Observation

This question was attempted by many candidates and marks were above average.
(a)        Many candidates did not follow the scientific convention in writing the botanical
names of Centrosema and Guinea grass; thus losing marks.
            (b)        Apart from Stylo, Kudzu and Mucuna, majority of the candidates were not
familiar with other forages that could replace Guinea grass on a pasture.
            (c)        In Question 1(d), almost all the candidates mentioned soilage as the fresh form of
preserving Guinea grass while others wrote straw as the dry form of preserving
the grass.

The expected answers include:

1.   (a)  (i) Botanical names of specimens
A (Centrosema)   -  Centrosema molle/Centrosema pubescens/Centrosema spp.
B (Guinea grass)  -  Megathyrsus maximus/Urochloa maxima/Panicum maximum
(ii)        Benefits of growing specimens A and B together (Grass-legume mixture)

• It suppresses weed
• Legumes supply protein to livestock/grasses supply carbohydrate/balance diet
• Legumes add nitrogen into the soil
• Combination is more acceptable to the animals/improves palatability
• Improve the nutritional qualities of the forage
• It reduces erosion and leaching on the forage land
• It provides adequate materials for ensiling/hay making/increases forage yield
• Mixture reduces bloat
• Mixture increases growth
• Legumes improve recovery and regrowth of grasses after grazing
• It increases grazing period within a year/reduction in evapotranspiration

(b) Management practices carried out on a pasture
-    Application of fertilizers                                        -    Reseeding
-    Rotational grazing/paddocking                             -    Removal of weeds
-    Disease control                                                      -    Pest control
-    Controlled stocking                                               -    Irrigation
-    Cultivation of aggressive pasture species              -    Controlled burning
-    Liming of acidic soils                                            -    Cutting at intervals
-    Plough back

(c)        Other forages which could be used in place of specimen A on a pasture
-    Stylo – Stylosanthes spp                            -    Tropical kudzu – Pueraria spp
-    Calopo – Calopogonium mucunoides       -    Crotalaria – Crotalaria spp
-    Mucuna – Mucuna spp                              -    Lablab ­­­-  Lablab purpureus
-    Alfalfa                                                       -    Clover

(d) Forms in which specimen B could be presented to livestock
(i)  Fresh form

• Cut and carry/zero grazing
• Soilage

(ii)   Dry form

• Hay                                                                                  

(iii) Fermented form
-    Silage