Hay from Smuts finger grass and weeping love grass was produced, using three fertilizer levels, viz 30 kg N + 2,8 kg P ha?1; 90 kg N + 8,3 kg P ha?1 and 150 kg N + 13,8 kg P ha?1. All the treatments were cut for hay at two different stages viz during the piping stage and during the early mature stage, when inflorescences opened.
The hay from these treatments was fed to groups of sheep, on a cafeteria system, to establish preferential intake, as well as to individual sheep to determine intake.
The results showed that sheep preferred the hay of Smuts finger grass to that of weeping love grass. Fertilizer levels and stage of maturity had no definite influence on preference and on intake. A relationship between in vitro digestibility, and phosphorus content with preferential intake could be deduced.
Weeping love grass is a popular hay crop but on the basis of results in this experiment, Smuts finger grass can also be recommended as a hay crop for sheep.
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.