Nutritional Characteristics of Selected Grass and Browse Species From Kenya’s Pastoral Ecosystems

A study was conducted to determine the nutritional characteristics of selected grass and browse species from “Kenya” rangelands. The identified species were analyzed for their chemical composition (CP, NDF, ADL) and in-vivo DMD at specified stages of growth whereas browse species were analyzed at early leaf and leaf shed stages of growth. The time of high nutritive value in grasses was limited to a short period of rapid growth during the growing season. Thereafter CP rapidly declined from as high as 19% to less than 7% within a period of four weeks. In-vivo DMD declined and total fibre increased, thereby lowering the potential nutritive value. Browse species showed less decline in their potential nutritive value and it is apparent that they are potential supplements to grass-dependent range ruminants during the dry season.