scholarly journals Storage and digestibility, voluntary intake and chemical components of hay of five tropical grasses

1969 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 531-543
Author(s):  
Angel V. Méndez-Cruz ◽  
Norma Corchado-Juarbe ◽  
Víctor Siberio-Torres

An evaluation of the hay obtained from tropical grasses coastcross I (Cynodon dactylon), stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis), callie (Cynodon plectostachyus), slenderstem (Digitaria pentzii), and guinea (Panicum maximum) was made at three harvest intervals (35-, 45-, and 55-day) and four storage periods (γ than 4, 4 to 8, 8 to 12, and < than 12 months). In vivo dry matter digestibility and voluntary intake trials were performed with Holstein steers, weighing from 340 to 390 kg. Mean digestibility was 60.8%, 56.8% and 55.0%, respectively, for 35-, 45- and 55-day harvest intervals. The mean reduction caused by storage was from 60.8 to 50.6%, from 56.8 to 48.8%, and from 55.0 to 47.2% for the 35-, 45-, and 55-day intervals, respectively. The lower digestibility values were measured in callie. Voluntary intake declined 12, 18, and 17% and the digested dry matter voluntary intake declined from 1.47 to 1.1%, from 1.31 to 0.9%, and from 1.15 to 0.82%. Crude protein content decreased by 17.0, 15.4, and 15.6% for the respective intervals. The major detrimental effect in hay quality was observed after a 12-month storage. Plant maturity influenced the mean increase of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from 69.7 to 72.6 and 76.6%, acid detergent fiber (ADF) from 37.9 to 43.4 and 47.7%; and lignin content, from 5.2 to 9.3% for the three growth intervals. This increase was 9, 16, and 42% for each parameter. However, as storage effect, NDF, ADF, and lignin content were raised by 4.3%, 12.3%, and 5.0%, respectively.

1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (32) ◽  
pp. 270 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Minson ◽  
R Milford

Pangola (Digitaria decumbens), kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum), setaria (Setaria sphacelata), and buffel grasses (Cenchrus ciliaris) were cut at different stages of growth and artificially dried to provide ten feeds with a range of leaf percentages (13-56), nitrogen contents (0.42-3.70 per cent), and acid detergent fibre percentage (26.3-43.3). Half of each cut was chaffed and the remainder pelleted. Both pellets and chaff were fed to Merino wethers in metabolism cages. Pelleting decreased the mean digestibility of dry matter by 6.8 percentage units, nitrogen by 2.2 percentage units, and ADF by 11.5 percentage units. Pelleting increased the mean voluntary intake by sheep 47 per cent for dry matter and 27 per cent for digestible dry matter with only minor differences in response to pelleting mature and young grass. The smallest increase from pelleting was 4.1 per cent for buffel grass containing 0.42 per cent N. In grass of the same age in which the nitrogen content had been increased to 0.75 by fertilizer nitrogen, pelleting increased intake by 26.6 per cent. It was concluded that with mature tropical grasses the response to pelleting may be limited by a low nitrogen content. Pelleting may be a useful technique for eliminating the effect of physical structure when studying factors affecting the voluntary intake of pasture plants.


1969 ◽  
Vol 94 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 131-146
Author(s):  
Karla Tous-Rivera ◽  
Elide Valencia ◽  
Abner A. Rodríguez ◽  
Paul F. Randel ◽  
Adesogan Adegbola

Two experiments were conducted for determining effects of applying exogenous fibrolytic enzymes to guineagrass hay (GH) [Panicum maximum Jacq. (= Urochloa maxima (Jacq.) R. Webster)] upon chemical composition, voluntary intake (VI), digestibility of various chemical fractions, and apparent and true dry matter (DM) degradability. The enzymatic products used were PromoteNET and BiocellulaseA-20, derived from Trichoderma longibratum and Aspergillus reesei. These products contain mainly cellulase and xylanase. In the first experiment, nine mature Blackbelly x creole crossbred rams of 26.8 kg mean body weight (BW) were used in a 3 x 3 Latin Square design, with 18-d periods. Treatments consisted of untreated hay (control), hay treated with PromoteNET, and hay treated with BiocellulaseA-20, applied by spraying 24 h prior to feeding. Daily hay offerings were at 4% of BW on a dry matter (DM) basis. Enzyme treatment increased contents of DM and crude protein (CP) in the treated GH in comparison with those contents of the untreated hay. A tendency to reduce neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and hemicellulose concentrations through the enzymatic treatments was also observed but was not significant (P > 0.05). The VI of DM of hays treated with BiocellulaseA-20 and PromoteNET (1,139 and 938 g DM/d, respectively) exceeded that of the control (921 g DM/d).The VI of CP, NDF and ADF were higher for hay treated with BiocellulaseA-20  than for GH untreated or treated with PromoteNET. Rams fed enzyme-treated hay had higher (P < 0.05) DM intake as a percentage of BW when compared with those fed untreated GH (4.06% for BiocellulaseA-20 0, 3.15% for PromoteNET, and 2.86% for the control). Apparent DM digestibility increased (P < 0.05) by 5.89 and 4.24 percentage units for BiocellulaseA-20 - and PromoteNET -treated hays in comparison with that of the control (50.12%). Significant increases over the control were observed in digestibility of three other fractions for GH treated with BiocellulaseA-20 and PromoteNET (CP, 3.23 and 3.18; NDF, 7.96 and 4.31; ADF, 7.69 and 7.9 percentage units). Digestibility of dry matter, CP and ADF did not differ (P > 0.05) between enzymatic treatments, whereas NDF digestibility was higher (P < 0.05) for GH treated with BiocellulaseA-20. In the second experiment, apparent dry matter degradability (IVDMDA) and true dry matter degradability (IVDMDT) were found to be higher (P < 0.05) for GH treated with both enzymes than for those of the control (IVDMDA by 2.75 percentage units for BiocellulaseA-20, 2.12 for PromoteNET; IVDMDT by 2.42 and 1.73 units, respectively). These results indicate that application of fibrolytic enzymatic complexes to low-quality tropical grass hay can improve the nutritional value substantially.


1969 ◽  
Vol 94 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 121-130
Author(s):  
Abner A. Rodríguez ◽  
María Vázquez ◽  
Jorge Olivares ◽  
Francisco Rivera ◽  
Luis Cruz ◽  
...  

An experiment, divided into three trials, was conducted to determine the chemical composition, in vitro degradability, and ingestive selectivity of the tropical legumes (TL) Stylosanthes guianensis (Stylo; SG), Cajanus cajan (pigeon-pea; CC) and Arachis glabrata (rhizome perennial peanut; AG). In the first trial the organic matter (OM), inorganic matter (IM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF, hemicelulose), cellulose, lignin and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) content in the whole plant and botanical components (stems and leaves) of the three TL were determined. The second trial evaluated the in vitro apparent (AIVDMD) and true dry matter degradability (TIVDMD) of the three TL during 48 h of incubation in bovine and caprine ruminal fluid. Trial three, of cafeteria type, evaluated the voluntary intake by goats and heifers of the three TL during one hour. In all trials tropical grass hay (HG) was used as control forage. A qualitative scale (none, low, medium and high) was used to express the intake of TL and GH. Organic matter content was lower (P < 0.05) but IM was higher (P < 0.05) in AG than in CC, SG, and GH. In all three TL, the CP content was higher (P < 0.05) than inTG, but NDF was lower (P < 0.05). AmongTL species, CP content was higher (P < 0.05) in AG than in SG and CC, but NDF content was similar. ADF content was also lower (P < 0.05) in AG than in CC and in SG, but hemicelulose percentage was higher (P < 0.05). Lignin was lower (P < 0.05) in GH than in the three legumes, and CC showed the highest (P < 0.05) ADIN content among the forages evaluated. For all three TL, CP in leaves was higher than 20%. Leaf NDF content was lower (P < 0.05) in CC than in AG and in SG, whereas ADF was higher (P < 0.05) in SG than in AG and CC. Leaves of AG also had higher (P < 0.05) hemicelulose but lower (P < 0.05) cellulose values than CC and SG. Lignin content was similar in leaves of the three TL, but ADIN content was higher (P < 0.05) in CC. Crude protein content of stems was lower (P < 0.05) in CC than in AG and SG.The NDF content and its fractions (ADF, cellulose and hemicelulose) were lower (P < 0.05) in AG stems than in those of SG and CC.The highest (P < 0.05) lignin content and lowest (P < 0.05) ADIN content were observed in CC and SG stems, respectively. In the second trial, use of either ruminal inoculum type gave AIVDMD and TIVDMD values that were, in descending order, highest (P < 0.05) in AG than in SG, GH and CC. In trial three a greater intake was observed in goats and heifers offered AG and GH than when offered SG and CC. Based on nutrient content, in vitro dry matter degradability, and voluntary intake, AG showed greater potential as a forage source than SG and CC. However, all three TL showed promise as potential alternatives for use as an integral part of ruminant feeding systems in the tropics.


1969 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-200
Author(s):  
H. Kayongo-Male ◽  
J. W. Thomas ◽  
D. E. Ullrey ◽  
R. J. Deans ◽  
J. A. Arroyo-Aguilú

One hundred and one tropical grasses, lightly fertilized with ammonium nitrate at the rate of 350 kg/ha, were harvested by hand (machete) at 30 days of growth. Crude protein content ranged from 9.8 to 23.8% while lignin content ranged from 2.6 to 7.9%. Wide ranges in the percentage of neutral-detergent fiber (45.7 to 79.2%), acid-detergent fiber (30.9 to 45.3%), hemicellulose (11.7 to 37.5%), and silica (0.4 to 5.5%) were obtained. Digestibility estimates obtained by the Tilley and Terry method and neutral-detergent fiber digestibilities had wide ranges: 42.6 to 66.0% and 22.0 to 62.0%, respectively. Total dry matter disappearance ranged from 44.3 to 78.2%. Digestibility estimates from predictive equations ranged from 74.0 to 94.5% for estimated digestible dry matter, 67.3 to 91.7% for estimated true digestible dry matter, and 54.4 to 78.8% for estimated apparent digestible dry matter. Analysis of variance showed significant variations between and within genera, indicating a possibility of genetic improvement through selection for high nutritive value. Silica was variably correlated with digestibility depending on genera. Acid-detergent fiber seemed more important than lignin in determining digestibility values. The significance of the term L/ADF in relation to digestibility estimates among all data and among genera was much less for in vitro estimates than for estimates calculated from predictive equations. This may indicate that lignification of cellulose has less influence on digestibility of tropical than of temperate forages. The estimated digestibility values based on fibrous constituents were poorly correlated to in vitro digestibility values, indicating inadequacy of using predictive equations developed for temperate forages with tropical grasses. Correlation coefficients between measured parameters showed great variation among four genera: Paspalum, Pennisetum, Digitaria, and Panicum.


2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Belal S. Obeidat

A study was conducted to examine how lupin grains (LUPs) feeding affected nutritional intake, digestibility, growth, and carcass characteristics in kids. A total of 24 growing black kids (initial body weight (BW) = 16.4 ± 0.49 kg) were allocated to one of three diets at random. Lupin was included in the diet at a rate of 0 (control; CON), 100 (LUP100), or 200 g/kg (LUP200) of total dry matter (DM). The trial lasted for 91 days divided into 7 and 84 days to be used for adaptation and data collection, respectively. Feed intake was evaluated daily throughout the study. At the commencement and the end of the study, each kid’s body weight was measured to determine its average daily gain (ADG). On day 70, 5 kids were chosen at random from each group to investigate nutrient in vivo digestibility and N balance. At the end of the study, all of the kids were slaughtered to examine carcass features. Nutrient intakes (neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and ether extract) were higher (p ≤ 0.01) in LUP-containing diets than in the CON diet. The average daily gain was greater (p ≤ 0.03) in diets containing lupin grains than in the CON diet. Cost of gain ($US/kg growth) was lower (p = 0.004) in kids fed diets containing lupin than the CON diet. Dry matter and CP digestibility rates were greater (p ≤ 0.03) in lupin diets. Retained N was higher (p = 0.04) in lupin-containing diets than in the CON diet. Cold carcass weight was higher (p < 0.05) for kids consuming the LUP100 diet than the CON diet. In lupin diets, carcass cut weights were higher (p < 0.05). Results of the current study indicate that feeding black kids diets containing lupin grains at 100 or 200 g/kg DM basis is cost effective and would increase profitability.


1969 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-177
Author(s):  
Rafael Ramos-Santana ◽  
Yamil Quijano-Cabrera ◽  
Raúl Macchiavelli

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the dry matter yield and quality performance of Maralfalfa forage obtained at six harvest intervals (HI; 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 d) on three dairies in northern Puerto Rico during the long day season. The 40-day harvest interval was significantly (P < 0.05) inferior in dry matter yield to those of 60, 80, and 90 days; no significant (P < 0.05) differences in yield were observed among intervals of 40, 50 and 70 days. The 40-day interval showed the highest forage quality as indicated by crude protein content, digestibility in vitro of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber, and estimated net energy, index of relative forage quality and theoretical milk production. Although significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed in some of these criteria between 40- and 50-day harvest intervals, the latter maintained a good nutritional value in contrast to drastic losses in quality observed with the longer harvest intervals under study. The simple regression equations between digestibility in vitro of dry matter and of neutral detergent fiber versus harvest interval showed a decrease in digestibility of 2.7 and 3.0 percentage points for each additional 10 days of harvest interval, respectively.


1969 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-227
Author(s):  
José Vicente-Chandler ◽  
Servando Silva ◽  
Jacinto Figarella

The effects of nitrogen rates ranging from 0 to 2,000 pounds of N per acre yearly and of 40-, 60-, and 90-day harvest intervals on the yield and composition of Napier grass and on soil acidity, were determined for three consecutive years. Yields increased with nitrogen fertilization to at least the 800-pound level during all seasons. Crude-protein contents and protein yields increased with nitrogen fertilization up to the 2,000-pound level. More than 60 percent of the fertilizer nitrogen was recovered in the forage at all rates up to 1,200 pounds per acre yearly, but efficiency of utilization in terms of dry matter produced per pound of nitrogen decreased beyond the 400- pound level. The phosphorus and potassium contents of the forage decreased, but the lignin content increased with increasing nitrogen rates. The calcium and magnesium contents were not markedly affected by nitrogen fertilization. Dry-matter and protein yields and lignin content of the forage increased, while the protein, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and potassium contents decreased with length of harvest interval. With a 60-day harvest interval and 800 pounds of nitrogen per acre yearly, which seemed to be the optimum combination, Napier grass yielded 44,561 pounds of dry matter, or about 130 tons of green forage, per acre yearly, containing 9.7 percent of protein. With this treatment, Napier grass removed 674 pounds of nitrogen, 554 of potassium, and 120 each of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus per acre yearly from the soil. Over-all yields did not decrease during the 3 years of experimentation but seasonal yields varied by as much as 70 percent of the average. The treatments affected residual yields obtained more than 6 months after the experiment was terminated. The application of 800 pounds of N as ammonium sulfate per acre annually over a 3-year period caused a drop of 3 pH units and a loss of 10.4 m.e. of exchangeable bases per 100 gm. of soil in the upper 6 inches of soil.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5Supl1) ◽  
pp. 2397
Author(s):  
Clésio dos Santos Costa ◽  
Rosane Cláudia Rodrigues ◽  
Ricardo Alves de Araújo ◽  
Francisco Naysson de Sousa Santos ◽  
Giovanne Oliveira Costa Sousa ◽  
...  

he aim of this study was to evaluate fermentation and chemical characteristics and the in situ degradability of sorghum silages enriched with dried Leucaena. The experiment was conducted as completely randomized design with four treatments (0 - control silage, silage without leucaena; 10.0, 20.0, or 30.0% inclusion of Leucaena) and five replicates, totaling 20 experimental units. The inclusion levels of leucaena influenced (P 0.05), with all silages having values above 90%. Gas loss decreased (P < 0.05) as the level of leucine increased in sorghum silage. A linear increase was observed for dry matter (P ? 0.0001) and crude protein (P = 0.0008) contents in response to Leucaena inclusion. There was a linear (P < 0.05) linear effect on neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose and acid detergent fiber. As leucaena inclusion levels increased, for each 1% inclusion a reduction of 0.179 was observed; 0.059 and 0.119% for the values of neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose and acid detergent fiber respectively. The inclusion of leucaena influenced (P < 0.05) the increase of silage lignin levels, probably due to the higher lignin content of the legume. The soluble fraction (a) of the silages increased along with the Leucaena inclusion levels, with highest values observed at the inclusion of 20 and 30% of the legume, respectively. Potential degradation (A) increased linearly with the levels of Leucaena added to the silage; the highest value for this variable was observed at 30% inclusion. Effective degradability (ED) increased up to the inclusion level of 20% (46.77%). Degradation rate (c) decreased markedly with the use of 30% Leucaena. The use of the forage part of Leucaena dried for three hours leads to reduced gas production, increased dry matter and crude protein contents, and decreased fiber contents. The degradability of dry matter increases up to the inclusion level of 20%.


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 1427
Author(s):  
Thais Valéria Souza Silva ◽  
Luciano Fernandes Sousa ◽  
Antônio Clementino dos Santos ◽  
Ana Cristina Holanda Ferreira ◽  
Rebeca Rocha Cardoso ◽  
...  

The effects of phosphate and nitrogen fertilization on aspects of forage composition and ruminal fermentation were separately evaluated pre- and post-grazing, in addition to the dry matter intake and weight gain of sheep grazing Panicum maximum cv. Massai under a rotational system on Quartzipsamment soil. The aim was to evaluate the effect of fertilization with different levels of phosphorous (50 and 200 kg P2O5/ha) and nitrogen (100 and 400 kg N/ha) compared to unfertilized control soil. The experiment was conducted at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at Universidade Federal do Tocantins – UFT, in a randomized complete block design with four replicates in a factorial 2 × 2 design. The study area consisted of 32 paddocks (301 m²), each of which had previously been sown with Panicum maximum cv. Massai. The experimental area was managed under intermittent stocking with a variable stocking rate. Twenty-eight crossbreed sheep were used for grazing management. Evaluations were made before and after grazing, including forage evaluation and measurement of ruminal degradability and intake (using titanium dioxide as the external marker). Regarding the forage composition, a significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed between the control and fertilizer treatments for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber, crude protein, lignin and phosphorous content. Fertilization was found to alter the nutritional quality of Panicum maximum cv. Massai grass. Among the nutritional aspects evaluated, fertilization influenced NDF, grass digestibility and dry matter intake. The forage composition of Massai grass is improved by fertilization with nitrogen at 100 kg N/ha and phosphate up to 50 kg P2O5/ha, which represents a relevant management practice for increasing quantity and quality.


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