R.N. MERO¹ and P. UDÉN²

¹Agricultural Research Institute,Arusha, Tanzania
²Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden

Abstract

Six grasses: Chloris gayana cv. Samford and cv. Mpwapwa (CG-Mpwapwa), Cenchrus ciliaris cvv. Gayndah and Biloela, Bothriochloa insculpta cv. Hatch and Panicum coloratum cv. Bambatsi; and 6 legumes: Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano, S. scabra cv. Seca, Neonotonia wightii cvv. Tinaroo and Mpwapwa (NW-Mpwapwa), Macrotyloma axillare cv. Archer and Macroptilium atropurpureum cv. Siratro were investigated in a 2-year study. Cutting regimes for the grasses during the growing season were 4–12–4, 6–8–6, 8–4–8 and 10–10 weeks in 1987/88 and 10–10 weeks in 1988/89; and for the legumes were 4–4–4–4, 6–6–6 and 10–10 weeks in 1987/88 and 4–4–4–4, 6–6–6, 8–8–8 and 10–10 weeks in 1988/89. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in DM production between the grass species in both seasons with Bambatsi > Gayndah, Hatch and Samford in 1987/88; and Bambatsi, Gayndah and Biloela > Hatch and Samford in 1988/89. In 1987/88, the legumes had similar production except for Archer which produced least and in 1988/89, Seca, Verano and Tinaroo were best (P < 0.05). Cutting regimes 6–8–6 for the grasses and 10–10 for the legumes (1988/89) gave the highest mean DM yields (P < 0.05). In the grasses, crude protein levels declined on average 4% units and in vitro digestibility 13% units between 4 and 10 weeks of age. In the legumes, the corresponding decreases were only 2 and 4% units, respectively.