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The intake of Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens, Stent.), under wet- and dry-season conditions in Trinidad

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

M. H. Butterworth
Affiliation:
University College of the West Indies(Faculty of Agriculture), The Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad
C. G. Groom
Affiliation:
University College of the West Indies(Faculty of Agriculture), The Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad
P. N. Wilson
Affiliation:
University College of the West Indies(Faculty of Agriculture), The Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad

Extract

The intake of dry matter from a pasture of Pangola grass by lactating dairy cows was measured. The chromic oxide administration technique was used. It was shown that the intake of dry matter was significantly higher in the dry season than in the wet. Reasons for this were discussed. An assessment of the nutrient intake of the animals was made and it was concluded that if the requirements of cattle in temperate climates was taken as a guide, this was adequate for at least maintenance and production of 1½ gal. per day of milk in the wet season. Under dry season conditions the intake of total digestible nutrients was adequate for the same level of production, but the digestible protein level was considerably below requirement. It was therefore concluded that supplementation with protein concentrates in the wet season was unnecessary save for high-yielding cows, but that all cows required concentrates during the dry season conditions of the experiment.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1961

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References

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