The amount of milk which can be produced by cows grazing Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) is dependant on several management factors. These factors relate to the nutritive value and intake of the herbage on offer and include palatability, TDN, protein and moisture content. On kikuyu pastures at Cedara in the Natal mistbelt (bioclimatic gp. 3), grown on high potential soils, daily milk yields without supplementation of 45 l per hectare can be attained over a 195 day summer grazing period. The milk yield can be increased to 66 l per hectare with an energy supplement such as maize meal. Similar results have been reported for cows grazing kikuyu pastures grown on high potential soils at Eston, near Pietermaritzburg, (bioclimatic gp. 2) in the coast hinterland region.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.