Sheep preference on Panicum, Sefaria, and Leucaena cultivars grown under ViSCA conditions

摘要

A test was conducted to determine which forage species and/or cultivars adapted to local conditions were most preferred by sheep. Five Panicum cultivars (Hamil, GaTTon, Makueni, Riversdale, and Petrie), four Setaria cultivars (Splendida, Narok, Nandi,and Ancep), and seven Leucaeana species and/or cultivars (L. diversifolia, K156 and K785; L. hybrid, Kx1, Kx2 and Kx3; and L. leucocephala, K500 and K527) were used in this test, with Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) as the check forage. Grasses weretied in rows of bamboo slats on a standing position, simulating the pasture stand for grazing. Five sheep of the same sex and breed were distributed to five preference chambers, each containing all test forages randomly arranged in rows (for grasses) orheaps (for legumes). The test was conducted in a "cafeteria style" for a 24-hour period. Voluntary as-fed intake showed that Gatton, Makueni and Riversdale of Panicum and Narok of Setaria were the cultivars readily accepted by sheep. In terms of dry matter (DM) intake, highest was with Riversdale, followed by Makeuni and Gallon. Generally, Panicum cultivars were more preferred by sheep than Setaria cultivars. As-fed intakes of Leucaena showed high preference for K500, K785, and Kx1 cultivars. DM intake, however, showed that Kx1, KX2, and K156 are the most preferred. For Narok and Spcndida cultivars of Setaria, and K500 and K785 cultivars of Leucaena, wilting/drying before feeding was recommended to maximize DM intake by sheep.