ABSTRACT
Smallholder dairy production based on zero-grazed Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv Bana) fed to crossbred Bos taurus x Bos indicus cows has been introduced to tropical subhumid East Africa. Leucaena leucocephala forage offers a cheap, convenient source of supplementary protein. Thirty-six Ayrshire/Brown Swiss x Sahiwal cows with one to four previous lactations and which calved during the period 26 March to 2 August 1990 were stall-fed individually to evaluate the effects of harvesting height of Napier grass (1.0 or 1.5 m) and level of Leucaena supplement (0, 4 or 8 kg fresh weight) on dry-matter (DM) intake of Napier grass, total DM intake, liveweight change and milk yield. The study began on day 15 of lactation and lasted 98 days. Average daily milk yield and liveweight during the second week of lactation were covariates for milk yield, and for DM intake and liveweight change, respectively. Harvesting height of Napier grass significantly (P