A comparison of the grazing preferences of buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and Ankole cattle (Bos indicus) on three different pastures

摘要

SummaryObservations of the diet of cattle and buffalo grazing three different pastures of known composition and history were made at the height of the rainy season inAcacia‐Cymbopogon/Themedadry savanna in Ankole, Uganda.Brachiara decumbens, Chloris gayana, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria melanochilaandSetaria aequaliswere frequent species which were highly acceptable to both buffalo and cattle.Themeda triandrawas highly acceptable to cattle but less so to buffalo.Leersia hexandra, a swamp grass, was eaten by buffalo but the cattle did not graze in wet areas.Loudetia kagerensisandCymbopogon afronarduswere largely unacceptable to both species of animal, although buffalo showed a greater tolerance ofC. afronardusthan did the cattle. It is suggested that both species of animal showed a need to vary their diet periodically and buffalo choseC. afronarduswhereas the cattle browsedA caciabushes for this purpose. The quantities ingested were small.Preferences of both species of animal varied with choice available and its physical condition. The pretreatment of herbage by other species of animals is considered important in affecting its acceptability.Cattle and buffalo appeared to be competitive for food in the three environments in this study but the buffalo utilized certain environments e.g. standing water, tree shade, to a greater extent than the cattle and so represented an overall improvement in the secondary productivity from the are