Productive Performance of Local Pasture in Manufahi District, East Timor

Abstract

Background: The nutritional value of feed is often of poor quality and seasonal supply erratic resulting in low levels of the carrying capacity of pastures. Local pasture needs to be managed and recorded for their existence because they are a valuable source of feed cheap and easy to obtain: botanical, chemical composition and carrying capacity, of grasses and legumes is being investigated. Methods: A survey and measurements direct observation in field. Measuring forage production using the “Actual Weight Estimate” method to obtain total forage production, botanical composition and carrying capacity. Chemical composition tested by Weende analysis. Result: Grasses species are dominant at Dotik while Legume at Fatucahi. The carrying capaicity is higher at Dotik but chemical comptotion of the forages is tend to similar at both areas.