The effect of sward structure and species composition on dietary quality and intake in cattle and sheep grazing the Dohne sourveld.
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Date
1994
Authors
O'Reagain, Peter John
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Abstract
This study investigated the potential effects of species composition and sward structure
on dietary quality and intake in cattle and sheep grazing the Dohne Sourveld. In the
main experiment, animals were confronted with a range of sward structures at four
different sites at different times through the grazing season. Species composition and
hence, veld condition, were found to have no dear effect on dietary quality in either
cattle or sheep. Conversely, sward structure had a major effect on dietary quality in
both animals, with dietary crude protein and in vitro digestibility being strongly related
to sward greenness but negatively related. to sward height and herbage mass. Dietary
quality was also significantly higher in sheep than in cattle and was markedly higher in
the year of the burn than in the subsequent year. (Abbreviation abstract)
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,
in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy
Keywords
VELD GRASS--SOUTH AFRICA--DOHNE., RANGELANDS--SOUTH AFRICA--DOHNE., GRASSLANDS--SOUTH AFRICA--DOHNE., ARID REGIONS AGRICULTURE--SOUTH AFRICA--DOHNE., FORAGE PLANTS--SOUTH AFRICA--DOHNE., GRAZING--SOUTH AFRICA--DOHNE., CATTLE--FEED UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY--SOUTH AFRICA--DOHNE., SHEEP--FEED UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY--SOUTH AFRICA--DOHNE.