The Influence of Night Grazing on the Growth Rates of Zebu Cattle in East Africa

Abstract

Results are reported from a 10-monlli trial, using 50 oxen, in which growth rates ofgroups receiving restricted and ncrmai night grazing were compared. The resiriction of night grazing was found to lead to a significant decline of 30°,, in hve-weight gain. This difference was largely attributed to periods of moderate grass shortage (i.e. marginal day grazing) when those animals with the longer grazing period were able to select a diet of superior quality and quantity. Under good, or very bad, grazing conditions the availability of night grazing did not appear to be critical.

Herd Size-Dependent Effects of Restricted Foraging Time Allowance on Cattle Behavior, Nutrition, and Performance

“…The higher weight gain and forage intake in DNG than in LDG and MDG is consistent with the findings of several studies that have shown that extending grazing increases food intake and performance of ruminants (Joblin, 1960;Khombe et al, 1992;Fernandez-Rivera et al, 1996;Ayantunde et al, 2000aAyantunde et al, , 2000bAyantunde et al, , 2001Ayantunde et al, , 2002. However, our findings differ from the findings of Smith et al (2006) who reported that extending grazing time allowance for cattle did not significantly affect food intake and weight gains of cattle in the southern-central highlands of Ethiopia.…”

“…Indeed, several studies have shown that allowing livestock unlimited foraging time enhances weight gain through increased forage intake (Joblin, 1960;Khombe et al, 1992;Ayantunde et al, 2000aAyantunde et al, , 2000bAyantunde et al, 2002). Therefore conflict often arises between the need for corralling for protection from predators and/or manure collection and the need for livestock to have unrestricted grazing time allowance for improved production performance.…”

“…While the impacts of restricted foraging time on livestock behavior, nutrition, and productivity have been extensively investigated (Joblin, 1960;Smith, 1961;Wigg and Owen, 1973;King, 1983;Nicholson, 1987;Fernandez-Rivera et al, 1996;Ayantunde et al, 2000aAyantunde et al, , 2000bAyantunde et al, 2002), little is known about the role of herd size in moderating such impacts. In this study, we investigated the effects of restricted foraging through nighttime corralling on cattle nutrition and production performance and whether such effects depend on herd size.…”

Drivers of land use change and household determinants of sustainability in smallholder farming systems of Eastern Uganda

“…Legumes were a key component of the rotations (Uchendu and Anthony 1975). During the fallow phases, manure deposition through livestock grazing also contributed to nutrient accumulation in such fields (Joblin 1960). Nowadays, the fallow phase is so short, i.e.…”

Beef Production From Pasture Leys in Uganda*

“…Night grazing, particularly at times of pasture shortage, has been shown by Joblin (17) to be necessary to achieve optimum animal production, and night paddocking has obvious advantages over the present system of returning stock to a small enclosure, or boma, at sunset to protect them from predators. Trials have shown that rotational grazing is desirable to maintain botanical composition and to achieve good liveweight gains (18,26).…”