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Nutritive Composition And In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility Of The Most Browsed Forage Species By Lactating Camels, Lucy W. Ikanya, J. G. Maina, C. K. Gachuiri, W. O. Owino, José C. B. Dubeux Jr.

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Camels are both grazers and browsers of a broad spectrum of forages. The objective of this study was to identify and to determine the chemical composition of the most preferred forage species by lactating Somali camels in Laikipia County, Kenya. Lactating Somali camels and their calves were observed during the wet and dry seasons while browsing for a period of two weeks. The forage species were ranked based on the bite count. The most browsed forages identified through observation were sampled for identification by the local and scientific names and laboratory analysis. They were analyzed for proximate composition, detergent fiber …

Forage Yield And Nutritive Quality Of Haulm From Dual-Purpose Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L Walp) Cultivars For Dry Season Feeding In Nigeria, N. J. Anyanwu, Olufemi S. Onifade, Jimoh A. Olanite, V. I. O. Olowe, B. O. Boukar, I. I. Ekpe

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The availability of high quality forage especially during the dry season remains a major challenge to ruminant livestock production in Nigeria and many parts of West Africa. Due to the prevailing mismatch between livestock population and supply of feed resources in the arid and semi arid Nigeria, the humid forest zone represents a potential source for crop residues, especially during the dry season due to longer rainfall duration and suitable climate. This study was conducted to evaluate forage yield and nutritive quality of haulm from selected dual purpose cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) cultivars in the humid rain forest …

Influence Of Seeding Rate On Growth Performance And Yield Of Early Maturing Sorghum, Ismail S. Selemani, O. B. Ngonyani

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Heavy grazing pressure in Tanzanian semi-arid rangelands coupled with climate change and variability has resulted into severe decline in forage production and changes in vegetation composition. To increase forage biomass production in the face of climate change and variability, climate resilient fodder crops such as early maturing sorghum have been recommended in arid and semi-arid regions. However, paucity of information on the best agronomic practices especially the optimal seeding rate and row spacing fostered the need to carry out research on growth performance and yield of early maturing sorghum. The experiment was conducted at Magadu Dairy Farm to assess the …

Comparison Of Four Maize Cultivars (Zea Mays L.) As Winter Forage In Sudan, Rihab El Zubair

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Winter forage availability in Sudan is constrained by lack of a suitable annual winter forage crop. The main forage crop grown is Abu70 (Sorghum bicolor) which is a summer crop that yields 7.6-8.4 t/ha in summer but much less in winter. There is, therefore, need for a winter high yielding forage crop that exceeds Abu70 in productivity and quality. This study was aimed to evaluate four forage maize cultivars as potential winter crops in central Sudan in terms of productivity and quality. An experiment was conducted using four maize forage cultivars. The experiment lasted for two consecutive seasons …

Title Evaluation Of Yields And Nutritive Composition Of Dual Purpose Sweet Potato Vine Cultivars For Forage Use, R. S. Kenana, A. I. Hoka, N. Ondabu, F. Ondabu, J. Mercy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The sweet potato vine (SPV) is a widely grown but underutilized feed resource for livestock. The vines have desirable characteristics suitable for fodder production due to high contents of protein and digestible energy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and nutritive composition of five dual purpose cultivars based on vine production for forage use. The experimental design was arranged in randomized complete block design where six cultivars of sweet potato were established in plots of 2.5m x 2.5m in three replicates. The cultivars used were; Kenspot 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. An improved forage type …

Diet Selection By Goats At Kalemando, North Darfur, Sudan, Abdelrahim I. H. Mansoor, Babo Fadlalla

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pressure on rangelands of Sudan has increased in the last few decades due to increase in human population and in animal numbers. The rangelands were also impacted by climate change, desertification, agricultural expansion, mining, and overgrazing. Decreased amounts of rainfall have impoverished the natural rangelands. Goats are capable of grazing on semi-desert regions characterized by low rainfall and scarce grazing plants. It is therefore necessary to know and enhance plant species preferred by goats to properly manage the rangelands. The present study was conducted at Kalemando, North Darfur State during the rainy season of year 2017 when most plants were …

Smallholder Farmer Seed Production Of Mulato Ii Hybrid Brachiaria In Thailand And Laos - Bringing Quality Forage Seeds Home To Africa, M. D. Hare

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Seeds of Mulato II hybrid brachiaria [Urochloa ruziziensis (syn. Brachiaria ruziziensis) x U. brizantha (syn. B. brizantha) x U. decumbens (syn, B.decumbens)] produced by smallholder farmers in villages in northeast Thailand and northern Laos, under contract to Ubon Forage Seeds Co. Ltd, a tropical forage seed company in Thailand, have come home to Africa. Since 2012, over 20,000 kg of Mulato II seed have been exported from Thailand to Kenya. The seed is hand-harvested from seed-heads in Laos and by hand-sweeping the seed from the ground in Thailand. The farmers semi-clean the seed in the field …

Induction Of Tetraploid Ruzigrass (Brachiaria Ruziziensis) By Colchicine And Possibility Of Using Seed Weight As Screening Method, R. Poungkaew, Y. Mangpung, J. Arananant, P. Chuchuay, S. Thaikua, P. Chanpeng

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Tetraploid ruzigrass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) have been obtained by colchicine treatment of in vitro apical meristems and embryogenic calli. The colchicine treatment consisted of culturing apical meristem on MS basal medium containing 6.0 mg L^-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.05-0.20% colchicine for 8, 14, 20 and 26 h. After treated by colchicine, apical meristems were transferred onto former medium without colchicine for 4 weeks. Surviving apical meristems were induced multiple roots on MS basal medium containing 2.0 mg L^-1 BAP. The ploidy level of plants after colchicine treatment was determined by flow cytometry. Apical meristems treated with 0.05% …

Growth Performance And Yield Of Three Brachiaria Cultivars Subjected To Different Eco-Climatic Zones Of Tanzania, Ismail S. Selemani

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Replacement of high quality (perennial forage) with low quality (annual forage) due to the effects of climate change has resulted into low milk production in Tanzania to 4.5L which is below the genetic potential of producing at least 15L of milk per cow per day. Though high yield fodder grasses such as Brachiaria have been recommended as climate smart fodder grass, little information has been documented in Tanzania particularly with respect to the growth performance of these grasses across different eco-climatic zones. The current study determine the performance and yield of three cultivars of Brachiaria (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piata, …

Differences In Urochloa Hybrids And Cultivars Biomass Production In Several Sites In Western Kenya, S. Mwendia, A. O. Notenbaert, D. M. Mwangi, R. Odhiambo, I. Ogutu, A. Juma

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage production is at the core of improved livestock productivity, especially in sub Saharan Africa. The genetic potential of existing animals remains underutilized due to limited forage quality and quantity. Albeit wide range of forage germplasm that exists, little data is available for identifying suitable genotypes, matched to specific environments and production systems. Due to the spatial and temporal diverse environments in which livestock production happens, multi-locational screening of forage production and characterizing genotype by environment interaction is key. We selected seven Urochloa (Syn. Brachiaria) genotypes comprising three hybrids and four cultivars and established them in on-farm trials in …

Identification And Analysis Of Flowering Time Candidate Genes Of Dactylis Glomerata L., X. Q. Zhang, G. Y. Feng, L. K. Huang, X. X. Zhao, Z. F. Yang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is an important forage grass for cultivating livestock worldwide. Heading date is a surrogate measure of flowering time and is strongly correlated with the yield and quality of forage grasses. Here, we identified 210 flowering-related genes in orchardgrass by BLASTP. In addition, our integrated analysis of transcriptome, quantitative trait locus (QTL), and bulked segregant analysis (BSA) provided insights into the genetic network regulating flowering time. The results revealed that four main candidate genes may participate in flowering time control, including one FT-like gene and three MADS-box genes. Expression investigation between the early-flowering and late-flowering phenotype …

Brs Quênia And Brs Tamani: New Panicum Maximum Jacq. Hybrid Cultivars In Brazil, Liana Jank, C. M. S. De Andrade, Giovana A. Maciel, Rodrigo A. Barbosa, Gustavo J. Braga, Manuel C. M. Macedo, José R. Valério, Jaqueline R. Verzignassi, A. H. Zimmer, Celso D. Fernandes, M. F. Santos, Rosangela M. Simeão

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Since 1982 Embrapa Beef Catle in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil, develops a Panicum maximum Jacq. breeding program, based on the germplasm collected and assembled by IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Developpment) and received through a cooperation-agreement with IRD. The germplasm was evaluated and four cultivars were released directly from the germplasm: cultivars Tanzania, Mombaça, Massai and BRS Zuri. Breeding began in 1990 and involved crosses between sexual plants and selected apomictic accessions. The program consists of evaluation followed by selection of hybrids in plots with replications, evaluation of the selected hybrids in national network experiments in diverse regions and …

Nutritional Characteristics Of Brachiaria Ruziziensis (Germain & Evrard) Subjected To Different Doses Of Gamma Rays, A. I. Hoka, M. Gicheru, S. Otieno

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Appropriate methods of mutation induction are of high importance in pastures for increased genetic variability and improved forage performance. The objective of this research was to improve agronomic and nutritive performance of mutant lines through induced mutagenesis to seeds of a local landrace Brachiaria ruziziensis. The seeds were irradiated with 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40Gy doses of gamma radiation from Cobalt 60 (⁶⁰Co). Treatments were; KE 0Gy, KE 10Gy, KE 20Gy, KE 30Gy, and KE 40Gy resulting into M1 seeds. The seeds were planted in the greenhouse in germination pots then transplanted to the field. Seeds …

Productivity And Nutritive Value Of Urochloa Grass Cultivars In Semi-Arid Tropical Kenya, Donald M. G. Njarui, Mwangi Gatheru

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There is increasing demand for high yielding and nutritious forages to meet the growing dairy farming in semi-arid Kenya. The productivity and nutritive value of seven Urochloa grass cultivars (Urochloa decumbens cv. Basilisk, U. brizantha cvs. Marandu, MG4, Piatá and Xaraes, U. humidicola cv. Llanero and U. hybrid cv. Mulato II) were evaluated in two diverse semi-arid environments, Katumani and Ithookwe in Kenya. At Katumani, the dry matter (DM) yield (5000 - 7500 kg/ha) was highest during the first harvest during the long rains (LR) 2014 season. Dry matter yield declined progressively with season and in the third season …

Milk Yield Of Dairy Cattle Fed Common Urochloa Grass In Kenya, R. W. Muinga, Michael N. Njunie, Mwangi Gatheru, Donald M. G. Njarui

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Urochloa grass mainly grown in South America, East Asia and Australia has its origin in East and Central Africa. Its success in South America for animal production triggered interest in Kenya where the main forage species Napier grass was threatened by head smut and stunt diseases. Therefore, a study was carried out at Mtwapa research station in the coastal lowlands of Kenya under controlled condition to compare the lactation performance of dairy cattle fed on Urochloa hybrid cv. Mulato II, U. decumbens cv. Basilisk, U. brizantha cvs. Piata, MG-4 and Xaraes with Napier grass. An on-farm participatory study was conducted …

Growth And Yield Evaluation Of Urochloa Grass Cultivars In Sub-Humid Region Of Kenya, M. N. Kifuko-Koech, K. W. Ndung’U-Magiroi, M. C. Mutoko, M. Kamidi, Donald M. G. Njarui

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock production in sub humid region of Kenya is constrained by inadequate and low quality pasture. A study was conducted to evaluate growth and productivity of eight improved Urochloa grass cultivars in lower midlands, upper midlands and lower highlands agro-ecological zones (AEZ) in Eldoret, Kitale and Alupe respectively, western Kenya. The grass cultivars were; Urochloa brizantha cvs. Marandu, Xaraes, Piata, and MG-4, U. decumbens, cv. Basilisk, U. humidicola cvs. Humidicola and Llanero and Urochloa hybrid cv. Mulato II. Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Kakamega 1) were included as controls. At establishment …

Feed Intake And Liveweight Gain Of Goats Fed Urochloa Grass, P. M. Ngila, Donald M. G. Njarui, Michael N. Njunie

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Crude protein and digestible dry matter are the most important components of a feed and determine animal performance. The natural pastures in Kenya are prone to great seasonal and spatial fluctuation in both quality and quantity. Consequently, there was need to explore other nutritious alternative feeds. Sixteen growing male Galla goats weighing 10 - 24 kg were used in a twelve weeks feeding trial in the coastal lowlands of Kenya. They were randomly allocated four grass diets consisting of Urochloa brizantha cvs. Piata and MG4, U. hybrid cv. Mulato II and Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass), which was used as the …

Warm-Season Legumes – Challenges And Constraints To Adapting Warm-Season Legumes To Transition Zone Climates With Examples From Arachis, G. M. L. Assis, José C. B. Dubeux Jr.

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grass pastures in monoculture are the predominant system in transition zone climates, where warm-season perennial grasses are usually cultivated. Mixed grass-legume pastures are worldwide recognized for having advantages over pure stands, including pasture longevity, N input from biological fixation, efficient nutrient cycling, and greater animal production. The genus Arachis encompasses important and successful warm-season forage legume species cultivated in mixed pastures or in pure stands. Arachis pintoi and Arachis glabrata are potential tropical forage species that can be used in transition zone climates. Mixed pastures with these legumes have been shown to be resilient systems, able to withstand short-term perturbations, …

Breeding Cows Body Condition And Dry Matter Availability In Natural Pastures Under Rotational System, Dinah Pereira Rodrigues, Giuliano Teixeira Da Silva, Paulo Elias Borges Rodrigues, Alex Fabiano Fernandes Gomes, Gustavo Kruguer Gonçalves, Leonardo De Melo Menezes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The livestock production in Rio Grande do Sul is based on natural pastures, which suffer great productive seasonality throughout the year, especially due to the quantitative and qualitative deficit that it goes through in the winter months. The existing dynamic between the animal and the forage is fundamental for a better reproductive performance of the brood cows, and consequently an increase of the productivity of beef cattle. The calf herd generation is, certainly, the fundamental element of the full cycle livestock. Knowing the potentiality and understanding the dynamism of the natural fields is a fundamental condition for the choice of …

Linking Demand With Supply For Tropical Forage Genetic Resources To Reach Impact At Scale, M. Peters, S. Burkart, U. Ohmstedt, C. Castiblanco, E. Stern, A. Nicolayevsky, K. Enciso, M. Díaz, S. Mwendia, S. Douxchamps, A. O. Notenbaert, B. Lukuyu, K. Fuglie

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Over the last decades a wealth of information on tropical forage genetic resources has been collated and is accessible to users ranging from farmers, development practitioners and researchers to decision makers and academia, e.g. through online tools such as Tropical Forages: An interactive selection tool (www.tropicalforages.info). However, while genetic diversity is being conserved by international gene banks, adoption of improved tropical forages is still far from reaching its full potential. Major bottlenecks in our view include lack of awareness of available forage genetic resources, confirmation of adaptation in a wide range of bio-physical, socio-economic, political and cultural contexts …

Rebuilding A Tropical Forages For The Future Network – A Call For Resuscitating Enthusiasm For A Commodity With Great Prospects And Innovation Potential, B. C. Pengelly, B. L. Maass

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A series of Forages for the Future newsletters, outlining some of the latest tropical and subtropical forage (TSTF) research and development impacts and expertise, has been published since 2016. Amongst the research highlights were Brazilian scientists’ focus on grasses such as Urochloa, Megathyrsus maximus, Paspalum and Cenchrus purpureus, and on legumes, especially Arachis and Stylosanthes. Argentinian researchers are similarly targeting Acroceras macrum and Setaria sphacelata; while Indian and ILRI (East Africa) researchers are using plant breeding to overcome disease constraints in Napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus and associated hybrids). Also demonstrated were successfully using genetic …

Forage Genetic Resources In Brazil, Liana Jank, Mateus F. Santos, Cacilda B. Do Valle, Sanzio C. L. Barrios, Rosangela M. Simeão

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To maintain the largest herd in the world, 214 million heads of beef cattle grazing exclusively on pastures (only 14% finished in feed-lots), Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) in Brazil, has intensely invested on forage breeding programs since the 1980s. Nowadays, there are circa thirteen forage grass and legume species being bred at different Embrapa Units around the country and other six Units focusing on collection and research of regional native forages. Breeding depends on good germplasm sources. Therefore, breeding activities in Brazil will remain highly dependent on exotic and native genetic basis maintained in the Germplasm Banks. Despite the …

Forage Production And Utilisation: Forage Production For Improved On-Farm Wealth And Wellness, John Caradus

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

It is often overlooked that the world’s largest agricultural land use by far is grassland, where these are mostly grazed by livestock, either domesticated or wild animals. Native grasslands are referred to as savanna (in Africa), steppe (in sub- Artic Eurasia), prairie (in North America), or pampas (in South America). Grasslands contribute to the livelihoods of more than 800 million people (FAO 2000). Native grasslands are maintained by restricted rainfall that reduces the opportunity for succession by forest. Grasslands are not only food for livestock, but also provide a habitat for wildlife, prevent soil erosion, support pollinators, and capture carbon …

Sustainable Use Of Grassland Resources For Improved Livelihoods, Liana Jank, Cacilda Borges Do Valle, Rosangela Maria Simeão, Roberto Giolo De Almeida, Mateus Figueiredo Santos, Sanzio Carvalho Barrios

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasslands occupy about 80% of global agricultural land and represent a wide range of ecosystems (Bosi et al., 2020). Pastureland represents approximately 889 million ha in Africa, followed by China (~506 million ha), Oceania (~345 million ha), Asia (~307 million ha, excluding China and India), United States (~252 million ha) and Brazil (~149 million ha) (Goldewijk et al. 2017; Bosi et al. 2020; Landau et al., 2020). Rangelands alone are the world largest land surface, and in 28 countries they represent more than 60 percent of total land area (FAO, 2009). The livelihoods of almost one billion people depend on …

Exploring The Information Base Needed For Sustainable Management Of Rangeland Resources For Improved Livelihoods, K. I. Johnsen, M. Niamir-Fuller, A. Bensada, A. Waters-Bayer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pastoralism is one of the most sustainable production systems worldwide and plays a major role in safeguarding ecosystem services and biodiversity in rangelands. The unique biological and cultural diversity of rangelands contributes to goods, services and knowledge that benefit humans also beyond the herding communities.

Yet data currently available on grassland, forestry, agriculture and livestock are inadequate for informing policymaking on rangeland-based livestock systems. A review of global environmental assessments, online databases, peer-reviewed literature and international project documents showed that available information seldom disaggregates rangelands from other ecosystems or pastoralists from other rural dwellers. Few peer-reviewed publications address pastoral and …

Environmental Factors Effect On Rangeland Plant Diversity In Al Sabaloga Area, Sudan, Salma Abdelghaffar Hassan Alamin, Hala Ahamed Hassan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The study was conducted in AL Elsabaloga area in Sudan in 2017. This study aimed to assess environmental and biotic factor effects on rangeland plant diversity in the study area. A total sample size of 130 was chosen randomly to collect primary data. The data were coded, summarized, tabulated and processed. Analysis was conducted using (SPSS) computer program. The results were presented in the form of a frequency distribution. There were many problem effects on Rangeland plant diversity. Among these were floods (P < 0.01), expansion of agriculture (P < 0.01), over grazing (P < 0.01), drought, sand marching and desertification (P < 0.01), insect (P < 0.01). In addition, disappear of some plant and appear invader plant. The study was concluded expansion of agriculture, seasonal fire, overgrazing, drought, sand marching and desertification are important factors that effect on plant diversity in the study area. The study recommended protection of rangeland needs to be by improvement of the extension services, management of rangeland through opening of fire lines. Development and improvement, plant diversity and demarcation of routes relevant ministries is essential.

Collective Approach Of Rural Development: Case Study Of “Maronna Foundation” In The Pampa Bioma, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil, Adriana Ferreira Da Costa Vargas, Vicente Celestino Pires Silveira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Maronna Foundation was created in the 1980s by two brothers who were heirless farmers. After a visit to Massey University, New Zealand, they decided to use their fortune to support rural farming in the Brazilian Pampa through an agropastoral institute. Over the last four decades, the foundation has developed diverse research, education, and extension projects in partnership with local, regional, national, and international institutions, especially universities, research centers, non-governmental organizations and local governances. Recent surveys conducted in the area of the Maronna Foundation demonstrate the interest of local breeders in technologies applied to farming systems, mainly for rangeland and …

Visual Assessment Of Soil Structure As An Early Indicator Of Soil Quality In Response To Intensive Rotational Grazing, N. Teutscherova, E. Vazquez, D. Baquero, N. E. Velasquez-Ruiz, M. Pulleman, Jacobo Arango

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasslands can play a crucial role in mitigation of global warming by serving as carbon sink. Nevertheless, to achieve the grasslands’ potential, sustainable management is of the utmost importance as it determines system’s productivity and ecosystem services. Due to the increasing demand for animal products in developing countries, grazed areas increase exponentially in the tropics, mainly due to unsustainable management leading to low productivity and soil degradation. We evaluated the impact of intensive rotational grazing management (IRG) on early indicators of soil quality following land-use change based on on-farm observations of visual soil characteristics using two different widely used assessment …

Short-Term Dry Season Forage Monitoring In Rangelands And Savannas Of West Africa, J. Y. Anchang, C. W. Ross, W. Ji, Q. Yu, B. Lind, L. Prihodko, N. P. Hanan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dry season plant biomass is critical for livestock production and hence livelihoods in rangeland communities. We have developed a cloud-based application that employs remote sensing data to provide weekly spatially explicit information on plant vegetation cover in West Africa during the dry season (typically October-June). In this paper, we discuss the data analysis steps and results that drive the application. Linear spectral mixture analysis is used to derive endmember samples of basic landcover primitives (active/green vegetation, non-active vegetation, and bare soil) from very high-resolution imagery that spans the spatiotemporal spectrum from wet/peak-green to dry/dormant conditions in Senegal. These samples are …

Prescribed Fire Plus Grazing Horses: A Sustainable Model To Decrease Fire Hazard In A Mountain Landscape, F. Torres-Manso, R. Pinto, A. Marta-Costa, P. Fernandes, M. Fernandes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The mountain landscapes of northern Portugal have been modified through rural depopulation and the absence of rangeland management. As such, increased above-ground biomass and higher fire hazard resulted, as well as decreased ecosystem biodiversity. The objectives of the OpentoPreserve Interreg SUDOE project are to evaluate the effects of the combined use of prescribed fire with grazing horses, and also to develop strategies of socio-economic valorization of this model. Concerning the evaluation of prescribed fire and grazing effects, the experimental design consisted of three plots in the Natura 2000 Alvão/Marão Site, respectively Control, Fire x Grazing, and Fire. The Fire plots …