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9.8 The Role of Forbs and Shrubs in the Nitrogen Intake of Grazing Livestock in the Accra Plains

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

F. K. Fianu
F. K. Fianu*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Ghana, Legon
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Extract

Free ranging cattle in the Accra Plains of Ghana have an almost all grass diet during the rainy season when lush grass abounds (Fianu, 1966). Depending on the ecological status of the grassland, the prominent species include Andropogon gayanus, Brachiaria falcifera, Panicum maximum, Schizachyrium schweinfurthii and Vetiveria fulvibarbis. On bush fallows, grasses of lower successional status, e.g. Chloris and Digitaria spp., are grazed.

At the start of the rainy season (March-April), the young herbage may contain as much as 2.8% N. As the plant matures, however, the N content declines rapidly below critical levels, e.g. 0.95-1.3% at 18 weeks (Fianu and Winch, 1980) and 0.6-0.8% at 38 weeks (Lansbury, Rose Innes and Mabey, 1965).

Such mature grass is burnt in the dry season to induce a more nutritious flush but hard grazing and slashing also induce equally nutritious regrowth (Fianu and Winch, 1980).

Type
9. Poster Presentations
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 6: Forage Protein in Ruminant Animal Production , 1982 , pp. 189 - 191
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1982

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References

Fianu, F. K. 1966. Activities of Cattle at Pasture. B.Sc. Dissertation. Faculty of Agric. University of Ghana, Legon.Google Scholar
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Sullivan, J. T. 1969. Chemical Composition of Forages with reference to the Needs of the Grazing Animal. U.S.D.A. — ARS Bull. No. 34, 107.Google Scholar