Nutritive value of selected grasses in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

The nutritive values of seven native grass species collected in North Sumatra, Indonesia, during dry and rainy seasons were evaluated. The chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), in vitro crude protein digestibility (IVCPD), macro mineral concentrations of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium, in vitro gas production profile and metabolizable energy (ME) content of the grasses varied greatly among species and seasons. The crude protein content ranged from 6.6 (Andropogon gayanus) to 16.2% dry matter (Cynodon plectostachyus) in the rainy season, with a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the dry season. Data on the fiber fraction showed that the grasses contained more neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the dry season and it significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the rainy season, except for Panicum maximum and Pennisetum purpureum for NDF content and C. plectostachyus, P. maximum and Brachiaria decumbens for ADF content. Data on the mineral concentration showed that C. plectostachyus in the dry and rainy seasons had a higher calcium content than those of other species. The overall means of the seven grasses for IVDMD, IVOMD and IVCPD were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the rainy season than in the dry season. The in vitro gas production and ME concentration were numerically higher in the rainy season than in the dry season. In conclusion, the nutritive value of the observed grasses in North Sumatra was relatively higher during the rainy season compared with the dry season. Among the species of grass, P. purpureum and C. plectostachyus had a higher nutritive value in both the dry and rainy seasons.

On-farm evaluation of improved Brachiaria grasses in low rainfall and aluminium toxicity prone areas of Rwanda

“…The CP of indigenous Brachiaria was similar to the results found by Enoh et al (2005) who reported that CP level in B. decumbens after twelve weeks (three months) of harvest was of 5.8% in Adamawa plateau of Cameroon. Nevertheless, our results on CP of the indigenous Brachiaria were lower than that found by Evitayani et al (2005). They stated that in the tropical region of Indonesia, Brachiaria decumbens collected in the natural grassland of Sumatra during the wet and dry seasons, CP was 12.8 and 8.7%, respectively.…”

“…The P of local Brachiaria (control) in both seasons was less than that of Prezotto et al (2005) who recorded P value of 0.91% in B. decumbens during the second cut. However, it was Mutimura and Everson 151 similar to that of Evitayani et al (2005) who recorded (0.19 and 0.21%) during the dry and wet seasons respectively in Indonesia. In the wet season, the P content in cv.…”

Effect of feeding some West African browse foliages on growth and carcass composition in sheep

“…The CP content of the hay from A. gayanus was comparable to the values of 87 and 102 g/kg DM found by Evitayani et al (2005) and Phengvichith and Ledin (2007), respectively, but was higher than the 57 g/kg DM reported by Kaboré-Zoungrana et al (1999). The hay was harvested at early maturity, which may explain the, for tropical grasses, relatively high CP content.…”

Development and evaluation of an integrated simulation model for assessing smallholder crop–livestock production in Yucatán, Mexico

“…The model simulates Guinea grass growth using the APSIM Bambatsi module (Panicum coloratum var. makarikariense) with modifications to the configuration settings for target nitrogen con centrations for leaf (0.017 kg kg �1 ) and stem (0.012 kg kg �1 ) (based on Bamikole et al, 2004;Brâncio et al, 2003;Evitayani et al, 2005;Perissato-Cano et al, 2004). The model contains APSIM manager statements (Table 2) constructed to simulate Guinea grass produc tion with necessary linkages with other model components.…”