IDENTIFICATION OF NUTRITIONAL-STATUS, EMPHASIZING MINERALS, IN NORTHWESTERN ZAIRE

A study was conducted in northwestern Zaire during the beginning of th e dry season (December 1994) at a specific ranch to determine the crud e protein (CP), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and min eral content of the principal pasture forages. This region is located in Zaire at 4 degrees 36'N latitude and 20 degrees 28'E longitude. Ave rage rainfall is 1695 mm a year and mean monthly temperature is 25.5 d egrees C. Soils are red lateritic clays. Thirty forage samples were co llected at 2-, 3-, and 4-week regrowths of Imperata cylindrica and Sav anna Stylosanthes (excluding 2-week age) from low and high elevation g razing areas. Eighteen soil samples and a mineral supplement fed to ca ttle (primarily N'dama breeding) were collected for analysis. There we re decreases (P<0.05) in IVOMD as plants matured and deficiencies of p rotein, sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) a t 4 weeks of regrowth. The mineral mixture fed to cattle provided less than 1% of the requirements for the deficient minerals. This study su ggests the need for provision of a suitable free-choice mineral supple ment.