UTILISATION OF LOW QUALITY ROUGHAGES FOR RUMINANT FEEDING

Abstract

Demand for meat and milk supplies has been predicted to increase dramatically
in the next 20 to 50 years (Delgado er al 1999). Ruminants in the tropics are in a
unique position to help satisfy this demand because of the sheer abundance of low
quality roughages and their potential to support ruminant production if specific
nutritional strategies are employed. However, these roughages are deficient in
critical nutrients that are required to support and maintain the rumen microorganisms. These microbes are essential to convert the feed into organic acids that provide the animal with energy, and in turn, the orgartisms themselves are the main supply of protein to the animal.