Effects of grazing intensity on forage nutritive value of dominant grass species in Borana rangelands of Southern Ethiopia

作者：Yeneayehu Fenetahun, You Yuan, Tihunie Fentahun, Xinwen Xu, Wang Yong-dong · 发表于：PeerJ · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.7717/peerj.12204 · 被引用次数：14 · 研究领域：Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology、Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology、Rangeland and Wildlife Management

BACKGROUND: Forage nutritive value analysis is an essential indicator of rangeland status regarding degradation and livestock nutrient demand. Thus, it is used to maintain healthy and sustainable rangelands that can provide the livestock with sufficient quantity and quality of forage. This study is conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of grazing intensity combined with seasonal variation on the nutritive values of dominant grass species in the Teltele rangeland. METHODS: The studied area is classified into no-grazed, moderately grazed, and overgrazed plots based on the estimated potential carrying capacity. Sampling data is collected during both rainy and dry seasons. The collected forage samples are analyzed for concentrations of crude protein (CP), acid detergent organic fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), ash, dry matter digestibility (DMD), potential dry matter intake (DMI), and relative feed/forage value (RFV). RESULTS: < 0.05) effects of both grazing intensity and season to grazing intensity interactions on all forage nutrient content concentrations across all grass species both within and between treatments. The recorded CP concentrations of all grass species are high in the overgrazed site and low at the no-grazed site, while the fiber concentration is high in NG and low in OG. RFV data also varies greatly, with high value recorded in OG in the rainy season and low value found in NG mainly during the dry season. As a...