Application of nitrogen and irrigation to pasture to enhance cattle production during the dry seasons in Uganda

Abstract

In both irrigated and non-irrigated pastures the application of nitrogen substantially increased the dry matter yields of the herbage. N increased the crude protein, and moderately decreased the crude fibre composition of the herbage. Grassland irrigation without N fertilization progressively reduced herbage dry matter production and consequently resulted in the lowest animal live-weight gain. A combination of high levels of N with irrigation produced sufficient quantities of herbage for cattle throughout the year. As a result, N fertilized and irrigated swards produced significantly more total live-weight gain than their respective non-irrigated swards. However, for beef production, the better utilization of, and higher output from such improved pastures would only be obtained from high yielding breeds of cattle such as Aberdeen Angus or Hereford instead of Nganda X Jersey crosses which were used in this experiment. In the wetter areas of Uganda, much higher financial returns are obtained from milk than beef.