Get reliable rangeland science

Dung Deposition, Breakdown and Grazing Behavior of Beef Cattle at Two Seasons in a Tropical Grassland Ecosystem
Author
Omaliko, C. P. E.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1981-09-01
Body

The effects of seasons on size, number and area of the dung deposited on a grazed paddock were examined. Rate of dung breakdown, herbage fouling, and rejection were also investigated. Significant seasonal differences were found in number, size, area of dung and in proportion of paddock fouled per grazing such that these values were higher in wet than in dry season. A higher breakdown rate was obtained in the dry season when the termites were the main degradation agents than in the wet season when the dung was degraded mainly by the copriphilous fungi. The herd rejected the fouled herbage for a longer period during wet season than during the dry season. Two breakdown patterns for the dry season (depending on the presence of termites in the ecosystem) were suggested. Herbage rejection was discussed in relation to animal production and range improvement. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/3897903
Additional Information
Omaliko, C. P. E. (1981). Dung deposition, breakdown and grazing behavior of beef cattle at two seasons in a tropical grassland ecosystem. Journal of Range Management, 34(5), 360-362.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/646168
Journal Volume
34
Journal Number
5
Journal Pages
360-362
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
tropics
Nigeria