko, Kenya. Effects of season, available herbage, and bush level on dietary composition, preference, crude protein, digestible organic matter, and intake by cattle were determined. Diets were collected via oesophageally fistulated heifers while intake was estimated by the use of the external markers erbium and ytterbium orally administered daily to steers.