Studies of protein requirements of ruminants

Abstract

Herbage with a very low protein content forms the main diet of ruminants in many parts of Africa for several months of the year. This poor nutritional environment is the result of a seasonal distribution of the annual rainfall and is typical of conditions which prevail during the winter in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Here rain falls between November and April, green grazing is absent for the rest of the year except on marshy areas, and the mature standing grass has a protein content of 1-3 %.