The effect of age and method of haymaking on the digestibility and voluntary intake of the forage legumes Dolichos lablab and Vigna sinensis

Abstract

Cowpea sown in January and harvested in April had a higher dry matter digestibility and voluntary intake in comparison with Dolichos. When field cured for 20 days, differences in digestibility and voluntary intake were not significant between species, and levels of both were markedly reduced. Intermediate levels for digestibility and voluntary intake were obtained after field curing for 8 days. Dry matter digestibility of Dolichos declined at subsequent first growth harvests in May, July, and August but voluntary intake for the April, May, and August cuts was similar.