Feeding Value of Jambo Grass Silage and Mott Grass Silage for Lactating Nili Buffaloes

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of jambo grass (Sorghum bicolour×Sorghum sudanefe) silage and mott grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silage as a replacement of conventional fodder (jambo grass) in the diet of lactating Nili buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Thirty early-lactating (45±4 days), multi-parous Nili buffaloes, ten in each group, were allotted to three experimental diets. Jambo grass and mott grass were ensiled with molasses (at 2% of fodder DM) in two trench silos for 30 days. The control diet (JG) contained 75% jambo grass while the other two diets contained 75% jambo grass silage (JGS) and 75% mott grass silage (MGS). The remaining 25% DM in each diet was supplied by concentrates. Diets were mixed daily and fed twice a day ad libitum for 120 days. Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher with the JG diet compared with JGS and MGS diets. However, DMI as % body weight did not differ significantly in buffaloes fed either fodder or silage based diets. Crude protein (CP), digestible CP and NDF intakes were significantly higher on JG compared with silage-based diets. Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF were similar in buffaloes fed JG, JGS and MGS diets. Milk yield (4% FCM) was similar in buffaloes fed JG and silage based diets. Fat, total solids, solid not fat, CP, true protein and non-protein nitrogen content of milk were similar in buffaloes fed fodder or silage based diets. The present results indicated that jambo grass and mott grass ensiled with 2% molasses for 30 days could safely replace the conventional fresh grass fodder (75% DM) in the diet of lactating Nili buffaloes without affecting their milk yield.

Nutrients intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and growth performance of sheep fed different silages with or without concentrate

“…pre-heading, heading and milk stages, respectively. Fodder was ensiled by the same ensiling technique as per procedure described by Tauqir et al (2007). Concentrate was mixed with silages manually, every morning before feeding to the lambs.…”

Influence of Varying Dry Matter and Molasses Levels on Berseem and Lucerne Silage Characteristics and Their In situ Digestion Kinetics in Nili Buffalo Bulls

“…Addition of corn starch or molasses to Mott grass (Pennisitum purpureum) at ensiling has improved the availability of fermentable sugars for anaerobic fermentation that lead to higher acid production and thus lower silage pH (Nisa et al, 2005). Higher lactic acid content and corresponding lower pH of oat grass ensiled with cane molasses were attributed to the availability of easily fermentable sugars for better growth of lactic acid producing bacteria (Bureenok et al, 2005;Sarwar et al, 2006, Touqir et al, 2007. This higher production of lactic acid lowers the silage pH and terminates the microbial activity in the ensiled material needed for its preservation (McDonald et al, 1991;Bolsen et al, 1996).…”

“…The addition of less degradable wheat straw (Khan et al, 2006b) to berseem and lucerne fodders has probably resulted in depressed DM and NDF digestibility of their silages. Further the loss of fermentable carbohydrates during ensiling (Nisa et al, 2005;Touqir et al, 2007) might have depressed the ruminal degradability of berseem and lucerne silages compared to fodders.…”

“…Constant supply of forage could be achieved by ensiling when the fodders are abundantly available (Sarwar et al, 2006). However, few attempts have been made to ensile locally available fodders (Touqir et al, 2007) and scientific information on the nutritive value of both grass and legume silages are also scarce in buffaloes.…”

Nutritional Evaluation of Maize Plant Fodder Grown in Spring and Autumn Season in Punjab, Pakistan

“…The fodder is rich in nutrients and it can be saved to fulfill the requirements in days of scarcity. Silage-making is an important technique in this regard (Touqir et al, 2007). The main goal of silage making is to preserve the extra fodder and its nutritional value without scarifying the area under cash crops.…”