EFFECT OF STOCKING Chlorjs gayana – Stylosanthes guianensis PASTURE WITH SHEEP ON PLANT AND ANIMAL PERFORMANCE

EFFECT OF STOCKING Chlorjs gayana – Stylosanthes guianensis PASTURE WITH SHEEP ON PLANT AND ANIMAL PERFORMANCE

Abstract:
The effects of stocking rate (12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 sheep/ha) on the productivity of Rhodes grass (C. qayana cv. Callide) pastures (i) alone or with Cook stylo (S. guianensi cv. Cook) and (ii) with nitrogen (N) fertilizer (200 kg N/ha) were examined during five grazing periods from late-August to mid-April (154-210 days) during 1985-1990 at Shika in the Northern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria. Phosphorus (30 kg/ha) was applied to the pastures in July before grazing commenced while N was incorporated before the 1985-1986 and 1989-1990 grazing periods. Dry matter (DM) yields of C. gayana components, green (living portions of sown and other plant species) materials and total herbage declined as stocking rate and days of grazing increased. The amounts of stylo, other plant species and dead material also decreased with increase in days of grazing. The yield of dead material was highest at 12 sheep/ha. Mean C. gayana sward height exceeded 100 cm at the beginning of each grazing period while its bulk density and tiller density fell as grazing days increased. The crude protein (CP), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) contents in components of C. gayana and stylo shoots were independent of stocking rates. Calcium and CP contents declined with advanced grazing days in all periods. Magnesium and K contents in C.gayana remained constant and fell, respectively as grazing days increased with N apolication. Herbage P content remained constant when N was omitted. There were no significant changes in the structural components – acid and neutral detergent fiores (ADF, NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and cellulose as grazing days increased. The effects of stocking rate was significant only for NDF and cellulose contents of C. gayana in the 1986-1987 period. Daily liveweight gain of sheep was negatively and linearly related to stocking rate. Losses in daily and cumulative liveweight gain commenced between mid-January and mid-February. Calculated stocking rates giving maximum liveweight gains per hectare were 17.8, 20.4, 24.9, 21.2 and 26.0 sheep/ha in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth grazing periods, respectively. The highest liveweight gain per hectare (202.4 kg) was recorded at 30 sheep/ha during the 1989-1990 grazing period.

EFFECT OF STOCKING Chlorjs gayana – Stylosanthes guianensis PASTURE WITH SHEEP ON PLANT AND ANIMAL PERFORMANCE

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