DIET SELECTION AND NUTRITION OF SHEEP (Ovis aries Linnaeus)

85 Pages·2016·2.52 MB·English

DIET SELECTION AND NUTRITION OF SHEEP (Ovis aries Linnaeus) AND
GRANT’S GAZELLES (Gazella granti Brooke) ON KAPITI RANCH, KENYA 1
BY
JOSEPH Mi KILONZO
\
Nairobi university
^ETE LlBRAay
A THESIS SUBMITTED LN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF SCIENCE
IN
RANGE MANAGEMENT
LN THE FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
2003
University o 1 NAIROBI Library
u
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this thesis is my original work and has not been submitted for a
degree in any other university
/ ? — o j -
Date
This thesis has been submitted with our approval as university supervisors
n - o ^ - a o o i f -
Date
Date
Dr. RobinsonVc^inuthi^
Department of Rangt sement
University of Nairobi.
Of
iii
DEDICATION
This thesis is dedicated to my parents, brothers and sisters, and aJI those who have
encouraged me and contributed to my academic achievements since 1978
IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I gratefully acknowledge the Pastoral Information Network Programme (PINEP) for
giving me a scholarship, which made it possible for me to embark on the Master of
Science degree programme My gratitude and deep appreciation goes to my supervisors,
Dr. Wellington N Ekaya and Dr Robinson N. Kinuthia for their commitment, invaluable
guidance, suggestions, comments and criticisms throughout the research period and in the
preparation and completion of this thesis.
As for the research project, I am very thankful to the entire management of International
Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Kapiti ranch for permitting me to reside and
work withm the ranch. My sincere appreciation also goes to Mr. Ngeno (Manager), Mr
Muema (Assistant Manager), Musau (Clerk), Elias and the entire Kapiti ranch
community for their continuous support during my field work i.e in providing me with
accommodation, letting me use their computer facilities (with help ot Mr. Musau) and
transport whenever necessary. I
I am also particularly grateful to Mr. Musembi, a technician from the Department of
Range Management of the University of Nairobi, for his assistance in the
microhistological work and identification of plant species in the field. Lots of thanks also
go to my field assistants, Mr Kyeva and Mr. Ndeti for their tolerance during the research
work. Last but not the least, much appreciation goes to the Departments ot Range
Management and .Animal Production both of the Lniversity ot Nairobi tor allowing me to
use their laboratories and other facilities.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION......................................................................................................................“
DEDICATION........................................................................................................................ *
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.....................................................................................................*v
TABLE OF CONTENTS.........................................................................................................v
LIST OF TABLES...............................................................................................................
LIST OF FIGURES................................................................................................................ix
APPENDICES .........................................................................................................................x
.ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................»
1 0 INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................1
1.1 Background information.................................................................................................1
1.2 Broad objective...............................................................................................................^
1.3 Specific objectives.........................................................................................................
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................5
2.1 Wildlife/livestock grazing in east .Africa's rangelands................................................5
2.2 Range forage nutrient characteristics............................................................................®
2.3 Herbivore food selection frame work..........................................................................11
2.3.1 Roles of sight, taste, smell and touch in forage selection...................................11
2.3.2 Morphological parameters...................................................................................
2.4 Diet selection by sheep................................................................................................^
2.5 Diet selection by Grant's gazelles................................................................................^
2.6 Some methods of determining foods habits of herbivores....................................... 20
?0
2.6.1 Utilization techniques............................................................................................
VI
£ 2 Direct observation....................................... 20
3 Stomach and rumen content analysis......... 21
6 4 Esophageal or rumen fistulation ............... 22
2 6 5 Microhistology technique.......................... 22
, vMATERIALS AND METHODS......................... 25
3 1 Study area.......................................................... 25
3 l 1 Climatic characteristics............................. 25
28
3 l 2 Vegetation...................................................
28
3 2 V'egetation inventory and analysis .................
28
3 2.1 Herbaceous vegetation..............................
29
3 2.2 Woody vegetation......................................
30
3 3 Diet determination..........................................
30
3 3 1 Faecal sampling.............................................
31
3 3 2 Preparation of plant reference slides........
.32
3 3 3 Preparation of slides from faecal material.
.32
3 3 4 Slide quantification....................................
.33
5 -4 Nutritional characteristics of animal diets......
.34
5 5 Data analysis....................................................
.34
3 5.1 Diet composition........................................
.35
3 5 2 Diet diversity..............................................
.35
3.5.3 Diet overlap.............................................
.37
3 5.4 Nutritional characteristics of animal diets
.38
* ° RESULTS AND DISCUSSION........................
vu
38
4.1 Vegetation characteristics.................................
41
4.2 Diet composition...............................................
41
4.2.1 Wet season diet composition......................
43
4.2.2 Dry season diet composition.......................
47
4.3 Diet diversity and overlap................................
49
4.4 Nutrient composition of animal diets...............
49
4.4.1 Wet season...................................................
50
4.4.2 Dry season...................................................
53
0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
.56
6.0 LITERATURE CITED......................................
.70
7 0 APPENDICES...................................
UttVBSWY Of UMROBl
LIST OF TABLES
Table pag*
1. Percentage composition of grass and dicotyledons (browse) in the diets of Grant's
gazelles..............................................................................................................................19
2. Frequency and biomass production of herbaceous plant species during wet and dry
season...............................................................................................................................38
3. Absolute and relative densities of woody plants at the study site...................................40
4 Mean relative densities of forage plants in the diets of sheep and Grant s gazelles
during wet and dry season................................................................................................42
5. Percent grass, forbs and browse (%) in diets ot sheep and Grant s gazelles during the
43
wet season.........................................................................................................................
6. Percent grass, forbs and browse (%) in diets ot sheep and Grant s gazeiles during the
. 44
dry season.........................................................................................................................
7 Nutritional characteristic (mean +SE) of diets ot sheep and Grant s gazelles during the
49
wet season........................................................................................................................
8 Nutritional characteristic (mean +SE) of diets of sheep and Grant s gazelles during the
50
dry season
LX
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure *>a*’c
1. iMap of the study area and site. ......................................................................................
2. Mean monthly rainfall and coefficient of variation (1991 to 2000) in Kapiti ranch,
Kenya...............................................................................................................................^
3. Mean monthly rainfall from 1991 to 2000 and the actual monthly rainfall during the
27
study period
X
APPENDICES
Appendix
I. Botanical names of plant species identified at the study site........................................70
II. Heights of the woody plants within the study site........................................................72
III. Monthly rainfall (mm) received since 1991 to 2001 and during the study period
(March to September 2001) at the study area.....................................................................7j