THE EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTING TEFF (ERAGROSTIS-TEF) STRAW WITH GRADED-LEVELS OF COWPEA (VIGNA-UNGUICULATA) AND LABLAB (LABLAB-PURPUREUS) HAYSON DEGRADATION, RUMEN PARTICULATE PASSAGE AND INTAKE BY CROSSBRED (FRIESIAN X BORAN (ZEBU)) CALVES
E. Abule et al., THE EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTING TEFF (ERAGROSTIS-TEF) STRAW WITH GRADED-LEVELS OF COWPEA (VIGNA-UNGUICULATA) AND LABLAB (LABLAB-PURPUREUS) HAYSON DEGRADATION, RUMEN PARTICULATE PASSAGE AND INTAKE BY CROSSBRED (FRIESIAN X BORAN (ZEBU)) CALVES, Livestock production science, 44(3), 1995, pp. 221-228
This study characterized the degradability of cowpea (Vigna unguiculat
a) and Dolichos lablab (Lablab purpureus) hays (trial 1) and the effec
t of these legumes on rumen ammonia concentration (RAG), particulate p
assage rate (k(1)) and intake (trial 2) and the degradability of teff
(Eragrostis tef) straw (trial 3). Trials 1 and 3 were conducted using
ruminally cannulated crossbred (Friesian x Boran) cows. In trial 1, co
ws were fed native pasture hay ad libitum plus 2.45 kg cottonseed cake
head(-1) day(-1). In trial 2, calves were fed ad libitum teff straw a
lone or supplemented with three levels (0.5, 1 and 1.5% of body weight
) of either cowpea or lablab hay. In trial 3, cows were fed teff straw
ad libitum supplemented with either cowpea or lablab hay at 1% of bod
y weight. Cowpea had similar degradation characteristics to lablab. Su
pplementation increased RAC (154-218 vs. 48 mg/l; P<0.01), rate of deg
radation of teff straw (0.0257-0.0274 vs. 0.0138/h; P<0.05), rumen out
flow rate (k(1)) (1.48-2.09 vs. 1.18%/h; P<0.05) and decreased the mea
n retention time (MRT; 72.8 vs. 109 h; P<0.01). Total dry matter intak
e (DMI) increased with increasing level of supplementation. Cowpea and
lablab had similar RAG, rate of degradation of teff straw, k(1), MRT
and DMI. It was concluded that both herbaceous legumes are equally eff
icient in alleviating nutrient deficiencies incurred when teff straw i
s fed to calves.