Intake,digestibility, nitrogen balance and certain rumen characteristics of Ethiopian Menz sheep fed teff straw supplemented with cotton seed cake,dry sesbania,dry leucaena or fresh leucaena

Twenty five rumen fistulated Ethiopian Menz sheep were used in a completely randomized block design to determine roughage utilization when different types of supplements (sesbania, leucaena, cotton seed cake (CSC)) and forms (fresh or dry leucaena) were fed. The chemical composition, intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and rumen degradability coefficients were determined. Rumen pH and ammonia-nitrogen (NH₃-N) levels were estimated in samples taken at 1, 2, 3, and 6 h after feeding.There was substitution of teff straw dry matter by the supplements. Fresh leucaena effected the highest substitution. Supplementation enhanced (p<0.05) the dry matter degradation (DD) of teff straw at 6 and 12 hours of incubation but not (p>0.06) for the other incubation times. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) between treatments in the degradation constants: readily soluble component (a) slowly degradable fraction, (b) potential degradability (PD=a+b) and rate of degradation (C) and for rumen NH₃-N concentration, the ranking was CSC > sesbania > dry leucaena > fresh leucaena > teff straw alone (p<0.05). The particularly high substitution rate observed with fresh leucaena might suggest that bulkiness may be a limiting factor in the intake of low quality roughages supplemented with tree leaves. The lower DM and OM digestibilities of the supplemented diets were attributed to substrate preference by rumen cellulolytic bacteria. Excessively high levels of rumen NH₃–N (328 mg/l) in the CSC diet resulted in high urinary nitrogen losses (r ²=0.32;p<0.001) leading to low N balance. This may suggest that for the utilization of poor quality tropical roughages, moderate levels of rumen NH₃–N sustained over a longer period may be needed.     

Utilization of browse supplements with varying tannin levels by Ethiopian Menz sheep: 1. Intake, digestibility and live weight changes

The effect of tannins in browse supplements on intake, digestibility and live weight changes was evaluated using sixty-six male Ethiopian Menz sheep in a 90-day trial. Teff straw (Eragrostis tef) was fed ad libitum (control diet), or supplemented with 190 g dried leaves of six Sesbania sesban accessions with increasing levels of condensed tannin (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6), lablab (Dolichos lablab), tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and goetzei (Sesbania goetzei), in a completely randomized block design. The condensed tannins were highest in goetzei, S6, S5 and leucaena, intermediate in S4, S3, S2 and S1, and lowest in tagasaste and lablab. The forages differed significantly (P < 0.05) in their rates of degradation and truly undegradable dry matter. Lablab had lower water solubility and higher (P < 0.05) truly undegradable dry matter than the other browse supplements. With increasing tannin levels among Sesbania accessions, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the rate of degradation. Animals supplemented with forage legumes with low condensed tannin levels such as lablab, S1, S2, and S3 had a lower teff straw intake than those on the control diet. The converse was true for those fed with the high tannin supplements such as S4, S5, S6 and goetzei. Supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased total dry matter intake and live weight gains (LWG). The animals on the control diet lost weight (–1.9 g/kgW^0.75, while the supplemented animals gained between 2.9 and 4.4 g/kgW^0.75 daily. Leucaena supplementation promoted higher (P < 0.05) LWG than lablab, S1 and goetzei. With increasing tannin levels among Sesbania accessions, there was an increase (S1 < S2 < S3 < S4) followed by a decrease (S6 > S5 > goetzei) in LWG. The digestibilities of total DM and the supplements did not differ significantly (P < 0.05) between the diets, although the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with supplementation. The control diet had significantly higher NDF digestibility than the leucaena, S3, S4, S5 and S6 supplemented diets. Results have beneficial attributes at low levels in ruminants. Condensed tannins confer important advantages in ruminant nutrition with respect to the prevention of excessive degradation of protein in the rumen. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Utilization of browse supplements with varying tannin levels by Ethiopian Menz sheep: 2. Nitrogen metabolism

The effect of different condensed tannins concentrations on protein metabolism from browse supplements was investigated in a 90-day trial using sixty-six male Ethiopian Menz sheep. Teff straw (Eragrostis tef) was fed ad libitum (control diet), or supplemented with 190 g dried leaves of six Sesbania sesban accessions with increasing levels of condensed tannin (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6), lablab (Dolichos lablab), tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and goetzei (Sesbania goetzei) in a completely randomized block design. The condensed tannins were highest in goetzei; S6, S5 and leucaena, intermediate in S4, S3, S2 and S1, and lowest in tagasaste and lablab. The supplemented animals had significantly (P < 0.05) higher total dry matter and nitrogen (N) intake than the ones fed teff straw alone. The digestibility of N was lower for the control diet than for any other treatment (P < 0.05). S1 and S2 supplemented diets had significantly higher (P < 0.05) N digestibilities than all other diets. Faecal N, urinary N and urinary N per kg N excreted were significantly different (P < 0.0001) between diets. With increasing tannin levels (among Sesbania accessions) there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in urinary N (S1 > S2 > S3 > S4 > S5), and an increase (P < 0.05) in faecal N (S1 < S2 < S3 < S4 < S5). Supplementation increased faecal N output significantly (P < 0.0001) as well as the N retention. Among the forage supplements, N retention was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower in lablab-, tagasaste-, leucaena-, S4- and goetzei-supplemented diets, than for S1, S2, S5 and S6. Apparent nitrogen digestibility was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with the supplement dry matter and crude protein (CP) degradation after 24 h (r = 0.93 and r = 0.85, respectively), the CP content (r = 0.87), and was negatively correlated with acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre (r = –0.87 and –0.87, respectively). The CP degradability characteristics of the forages differed (P < 0.001) in water solubility (93–470 g kg^-1 CP), rate of degradation (2.58–9.73 %/h), lag phase (–1.36–13.37 h), and estimated escape protein (262–619 g kg^-1 CP). With increasing tannin levels (among Sesbania accessions), there was a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) in the rate of degradation (S1 > S2 > S3 > S4 > S5), and an increase in the estimated escape protein. The estimated rumen degradable protein (supplements) varied from 482 to 744 g kg^-1 CP, while intestine digestible protein and the undegradable protein varied from 140 to 314 g kg^-1 CP, hence the browses can supply adequate levels of rumen degradable and bypass protein. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Drying and soaking pretreatments affect germination in pedunculate oak

? Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) acorns are recalcitrant so they are difficult to store. Therefore, deterioration in quality during storage may reduce seedling yield and quality. In an attempt to address this, the effects of drying and soaking treatments on acorn germination were assessed.

? After harvesting on two occasions in October, the moisture content (MC) of acorns were adjusted using the following treatments: (1) fresh state or control (46–48% MC); (2) soaked in fresh state (46–48%); (3) dried (40–42%) (standard method); and (4) dried and then soaked (46–48%). The treated acorns were allowed to germinate at 15 °C, both before and after storage at ?3 °C.

? Treatment effects were generally consistent for each harvest date. Compared to the untreated controls, soaking alone and drying followed by soaking significantly increased germination both before and after storage. Storage reduced germination, except for the dried and soaked acorns.

? The results confirmed that drying and soaking improved acorn germination, but this was not mediated through an effect on acorn MC. In a separate nursery experiment, acorns given this treatment resulted in higher seedling yields and better quality plants than those given the standard treatment (dried to 40–42% MC).

     

Effect of different pre-sowing seed treatments on the germination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leucaena leucocephala</Emphasis> (Lam.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia farnesiana</Emphasis> (L.)

Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia farnesiana are tree species used for several agricultural purposes in the Mediterranean region. The seeds of these species exhibit dormancy, causing delayed germination. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of pre-sowing treatments (scarification, hot water, or soaking) on seed germination of L. leucocephala and A. farnesiana. In one experiment, seeds were exposed to three pre-sowing treatments: control, sandpaper scarification, or soaking in 70°C water for 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, or 24 min. In another experiment, seeds were soaked in 70°C water for 20 min, and then soaked in water at room temperature for an additional 24, 48, or 72 h or blade scarified. In general, soaking the seeds of the two species in hot water was more effective in breaking seed dormancy than scarification. Sandpaper scarification was not effective for either species. Blade scarification increased A. farnesiana seed germination to 56%, indicating that seed dormancy was mainly a consequence of hardseededness. L. leucocephala seeds collected from Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) site and soaked in 70°C water for 20 min and then soaked for 24, 48, or 72 h had germination rates above 97%. Our results suggest that blade scarification of A. farnesiana seeds and soaking of L. leucocephala seeds in 70°C water for 20 min are effective treatments to break seed dormancy and enhance seed germination of these vital species.     

Improving rumen fermentation and milk production with legume-tree fodder in the tropics

Feeding leguminous fodder that is high in protein can improve rumen fermentation parameters leading to increased digestibility and intake of low quality fibrous feeds, and hence improved animal production. The effect on dry matter (DM) degradation and rumen fermentation parameters of feeding urea or tree legume foliage (Erythrina poeppigiana or Gliricidia sepium), as protein supplements to a basal diet of Hyparrhenia rufa hay, rice bran and molasses, was studied with rumen fistulated steers (Zebu × Creole crossbreeds). In a second experiment, Jersey × Creole crossbreeds were used to determine the effect of the above three treatments on milk production. Both experiments were conducted at CATIE's experimental farm, Turrialba, Costa Rica (9°58 N; 83°31 W; 639 m above sea level; mean annual precipitation of 2600 mm; mean daily temperature 22 °C). The disappearance of hay DM in the rumen increased with time to 144 hours and potential degradation of hay DM was significantly higher (P < 0.05) for the legume diets compared to urea but there were no differences between legume species. Legume based rations resulted in total volatile fatty acid concentrations of rumen licor that were 15 to 24% higher than for urea based rations (P < 0.05). The concentration of rumen NH₃-N was highest two hours after feeding and tended to decrease in time. The urea ration resulted in significantly higher NH₃-N than the legume rations, reaching 45 mg/100 mL two hours after feeding. Milk yields did not differ (P > 0.05) when cows received either E. poeppigiana or G. sepium foliages as protein supplements (7.3 and 7.4 kg milk/cow/day, respectively) but they were superior (P < 0.05) to urea supplementation (6.7 kg milk/cow/day).     

黄土丘陵沟壑区沙地柏造林关键技术研究

为了研究和筛选沙地柏在黄土丘陵沟壑区的造林关键技术,在安塞县采用正交试验设计等方法设计造林。研究结果表明:(1)采用生根粉溶液浸根+保水剂与根部土壤混合处理时,沙地柏造林成活率、保存率最高,分别达到100.00%、98.45%;(2)抗旱造林技术的优组合为:50×10^-6生根粉溶液浸根、20 g保水剂与根部土壤混合和秸秆覆盖造林穴坑;(3)在沙棘林下,沙地柏造林成活率、保存率可以达到较高水平,分别为99.04%和95.74%,但生长量显著低于荒草地。     

胡枝子属种子萌发特性试验

以8个种子样品(种、种源)的胡枝子种子进行热水处理、浓硫酸酸蚀处理,探索破除种子硬实促进萌发的适合方法。结果表明:胡枝子种子千粒质量越小则硬实率越高,浓硫酸酸蚀处理较热水浸泡处理能显著提高胡枝子种子发芽率与发芽整齐度。应根据种子大小确定种子酸蚀处理时间,分别为小粒种子(截叶胡枝子)适合处理时间为10 min以下、中粒种子(中华胡枝子、达乌里胡枝子、多花胡枝子)为10～15 min、大粒种子(二色胡枝子、美丽胡枝子)15～20 min。     

沤置后油茶果实内物质的转化和积累

本文研究了采摘后的油茶果实内物质的转化和积累规律。把形态上已经成熟的油茶鲜果进行沤置处理,测定结果表明沤置后能使油茶果实产生后熟作用。沤置5—7天后油脂积累达最高水平(50.07％),继续沤制时油脂含量下降;沤置后的油茶果其油脂组成也发生了变化,饱和脂肪酸含量下降,不能和脂肪酸含量增加。该研究结果为采摘后的油茶果如何进行后期处理以提高出油率和油的质量提供了理论依据。     

Forage potential of eight woody species: intake and growth rates of local young goats in the highland region of Rwanda

Eight woody fodder species adapted to the highlands of Rwanda were evaluated in terms of dry matter intake in one experiment. Animals were offered a daily diet comprising 4.0 of fresh matter of Setaria splendida grass supplemented with or without one of the eight fodder species tested. In all cases, total daily feed intake was increased by the addition of woody fodder. Daily intake of the woody fodder was high for Acacia koaia, Mimosa scabrella and Acacia koa at 43.7, 42.6 and 41.9 g/kg BW^0.75, respectively. The dry matter intake of the other five species (Alnus acuminata, Chamaecytisus palmensis, Hagenia abyssinica, Acacia mearnsii and Acacia melanoxylon) ranged from 18.9 to 30.1 g/kg BW^0.75 per day. In another experiment, a basic daily diet of 4.0 kg of fodder (in fresh weight) was given to each animal. This ratio comprised S. splendida supplemented with M. scabrella and incorporated at 0 (control), 45% and 66% (fresh weight basis) of the total daily diet. Improved weight gain was obtained when setaria was supplemented with M. scabrella with daily weight gain of 31, 47 and 51 g/animal for 0, 45 and 66% M. scabrella, respectively.     

杉木间伐材ACQ防腐与综合强化复合改性研究

在将ACQ与UF树脂调制成相容的复合改性剂对杉木间伐材进行复合改性研究的基础上,深入探索复合改性的机理与综合效果.对浸渍材与表面密实化处理相结合的优化工艺,当弦向压缩率为20%时各项力学性能指标均比素材增加51%以上;进行浸渍处理与ACQ或UF单独处理材经煮沸和抗水、酸、碱抽提的抗流失性对比试验及防腐试验,表明前者比后者有所提高;并采用铜离子跟踪法进行X-射线荧光光谱仪定量分析,测定了浸渍材复合改性剂的含量和分布情况,确认了一次性浸渍优化工艺参数的较佳效果.     

Effects of brassinolide on the survival,growth and drought resistance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis> seedlings under water-stress

We conducted field and pot experiments to investigate the effects of brassinolide on 1-year-old Robinia pseudoacacia L. seedlings. In the field experiment, seedling roots were soaked in brassinolide solutions containing 0–0.4 mg/l pure brassinolide before planting. Survival and growth of the seedlings were determined 8 months later. The results showed that soaking roots in brassinolide prior to planting significantly increased the survival and growth of seedlings. The best results were in the 0.2 mg/l brassinolide treatment. In the pot experiment, roots were soaked in 0–0.4 mg/l brassinolide before planting followed by a foliar application of brassinolide when the seedlings leafed out. After the seedlings were established, the soil water content in the pots was regulated to simulate drought conditions and various physiological parameters were measured. The results showed that treatment with 0.2 mg/l brassinolide decreased the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of seedlings growing under moderate or severe water stress compared to untreated seedlings. Leaf water content, predawn water potential, soluble sugar content, free proline content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities were all greater in water-stressed seedlings in the 0.2 mg/l brassinolide treatment compared to the control. The results indicate that the application of brassinolide can ameliorate the effects of water stress and enhance drought resistance of Robinia seedlings. Treatment of seedlings with brassinolide may be a useful management tool for afforestation projects in arid and semiarid areas.     

Intake, rumen digestion, digestibility and microbial nitrogen supply in sheep fed Cynodon nlemfuensis supplemented with Gliricidia sepium

Four Pelibuey sheep fitted with flexible rumen cannula were fed increasing levels of Gliricidia sepium foliage (gliricidia) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Treatments were: control, 10, 20 and 30% (dry basis) of gliricidia mixed in a basal diet of Cynodon nlemfuensis (stargrass) hay. Dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) intakes were linearly increased (P < 0.05) from 45.2, 40.4, 2.0 to 71.5, 63.3 and 6.8 g/kg W^0.75/d, for the control and the 30% gliricidia diet, respectively. Similarly, increments of gliricidia in the diet resulted in a linear increase in DM, OM and CP apparent disgestibilities from 43.7, 48.4 and 27.0 to 50.7, 54.7 and 57.3%, for the control and 30% gliricidia diet, respectively. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of supplementation with gliricidia on rumen dry matter digestion of stargrass. Microbial nitrogen (N) supply to the small intestine had a trend towards an increase from 4.9, for the control, to 9.6 g N/d, for the 30% diet, though it was not significant (P > 0.05). It is concluded that, gliricidia might be incorporated into low quality diets since it increases total DM intake, supplies highly degradable N to the rumen and appears to increase the microbial N supply to the small intestine of sheep. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不同药剂处理对陈年西瓜种子萌发的影响

试验以陈年的西瓜种子为试材,采用不同浓度的生长调节剂和化学试剂进行浸种处理,研究它们对西瓜种子萌发的影响。试验结果表明:不同处理均可显著提高陈年西瓜种子活力,其中以0.1mol/L的SA和3.0%的KNO3处理效果最好。     

Voluntary intake by sheep and goats ofGliricidia sepium fed in three states and at three levels of supplementation to a basal diet ofPanicum maximum

Crude protein content andin sacco dry matter (DM) loss after 72 h of incubation in West African dwarf (WAD) sheep and goats of fresh, wilted and dried leaves ofGliricidia sepium were compared. Additionally, voluntary DM intakes by WAD sheep and goats ofG. sepium leaves presented in the fresh, wilted and dried states at 10, 20 and 30% levels of supplementation were investigated in two separate experiments. The crude protein content and DM loss from dried leaves were relatively lower than fresh and wilted leaves. At all levels of supplementation, the voluntary DM intakes of fresh and wilted leaves by WAD sheep and goats were relatively higher than dried leaves. The results suggest thatG. sepium leaves should be fed either in the fresh or wilted states to WAD sheep and goats, at levels between 20 and 30% of the total daily DM allowance.     

山苍子苗木培育技术

对山苍子种子贮藏、种子育苗、扦插、嫁接等进行了为期3年的研究,结果表明:山苍子种子贮藏以沙藏为好,春季育苗发芽率达46.4%;山苍子种子催芽采用80℃的热水浸种,可提高发芽率和发芽势;与春播相比,秋播种子发芽率、发芽势相对较低,但无论是苗高、地径还是冠幅都更大;无论是春播或者秋播,浸种催芽的比无浸种催芽的发芽率或发芽势都更高,而且生长量也更大;扦插用吲哚丁酸100 mg.kg-1+萘乙酸50 mg.kg-1溶液浸泡60 m in成活率最高;嫁接以T字形芽接成活率最高。     

A comparison of pre-planting treatments on hardwood cuttings of four hybrid poplar clones

Rooting and early growth of four hybrid poplar clones (Populus spp.) planted in a greenhouse were examined after applying 40 pre-rooting treatment combinations to dormant cuttings. Treatments included 2 cutting lengths (5 and 10 cm), 5 soaking times (0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 days), and 4 dips (chitosan, rooting hormone powder, liquid rooting hormone added to the soaking water, and none). Significant differences in both rooting percentages and growth were shown between clones after 7 weeks of growth. Ten cm cuttings had 29% greater rooting success, 28% more above-ground growth, and 12% lower root/shoot ratios than 5 cm cuttings. Cuttings planted without soaking had the lowest rooting success, at less than 45% on average. Commercial rooting hormones decreased the number of rooted cuttings but increased root/shoot ratios. For optimal rooting, we recommend using 10 cm cuttings, soaked for 2 days in water (4 days for the Jackii10 clone) without any additional dipping/hormone substance.     

The Effect of Drying Quercus robur Acorns to Different Moisture Contents, followed by Storage, either with or without Imbibition

Freshly harvested Quercus robur acorns were spread out, twodeep, in trays, and dried/stored (at +2°C over the courseof 28 weeks) to either 45, 40, 35, 30 or 25 per cent moisturecontent (fresh weight basis). Drying/storage significantly reducedthe germination percentage (P< 0.01). The acorns at eachmoisture content were then either ‘soaked’ or ‘notsoaked’, before immediate germination; or returned tothe same cold store at +2°C, this time in loosely tied polythenebags. Soaking raised the acorns moisture content (M.C.), andalso brought about a significant increase in germination capacity(P<0.01). Regardless of the moisture content immediatelybefore soaking, "soaked" acorns in loosely tied polythene bagsstored better than ‘unsoaked’ acorns. All ‘bagged’acorns (whether ‘soaked’ or ‘unsoaked’)stored better than acorns dried/stored in open trays.     

Flotation techniques to improve viability of Juniperus polycarpos seed lots

The germination of freshly collected Juniperus polycarpos(K. Koch) seeds is very low and attributed to the large proportion of nonviable seeds in the seed lots.Thus, the aim of this study was to improve seed lot quality by removing nonviable seeds using two flotation techniques: incubation-drying-separation(IDS) and modified specific gravity(MSG) separation. We examined different IDS conditions(the specific incubation time, subsequent drying time and sorting media) for effectively sorting out nonviable seeds; and tested the feasibility of modified SG separation, which involved soaking seeds in water for a certain period before sorting in different concentrations of sucrose solution. Viable seeds were expected to absorb and metabolically bind more water during soaking than dead seeds could, and hence be sorted effectively depending on the viscosity of the sucrose solution. The viability of the seeds that floated or sank was determined in a topographical tetrazolium chloride(TTC) test. For the IDS trial,7 days incubation followed by 9 h of drying and sedimentation in pure water or 200 g L-1sucrose solution identified, respectively, 75 and 82 % of the seeds as viable(sunken) seeds. For the MSG trail, 77 % viable seeds were recovered in the sunken fraction when seeds were soaked for 48 h then immediately sorted in 600 g L-1sucrose solution. In both cases, the loss of viable seeds in the discarded floating fraction was only 4 %. The results demonstrate that both IDS and MSG separation techniques substantially improved seed lot viability, but MSG separation is simple and needs no modern seed handling facility, and its efficacy relies on seed mass(due to the initial soaking) and the specific density and viscosity of the flotation medium.     

Effect of dried Gliricidia sepium leaf supplement on feed intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed dried KW4 elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) ad libitum

A feeding experiment was conducted to study the effects of supplementation with dried Gliricidia sepium leaves on dry matter (DM) intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention in sheep fed KW4 elephant grass. Four mature rams were fed elephant grass ad libitum supplemented with four levels of gliricidia leaves (0, 4, 8 and 12 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Supplementation with gliricidia leaves decreased elephant grass DM intake (g DM day⁻¹ or g DM kg⁻¹ BW^0.75 day⁻¹). However, the effect of supplementation on total DM intake of the rations was not significant (P >; 0.05). Total crude protein intake significantly (P < 0.001) increased with increasing levels of gliricidia supplementation. Total DM digestibility and body weight changes were significantly (P < 0.05) improved by gliricidia supplementation; with the highest digestibility coefficient (60.5%) and body weight gain (89.3 g/day) obtained at 8 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹. Gliricidia supplementation significantly (P < 0.001) improved nitrogen intake, absorbed nitrogen and retained nitrogen but with no significant difference at 8 and 12 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹ level of supplementation. The highest efficiency of N retention by sheep (44.9%) was obtained at 8 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹ level of gliricidia supplementation. The results indicated that supplemention of KW4 elephant grass with small quantities of gliricidia leaves up to 8 g DM kg⁻¹ lwt day⁻¹ enhance utilisation efficiency of the total ration. Further increases in the level of gliricidia supplementation, under the conditions of this experiment, reduced the intake of elephant grass leading to substitution effects of the basal. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.