Abstract 24

Richard,-D; Guerin,-H; Roberge,-G; Friot,-D

ISRA, Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Veterinaires, Dakar, Senegal.

Paturages et alimentation des ruminants en zone tropicale humide. 1989, 11-19; 8 ref., presented at 1st symposium on ruminant nutrition in tropical conditions, Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, 2-6 June 1987. Paris, France; INRA.

The DM content, chemical composition and digestibility by sheep of Panicum maximum cv. K 187 B were studied in 31 trials in the Ivory Coast and Senegal on sown grasslands with 21-63 days regrowth. DM content was higher in Senegal than the Ivory Coast, due to weather conditions and poorer water retention by the soil. N content increased up to a max. of 180-200 g/kg DM at 21 days then declined rapidly by 6 g/day. CF content and digestibility were similar at both sites. Digestible OM ranged from 624 to 423 g/kg DM and OM digestibility from 47 to 69%. Digestibility was correlated with cellulose content and lignin. N digestibility ranged from 40 to 77.5%.