Integrated Approach to Forage Seed Production and Supplementation of Dairy Cows in the Semiarid Region of Cameroon

Stylosanthes hamata, Calopogonium mucunoides and Macroptilium lathyroides were intercropped with maize in a randomized block design. Age of maturity, forage dry matter and seed yields were determined at the end of their cycles. In another experiment, S. hamata and C. mucunoides were planted and divi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: A. Asongwed-Awa, A. Njoya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: CIRAD 2002-04-01
Series:Revue d’Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux
Subjects:
Online Access:http://revues.cirad.fr/index.php/REMVT/article/view/9814
_version_ 1797763968364707840
author A. Asongwed-Awa
A. Njoya
author_facet A. Asongwed-Awa
A. Njoya
author_sort A. Asongwed-Awa
collection DOAJ
description Stylosanthes hamata, Calopogonium mucunoides and Macroptilium lathyroides were intercropped with maize in a randomized block design. Age of maturity, forage dry matter and seed yields were determined at the end of their cycles. In another experiment, S. hamata and C. mucunoides were planted and divided into cutting, grazing and control subplots. Lactating zebu cows were put in the grazing subplots, while cutting subplots were cut at the end of the grazing period. Intercropping had no significant effect on the age of flowering and seeding. The establishment rate was however slower in intercropped C. mucunoides and S. hamata. The forage dry matter yield was similar in pure and intercropped C. mucunoides and M. lathyroides, respectively, but significantly higher in pure S. hamata plots (p < 0.01). The seed yield was similar in the two treatments of S. hamata and M. lathyroides, but significantly higher in pure C. mucunoides plots (p < 0.001). In the establishment year, grazing and cutting reduced seed yield of S. hamata (p < 0.001) compared to control. However, the difference was largely offset by a 35% milk yield increase in cows grazing S. hamata. These results indicate that forage legume seed production is feasible and manageable in an integrated production system.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T19:48:59Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4ac5da8d47be4eb190dd6ac561429219
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0035-1865
1951-6711
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T19:48:59Z
publishDate 2002-04-01
publisher CIRAD
record_format Article
series Revue d’Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux
spelling doaj.art-4ac5da8d47be4eb190dd6ac5614292192023-08-02T03:18:20ZengCIRADRevue d’Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux0035-18651951-67112002-04-0155426927410.19182/remvt.98149814Integrated Approach to Forage Seed Production and Supplementation of Dairy Cows in the Semiarid Region of CameroonA. Asongwed-Awa0A. Njoya1Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, PO Box 1073, Garoua, CameroonInstitute of Agricultural Research for Development, PO Box 1073, Garoua, CameroonStylosanthes hamata, Calopogonium mucunoides and Macroptilium lathyroides were intercropped with maize in a randomized block design. Age of maturity, forage dry matter and seed yields were determined at the end of their cycles. In another experiment, S. hamata and C. mucunoides were planted and divided into cutting, grazing and control subplots. Lactating zebu cows were put in the grazing subplots, while cutting subplots were cut at the end of the grazing period. Intercropping had no significant effect on the age of flowering and seeding. The establishment rate was however slower in intercropped C. mucunoides and S. hamata. The forage dry matter yield was similar in pure and intercropped C. mucunoides and M. lathyroides, respectively, but significantly higher in pure S. hamata plots (p < 0.01). The seed yield was similar in the two treatments of S. hamata and M. lathyroides, but significantly higher in pure C. mucunoides plots (p < 0.001). In the establishment year, grazing and cutting reduced seed yield of S. hamata (p < 0.001) compared to control. However, the difference was largely offset by a 35% milk yield increase in cows grazing S. hamata. These results indicate that forage legume seed production is feasible and manageable in an integrated production system.http://revues.cirad.fr/index.php/REMVT/article/view/9814ZébuVache laitièreSemencePlante fourragèrePolyculture élevageClimat semi-arideCameroun
spellingShingle A. Asongwed-Awa
A. Njoya
Integrated Approach to Forage Seed Production and Supplementation of Dairy Cows in the Semiarid Region of Cameroon
Revue d’Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux
Zébu
Vache laitière
Semence
Plante fourragère
Polyculture élevage
Climat semi-aride
Cameroun
title Integrated Approach to Forage Seed Production and Supplementation of Dairy Cows in the Semiarid Region of Cameroon
title_full Integrated Approach to Forage Seed Production and Supplementation of Dairy Cows in the Semiarid Region of Cameroon
title_fullStr Integrated Approach to Forage Seed Production and Supplementation of Dairy Cows in the Semiarid Region of Cameroon
title_full_unstemmed Integrated Approach to Forage Seed Production and Supplementation of Dairy Cows in the Semiarid Region of Cameroon
title_short Integrated Approach to Forage Seed Production and Supplementation of Dairy Cows in the Semiarid Region of Cameroon
title_sort integrated approach to forage seed production and supplementation of dairy cows in the semiarid region of cameroon
topic Zébu
Vache laitière
Semence
Plante fourragère
Polyculture élevage
Climat semi-aride
Cameroun
url http://revues.cirad.fr/index.php/REMVT/article/view/9814
work_keys_str_mv AT aasongwedawa integratedapproachtoforageseedproductionandsupplementationofdairycowsinthesemiaridregionofcameroon
AT anjoya integratedapproachtoforageseedproductionandsupplementationofdairycowsinthesemiaridregionofcameroon