The nutritional value of some tropical grasses

1965 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Grieve ◽  
D. F. Osbourn

1. Twenty feeding and digestibility trials were carried out on seven tropical grasses to determine their nutritional value at different stages of growth, and to study their suitability as possible pasture grasses.2. Content of crude protein was relatively high at immature growth stages of the forages, and declined rapidly with the onset of flowering.3. Digestibility of dry matter and gross energy increased in most of the forages tested to the 5-week stage of regrowth but declined rapidly in mature stages of forages tested at 6 or 8 weeks of regrowth. Digestibility of crude protein declined with increasing maturity of the forages.4. The Nutritive Value Index of each forage was highest at four or five weeks of regrowth. The optimum time to graze the forages tested would occur between 4 and 5 weeks of regrowth, at the stage when flowering commences. This would combine high yield of forage with high nutritional value.

Author(s):  
Ivone Rodrigues da Silva ◽  
Francirose Shigaki ◽  
Rosane Cláudia Rodrigues ◽  
Ana Paula Ribeiro Jesus ◽  
Clésio dos Santos Costa ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of sugarcane silage with or without inoculation with P. acidipropionici or L. buchneri, over three fermentation periods. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 x 3 inoculant by fermentation period factorial arrangement (without inoculant, inoculant 1, inoculant 2; x three fermentation periods, 10, 60, 90 days). Values of pH, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HEM) and lignin were determined and in situ DM degradability profiles were modelled for parameters a, b and c, potential degradation (A) and effective degradability (ED). The 90 day fermentation yielded a lower pH for both inoculants. There was an interaction between inoculant and fermentation period (P < 0.05) for DM content, with a reduction in silage DM without the additive at 90 days. The CP, HEM, ADF and lignin contents of sugarcane were not influenced by the treatments. The addition of P. acidipropionici provided the lowest NDF content at 10 days and presented a higher fraction a, potential degradation and ED. At 60 days, there was no variation in soluble fraction, the control silage showed a higher fraction b, higher potential degradation and ED. At 90 days of fermentation, L. buchneri silages presented a higher fraction a, degradation rate and DE and a higher b value was obtained in the silage without inoculant. Inoculants are effective in maintaining the silage DM content and nutritional value during prolonged fermentation periods.


Author(s):  
J. Hill ◽  
J.D. Leaver

Whole crop wheat (WCW) is a relatively new crop as a feed for dairy cows, and little information is available on its dry matter yield and nutritive value relative to stage of growth at harvest. Also, the role of urea (which hydrolyses to ammonia in the crop) addition in reducing fermentation and aerobic spoilage losses has not been investigated.The aim of this experiment was to examine three stages of growth at harvest for WCW, with and without urea.An area of winter wheat (cv Fortress) was cut (5 cm above ground) at three growth stages (GS 49, 71 and 87). The resultant forages were chopped through a precision-chop harvester and stored in air-tight barrels of 0.225 m3 capacity. Urea was added at 0 and 40 g/kgDM at each stage of growth and there were three replicates of each treatment. Thermocouples placed centrally were used to monitor temperature changes. The mini silos held approximately 100 kg of forages and they were opened after 90 days. Vertical cores were taken as samples and the mini silos were left open for a further 18 days to assess aerobic deterioration.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1135-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Seoane ◽  
Ch. Beaulieu ◽  
J. Florez ◽  
G. Dupuis

Data collected during 2 years on four grasses (three cultivars of timothy and one cultivar of bromegrass) harvested at four stages of growth were analyzed to identify variables that affect the nutritive value of grass hays for sheep. From 11 June, the day of the first harvest, to July 25, the percentage of crude protein (CP) decreased 0.17 unit/d (r2 = 0.86, P < 0.001) and the percentage of acid detergent lignin (ADL) increased 0.06 units/d (r2 = 0.74, P < 0.001). Over this period, dry matter (DM) intake decreased at a rate of 0.41 g kg−0.75 d−1 (r2 = 0.54, P < 0.001) and was negatively correlated with fiber content (P < 0.001). Delay of harvest caused a decrease in percent digestibility of 0.39 unit/d for DM (r2 = 0.86, P < 0.001), 0.38 unit/d for energy (r2 = 0.85, P < 0.001), 0.54 unit/d for CP (r2 = 0.77, P < 0.001) and 0.63 unit/d for NDF (r2 = 0.93, P < 0.001). Total digestible nutrients (TDN) decreased 0.35 unit/d (r2 = 0.86, P < 0.001). Date of harvest and %ADL were used to estimate energy value of hays. Digestible energy intake and TDN intake values decreased by 122.4 kJ kg−0.75 (r2 = 0.87, P < 0.001) and 6.6 g kg−0.75 (r2 = 0.89, P < 0.001), respectively, for each 1% increase in ADL of the hays. Equations were developed to estimate digestible DM intake and TDN intake, using NDF and ADF as independent variables. The predictive value of the equations was good when applied to data obtained from previous experiments (r2 = 0.87–0.91, n = 11, P < 0.001). Key words: Nutritive value, forages, sheep


1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 621 ◽  
Author(s):  
PF Mannion ◽  
BJ Blaney ◽  
MS Levitt

The nutritional value of water-damaged wheat and free-flowing wheat from temporary bulk stores at Goondiwindi was determined. Each was fed to meat chickens as the sole grain component or combined in several proportions, and compared with a control wheat in diets of similar nutrient composition. In addition, the nutrient composition of water-damaged and free-flowing wheat from temporary stores at Meeandarra, Thallon, Jandowae and Millmerran in southern Queensland was determined.A progressive reduction in the ratio of total amino acids to crude protein (0.98-0-70 w/w) and innitrogen-free extract (789-685 g kg-1 dry matter) was associated with increasing severity of water damage. Ether extract and gross energy contents of the dry matter were low in water-damaged wheat from all sites, but only the wheat with the most damage had a lower metabolizable energy content (12.99 versus 14.12 MJ kg-1) in the dry matter and as a proportion of gross energy (71% versus 76%) than free-flowing wheat from the same site.The three diets containing high levels of rotten (two diets) and severely water-damaged wheat (one diet) resulted in an average liveweight gain (26.1 g day-1) and feed conversion (1.86) which was poorer than that of the free-flowing wheat (28.1 g day-1, 1.59) and the average of other less water-damaged wheat treatments (29.7 g day-1, 1.57). The higher average liveweight gain of the latter treatments relative to the free-flowing wheat and control (27.3 g day-1) treatments was significant but was not reflected in better feed conversion. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed.


1966 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-201
Author(s):  
S. E. Beacom

Forty-eight lambs were individually fed to assess the effects of moistening on the relative nutritional value of four ground forages, fed as the sole diet for 8 weeks and with 20% concentrate thereafter until the lambs were finished.Moistening the ground forages improved animal performance but the effect was not consistent for all forages. When the four forages were fed dry, lamb gains varied considerably but when the forages were moistened, gains were similar on all four forages. The "nutritive value index" reflected the relative feeding values of the dry, but not the moistened forages. During the growing period, moistening caused slight, but non-significant reductions in the digestibility of dry matter, energy, crude protein, and cellulose. Nitrogen retention was unaffected by moistening.In the finishing period, moistening the ration improved lamb gains but digestibility coefficients and nitrogen retention were unaffected. Dressing percentage was reduced as a result of moistening the ration but no other adverse effects on carcass quality or grade were found.Good average daily gains (152 g) and excellent carcass grades (35 "choice", 13 "good") obtained in this experiment indicate that lambs can be successfully finished on rations containing a high proportion of ground roughage.


Pastura ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
I G. N. Jelantik ◽  
T. T. Nikolaus ◽  
C. Leu Penu ◽  
Gemini E. M. Malelak ◽  
Imanuel Benu

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate herbage production and nutritive value of C. ternatea harvested at 60, 75 and 90 days after planting. The legume was planted in eighteen of 3 × 3 m2 plots a t 40 × 20 cm2. Forage was harvested at 60, 75 and 90 days after planting as treatmens. Variables measured included forage production, nutrient content and in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Herbage production was not significantly different (P>0.05) when harvested at different stages of growth. Leaf : stem ratio, however, declined (P<0.05) with advancing growth stage. Forage quality in terms of crude protein content was comparable (P>0.05) among different harvest time. Meanwhile the energetic value as shown by in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was significantly higher (P<0.05) when C. ternatea was harvested 60 days compared to 75 and 90 days after planting. It can be concluded that for calf supplement, C. ternatea is preferably harvested at 60 d after planting. Key words : Clitoria ternatea, IVOMD, energy, calf supplement


1997 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A. Degen ◽  
A. Blanke ◽  
K. Becker ◽  
M. Kam ◽  
R. W. Benjamin ◽  
...  

AbstractAcacia saligna and A. salicina phyllodes, harvested in autumn from young and mature trees, were fed as sole diets to goats (20·3 (s.d. 4·8) kg; no. = 16) and sheep (32·6 (s.d. 4·9) kg; no. = 16). Crude protein of phyllodes from mature trees was 111 g/kg dry matter (DM) and from young trees ranged between 121 and 132 g/kg DM. Condensed tannins and ash content were about twice as high in young trees as in old ones and gross energy was higher in old trees than in young ones. DM intakes by goats from both tree species were low: 24·8 and 13·7 g/kg M0·75 per day for mature and young trees, respectively. Corresponding intakes by sheep were 20·4 and 11·5 g/kg M0·75 per day. Metabolizable energy intakes were up to 125 and 99 kj/kg M0·75 per day for goats and sheep, respectively and were higher for phyllodes from mature trees than for young trees. Goats lost up to 219 glday and sheep up to 346 g/day and both species were in negative nitrogen balance. DM, organic matter and energy apparent digestibilities were low for all diets but were generally higher for goats than sheep. It is concluded that neither A. saligna nor A. salicina could be used as a sole food for small ruminants because of low intakes and negative nitrogen balances. This appears to be due to high tannin content.


2006 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Písaříková ◽  
J. Peterka ◽  
M. Trčková ◽  
J. Moudrý ◽  
Z. Zralý ◽  
...  

Forty samples of dry above-ground biomass of two species and four varieties of Amaranthus cruentus (varieties Olpir, Amar 2 RR-R 150, and A 200 D) and A. hypochondriacus (variety No. 1008) were analyzed to determine their nutritional value during the experimental period covering five growth stages since inflorescence emergence till full ripening of grain from day 80 to day 120 of cultivation. The content of crude protein in the investigated amaranth varieties significantly decreased (from 158.2 ± 1.20 - 185.4 ± 2.33 to 103.8 ± 1.20 - 113.1 ± 0.01 g/kg) as well as did the crude ash content (from 169.9 ± 0.14 - 192.2 ± 0.42 to 129.7 ± 0.14 - 138.4 ± 0.21 g/kg). In contrast, the ether extract content significantly increased (from 12.2 ± 0.14 - 15.9 ± 0.28 to 28.0 ± 0.28 - 36.4 ± 0.14 g/kg) as well as crude fibre (from 144.9 ± 2.12 - 170.0 ± 3.68 to 183.6 ± 7.00 - 276.0 ± 1.20 g/kg), and gross-energy (from 16.6 ± 0.03 - 17.2 ± 0.07 to 18.1 ± 0.14 - 18.4 ± 0.01 MJ/kg) between days 80 and 120 of cultivation. The relatively high content of crude protein in the aboveground biomass in the period between days 80 and 90 of cultivation suggests that the plants could be used as a nutrient substitute for conventional forages.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (10) ◽  
pp. 951-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Henrique de Souza ◽  
Cristian Faturi ◽  
Luiz Fernando de Souza Rodrigues ◽  
Ednaldo da Silva Filho ◽  
Aníbal Coutinho do Rêgo ◽  
...  

Abstract: The objective of this work was to assess the nutritive value of four elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) genotypes. The chemical composition, intake by sheep, and digestibility of different genotypes (G1, G2, G3, and G4) were evaluated. A dry matter (DM) digestibility assay was performed with total leftovers and feces collected from 20 sheep kept in metabolic cages. G3 had lower DM intake in grams per animal per day compared with G1 and G2, and it had greater digestibility, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber values. G1, G2, and G4 have the best nutritive values among the evaluated genotypes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 348-353
Author(s):  
B. Písaříková ◽  
J. Peterka ◽  
M. Trčková ◽  
J. Moudrý ◽  
Z. Zralý ◽  
...  

Twenty samples of the aboveground biomass of <i>Amaranthus cruentus</i> (varieties Olpir, Amar 2 RR-R 150, and A 200 D) and <i>A. hypochondriacus</i> (variety No. 1008) were analysed to determine their nutritional value during the experimental period covering five growth stages from inflorescence emergence till full ripening of grain. During plant growth, from day 80 to day 120 of cultivation, the nutritional value decreased. This was demonstrated by an increase in insoluble fibre and a reduction in crude protein content. The content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in the dry matter increased from 356 to 420 g/kg (<i>P</i> < 0.01); acid detergent fibre (ADF) from 238 to 286 g/kg (<i>P</i> < 0.01); acid detergent lignin (ADL) from 22.9 to 53.4 g/kg (<i>P</i> < 0.01). The content of crude protein in the dry matter of the investigated amaranth varieties decreased from 174 to 109 g/kg (<i>P</i> < 0.01). In the Czech Republic the aboveground biomass of the cultivated <i>A. cruentus</i> and <i>A. hypochondriacus</i> could be used as a good source of fibre and protein in animal diets when harvested in the period from day 80 to 90 of cultivation.


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