Effects of Dichrostachys cinerea supplementation on weight gain and rumen protozoa in cattle

摘要

Poorweightgainandlowconceptionrateofcattleismainlyaresultofpoornutrition.Theconventionalproteinsupplementsareusuallytooexpensiveforfarmers.Browseplantscouldbeanalternativesourceofcrudeproteinand/orindirectmicrobialprotein.TheobjectiveofthisstudywastodeterminetheeffectsofdryseasonsupplementationwithDicrostachyscinereaonweightgainandrumenprotozoaincattle.nbsp;ThestudywasconductedforoneyearinyearlingFriesianbullswithaverageweightof105kg.FourwererandomlyallocatedtoDicrostachyscinereagroupandfivetothecontrolgroup.Allanimalsgrazedtogetherupto14:00hoursbutsupplementedinindividualpensfrom14:00hoursto08:30hoursthefollowingmorning.Ciliateprotozoafromeachgroupwerecountedbeforeandafterthecommencementoffeeding.nbsp;ThedailyweightgainsfortheDicrostachyscinereagroupinAugust#8211;November,December,January-February,March-April,May,June,JulyandAugust,were393,414,892,655,635,360,200and114g/dayrespectively.Weightgainsforthecontrolgroupduringthesameperiodswere,39,428,1846,500,384,120,54and23g/day.InJanuaryandFebruary,thecontrolgroupexhibitedcompensatorygain.However,thecompensatoryperiodwastooshortforthegrouptogainitsoriginalstatusofbeingheavierthantheDicrostachyscinereagroup.ThepopulationofciliateprotozoaintheDicrostachyscinereagroupdecreasedby55%whiletherewasnochangeinthecontrolgroup.nbsp;Dicrostachyscinereasupplementationsignificantlyincreaseddailyweightgainincattle.Theweightgainwasthesamefordailyorweeklysupplementationandcouldnotbeoffsetbycompensatorygaininthecontrolgroup.ThedefaunatingabilityofDicrostachyscinereainadditiontoitscrudeproteinplayedasignificantroleinincreasingweightgain.However,morestudiesarerequiredforoptimisingDicrostachyscinereasupplementation.