RAGE PRODUCTION, QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF GROWING LAMBS AND KIDS ON NATURAL GRASSLAND AND SILVIPASTURE UNDER GRAZING CONDITION

摘要

Studies on performance of lambs (4-5 months) and kids (4-6 months) grazing on natural Sehima-Heteropogon grassland and established silvipastoral system were carried out from August, 1992 to June, 1994 (690 days). Results showed that animals continuedto gain in their body weight from August, 1992 to November, 1993 (478 days) on both the type of pastures. The gain in weight of lambs and kids was 54.8 and 36.8 g/h/day, respectively on silvipasture and 41.2 and 26.3 g/h/day, respectively on natural grassland. Thus, lambs and kids grazed on silvipasture showed 33.0 and 39.9% higher body weight gain over natural grassland. Further, it was observed that lambs and kids grazed on silvipasture gained weight at the rate of 157.2 and 105.6 kg/ha, respectively while, it was 59.1 and 37.8 kg/ha, respectively grazed on natural grassland. This showed that silvipastoral system was more better than natural grassland for quality forage production, higher body weight gain of sheep and goats as well as more number of animals can be reared.