Nutrient requirements and feed resource availability for pastoral cattle in the tropical Africa: A review
Journal Title: Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research - Year 2015, Vol 3, Issue 7
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to review the nutrient requirements and feed resource availability for cattle in the tropical Africa. Cattle require consistent source of protein, energy, minerals, vitamins and water to maintain productivity and health. The nutrient requirements of cattle can be broken down into maintenance, lactation, growth and reproduction requirements. Forages have the ability to supply all the energy needed to maintain highly-productive cattle throughout the growing season, but only managed intensively. Legume-grass pasture will easily have protein content greater than 18% during the vegetative stage, as plants mature, the nutrient values lowers. Cattle require 3 to 30 gallons of water per day, at the rate of one gallon of water per 45 kg body weight during wet season and two gallons of water per 45 kg body weight during hot weather. Supplementation of low quality roughage is done by feeding limiting nutrients in the form of concentrates (energy and protein), minerals, non-protein nitrogenous (NPN) substances (urea and poultry litter) or green forages. However, in Nigeria, forage quality and availability vary greatly from season to season which however, affect the output of the animals. The nutritive value of pastures fall rapidly with maturity and, during the dry season, the available feed is lignified. Likewise, protein, vitamins and mineral elements are limited in grassland pastures during the dry season. Crop residues, by-products and browse plants remained the most outstanding feed supplements for cattle and other livestock in Nigeria.
Authors and Affiliations
Kubkomawa H, Olawuye H. U, Krumah L. J, Etuk E. B, Okoli I. C
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP552197
- DOI -
- Views 192
- Downloads 0
Multivariate analysis for yield and its contributing traits in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.)
An experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during November 2011 to March 2012 to study the multivariate analysis for yield and its contributing traits of 46 geno...
Determination of appropriate seeding rate for oats/vetch mixtures grown under different drainage conditions of vertisols in the central highlands of Ethiopia
The study was conducted to determine the optimum seeding rate for oats/vetch mixtures on vertisols and to evaluate the effect of waterlogging problem on productivity of oats/vetch mixtures during the main cropping season...
Characterization of water control techniques in recession of the Oueme low valley
In Benin, producers' difficulties in effectively managing water for recession or off-season crops have increased mainly because of the lack of mastery of adequate techniques, and the lack of access to modern or semi-mode...
Correlation between ingestive behaviour, intake and performance of grazing cattle supplemented with or without propolis extract (LLOS®)
This study aimed to evaluate the correlations between ingestive behaviour and intake of grazing cattle supplemented with or without of propolis extract (LLOS®), during the rainy season. Thirty-two uncastrated crossbred s...
Comparative assessment of effect of Moringa extracts, NPK fertilizer and poultry manure on soil properties and growth performance of Solanium menlongina in Abuja, North Central Region of Nigeria
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Moringa oleifera extracts, NPK fertilizer and Poultry manure on soil properties and growth performance of Solanium melongena in the Giri area of Federal Capital Territor...