Abstract:
The impact of undesirable plant communities (Cymbopogon afronardus
and woody species dominated by Acacia species) on livestock carrying capacity
and performance was investigated on 15 farms in an Acacia/Cymbopogon
dominated pastoral system of south-western Uganda. Species prevalence
based on basal cover for grasses, frequency for forbs and effective canopy
cover for trees/shrubs were determined on farms. The PHYGROW model was
used to predict forage productivity for computation of carrying capacity. The
NIRS/NUTBAL nutritional management system was used to determine cattle
dietary CP and DOM through fecal scans and to estimate animal performance.