Seasonal variation in the protein content and the grazing of some tropical savanna grasses

Summary This paper presents the effects of seasonal variation on the protein contents of four grass species examined in the experimental fire plots at Kainji Lake National Park in the Northern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. Also reported is the proportion of grass utilized on year‐long basis. Tropical savanna grasses generally have higher protein contents at the beginning of the growing season than at the end when they become tall, coarse and unpalatable. It is also shown that the percentage of grass species utilized by game follow the seasonal changes in their protein contents; utilization being highest when the protein content of grass is optimum. It is stressed that trees, shrubs and forbs should not be totally eliminated from grazing lands because of the great contribution they make to animal feeding during the dry season when the grasses become dry and coarse with low nutritive value.