Abstract 321

Hansen,-RM

Winrock International, Rte 3, Morrilton, AR 72110, USA.

Journal-of-Range-Management. 1986, 39: 2, 139-140; 9 ref.

Rumen DM digestion (RDMD) indices were estimated by the nylon bag technique during wet and dry seasons for 4 different plant materials, near Kiboko, Kenya. Three grazing zebu steers of about 300 kg liveweight and fitted with rumen cannulae were used. Two trials were during the short dry season, 2 in the long dry season, 1 in the long wet season and 1 in the short wet season. The 4 plant materials tested were; the aboveground parts of the forb Chrysanthemum cineariaefolium, the aboveground parts of the grass Cynodon dactylon, leaves shed from the tree Kigelia aethiopum, and the brown shattered pods of the shrub Leucaena leucocephala. All material was ground to 1 mm before being put into the rumen. Mean percentage DM losses from each of the 4 plant materials were calculated among the 3 animals for each trial date. There was no significant difference in the mean RDMD value of any of the 4 plant materials between wet and dry seasons when the steers selected their food from natural range vegetation.