Nutritive value of important range forages species for camels in Western Marsabit, Kenya.
Date
2005Author
Wahome, R.G
Kuria, S.G
Wanyoike, M.M
Gachuiri, C.K
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A study carried out in the semi-arid rangelands of
Marsabit during dry and wet seasons assessed the
content and seasonal variation of crude protein (CP)
and fibre of important forage species for camels. Using
a semi-structured questionnaire, herders were
interviewed and the important forage species
consumed by camels identified. The respondents were
mainly men and boys responsible for camel herding in
the area. The identified forage species were verified
through direct field observation of grazing camels. A
total of 109 forages were sampled and analysed for
CP, Ash and fibre. Camels preferred dwarf shrubs
during the wet season, herbaceous and grass species in
the dry season. The mean CP and Neutral Detergent
Fibre (NDF) contents of preferred forages were
13.9+5.0% and 53.6+13.7% of dry matter (DM)
respectively. Fibre content of the forages declined
while CP increased from dry to wet season. Shrubs
were lower in NDF (51.0+12.6%) and ash
(15.5+7.2%) and higher in DM (50.0+18.2%) and CP
(14.7+4.9%) compared to grasses (NDF =
60.4+14.3%, ash = 18.5+5.2%, DM = 49.7+17.8%, CP
= 12.0+5.0%). It was concluded that the combination
of forage species selected by the camels across sites
and seasons was adequate in terms of CP.
URI
https://profiles.uonbi.ac.ke/rgwahome/publications/kuria-sg-mm-wanyoike-ck-gachuiri-and-rg-wahome-2005-nutritive-value-important-http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/153599
Citation
GITHAIGA DRWAHOMERAPHAEL. "Kuria, S.G., M.M. Wanyoike, C.K. Gachuiri and R.G. Wahome. 2005. Nutritive value of important range forages species for camels in Western Marsabit, Kenya. Tropical and subtropical ecosystems. 5:14-24.". In: Paper presented at the Central Branch of the KVA annual scientific conference held at the Sportsmans Arms Hotel, Nanyuki, Kenya, February 15-17, 2006. Journal of School of Continuous and Distance Education ; 2005.Publisher
university of nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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