Napier Grass Ensiled With Broiler Poultry Waste as a Feed for Dairy Cows

Abstract

Napier Brass (Pennisetum purpureum) remams the most Imponant fodder crop for small and medium scale dairy farmers in Kenya to-day (Karanja, 1981; Potter and Anindo, 1984 and Maiisu. 1985). Anindo and Potter (1986) reported a milk production level of 10.5 kg per day from dairy cowsted on Napier grass alone. The production increased to 15 kg per day following supplementation with concentrate. These yield levels are quite encouraging considering that they are at least twice the level reported by Stotz (1983) as the national average for Kenya. However, it would be difficult to achieve sustainable high milk yields because of seasonality on grass production and high costs of concentrates. Besides, the nutritive value of napier grass tends to decline rather deeply at advanced stages of maturity (french. 1941 and Mashau and Bredon. 1%3). Consequently, conservation of the grass as silage would offer a sound basis for a year-round feeding programme.