SUSAN J.L.E. LELOUP, L.'t MANNETJE and C.B.H. MEURS

Agricultural University, Department of Agronomy, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Abstract

The influence of fodder on sedentary cattle productivity in southern Mali is described and discussed from data on 3 villages.
During the wet season, cattle gained weight in response to an abundant supply of green herbage. Rate of gain declined as the wet season advanced. During the early dry season, access to crop residues halted the decline and in some cases increased the rate of gain. Weight losses occurred late in the dry season despite significant consumption of browse. Annual gains ranged from 35–45 kg/hd.
Fodder consumption patterns were similar at all villages with herbage contributing almost all of the diet in the wet season and crop residues predominating from November–February. Browse contributed a significant amount to the diet only in the period April–June.
The study indicates the relative importance of the different forage sources at different times and the positive influence of crop residues and by-products on liveweight changes during the dry season, when quality of available pasture limits cattle productivity.