Effects of Stage of maturity on the Nutritive value of Low Rain Woodland Savannah Pasture

Abstract

Chemical and biological methods were used to determine the ef
fects of stage of development of low rain woodland savannah pasture 
on its mutritive value. The nutrient composition of pasture herbage, total 
digestible nutrient (TDN) contents, voluntary dry matter intake 
(VDMI) and liveweight changes of sheep were determined at three 
weeks intervals from the time of uniform initial growth of herbage and 
thereafter for a period of 27 weeks. 
The results indicated that percentages of DM, ADF, Lignin and 
ash of pasture increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 12.5, 32.8, 4.7 
and 6.5 at 3 wks age to 86.5, 49.5, 10.7 and 14.2 respectively when 
pasture herbage was 27 wks old. Boday wieght gain and VDMI of her
bage by rams decreased significantly (P < 0.05) as herbage matured. 
VDMI (g / kg metabolic body size) was 43.5 and 29.8 when herbage 
age was 3 and 27 wks old respectively. Pasture herbage less than 18 
wks supported body weight gains of more than 100g/d. Lambs fed pasture 
older than 18 wks experienced considerable loss of bodyweigh