Ayantunde, A.A. and Fernández-Rivera, S. and Hiernaux, P.H.Y. and Keulen, H.van and Udo, H.M.J. and Chanono, M. (2000) Effect of nocturnal grazing and supplementation on diet selection, eating time, forage intake and weight changes of cattle. Animal Science, 71 (2). pp. 333-340.
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Abstract
64 Azawak male calves were used to study the effect of nocturnal grazing (NG) and supplementation (S) in the dry season between April and June 1997 on forage and water intake, faecal output, eating time and weight changes of cattle in the Sahel (Niger). Treatments were factorial combinations of 4 levels of NG (0, 2, 4 and 6 h/day) and 2 levels of S (0 and 608 g dry matter (DM) per animal per day). All animals were allowed to graze 10 h during the day and were weighed every 2 weeks during the 70-day experimental period. Eight oesophageally fistulated steers were used in a cross-over design to sample the diet (forage) selected during the day and at night by supplemented and non-supplemented animals. Extrusa crude protein and in vitro organic matter digestibility were not influenced by supplementation (P>0.05). Time spent eating during the day or at night were not affected by supplementation but total eating time was increased by 39.4 (s.e. 2.1) minute/h of NG. Forage intake increased with increase in NG, while total food intake (forage + supplement) increased with supplementation (82.4 vs. 92.1 (s.e. 2.4) g DM per kg M0.75 per day). The supplemented animals also drank more water than the non-supplemented (26.2 vs. 24.8 litre per animal per day). Average live-weight change (LWC) was increased by 24.4 (s.e. 8.7) and 9.3 (s.e. 6.2) g/h of NG in non-supplemented and supplemented animals, respectively. Supplementation improved LWC (-107 vs. 99 g/day (s.e. 14) P<0.05). Night grazing improves dry season performance and its effect decreases when cattle are supplemented
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Author Affiliation: | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), ILRI/ICRISAT, B P 12404, Niamey, Niger |
| Subjects: | Animal Husbandary > Live Stock |
| Divisions: | General |
| Depositing User: | Mr B Krishnamurthy |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Jul 2011 03:54 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Jul 2011 03:55 |
| URI: | http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/2407 |
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