Improvement in Nutrient Quality of Cattle Diet and Manure : Nutrient recycling in urban and peri-urban crop-livestock production systems

This study determined the effect of legume supplementation to dairy cattle fed Pennisetum purpureum diet on feed intake and manuring quality of ensuing faeces; and whether if properly managed and applied in combination with mineral fertilisers, cattle manure would boost Pennisetum fodder yield and quality. Total DM intake, apparent DM digestibility, ME intake, milk yield and daily intake of N, P, K and Ca were increased by supplementation. Composts derived from faeces stored in open pits (T3) and those stockpiled on flat ground and left uncovered (T4) were at advanced stages of decomposition and exhibited features of maturity. But the T4 method produced poor quality compost due to higher N and K losses. Sole application of composted cattle manure at low, medium and high rates or in combination with mineral fertilisers at medium and high rates improved the growth of Pennisetum fodder. Results suggest that there is potential for improving the quality of Pennisetum diet fed to dairy cows through supplementation with legume foliage. Better diet would result in higher milk yields, and higher faecal output and faecal nutrients for recycling within the crop-livestock production systems.