Publication Date
1989
Description
Digitaria eriantha subsp. eriantha, previously known as D. smutsii (Russel and Smook 1980), is a robust perennial grass adapted to a wide range of soils and climatic conditions. In Australia, the species has performed well on a number of sites with soils ranging from« cracking clays to sandy loams» where rainfall varied between 400 and 1000 mm/annum (Strickland 1987). A similar range of adaptability has been recorded in South Africa (Brockett and Gray 1984, Dannhauser 1985). In cutting trials, D. eriantha yielded between 3500 and 15000 kg of dry matter/ha with annual rainfall of 450 and 1200 mm/annum respectively. The species has a relatively short growing season (November to early February) (Brockett and Gray 1984). Total dry matter production is dependent on the amount and distribution of rainfall during the growing season. An important characteristic of D. eriantha (besides persistance and productivity) is its high nutritive value, even when mature (Dannhauser 1985, Strickland 1987). Despite the apparently high agronomic value of D. eriantha, few studies have been directed at the livestock production potential of this grass species, particularly in the high rainfall eastern-seaboard areas of South Africa. The objective of this paper is to report on beef production from D. eriantha in a subtropical environment.
Citation
Hardy, M B. and Gray, N N., "Beef Production from Digitaria eriantha Subsp. Eriantha in a Sub-Tropical Environment" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 45.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session10/45
Included in
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Beef Production from Digitaria eriantha Subsp. Eriantha in a Sub-Tropical Environment
Digitaria eriantha subsp. eriantha, previously known as D. smutsii (Russel and Smook 1980), is a robust perennial grass adapted to a wide range of soils and climatic conditions. In Australia, the species has performed well on a number of sites with soils ranging from« cracking clays to sandy loams» where rainfall varied between 400 and 1000 mm/annum (Strickland 1987). A similar range of adaptability has been recorded in South Africa (Brockett and Gray 1984, Dannhauser 1985). In cutting trials, D. eriantha yielded between 3500 and 15000 kg of dry matter/ha with annual rainfall of 450 and 1200 mm/annum respectively. The species has a relatively short growing season (November to early February) (Brockett and Gray 1984). Total dry matter production is dependent on the amount and distribution of rainfall during the growing season. An important characteristic of D. eriantha (besides persistance and productivity) is its high nutritive value, even when mature (Dannhauser 1985, Strickland 1987). Despite the apparently high agronomic value of D. eriantha, few studies have been directed at the livestock production potential of this grass species, particularly in the high rainfall eastern-seaboard areas of South Africa. The objective of this paper is to report on beef production from D. eriantha in a subtropical environment.
