Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

A study on chemical compositions, voluntary feed intake and nutrient digestibility of Panicum maximum cv. Guinea and Brachiaria decumbens cv. Signal at three regrowth cuttings (week 4, 8, 12) by swamp buffalo steers, was conducted. Dry matter, acid detergent lignin contents increased whereby ash, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber contents decreased, as the plants matured. Acid detergent fiber fraction remained similar for all cuttings. Voluntary dry matter intake and digestion coefficients of nutrients were relatively high at week 4 and 8 and markedly low at week 12 for both species. Buffaloes fed with signal grass had higher intakes and digestibilities than those fed with guinea grass. Cutting at week 8 for the two species should be employed for better utilization by the water buffaloes.

Share

COinS
 

Voluntary Intake and Digestibility of Two Selected Tropical Grasses by Swamp Buffaloes

Kyoto Japan

A study on chemical compositions, voluntary feed intake and nutrient digestibility of Panicum maximum cv. Guinea and Brachiaria decumbens cv. Signal at three regrowth cuttings (week 4, 8, 12) by swamp buffalo steers, was conducted. Dry matter, acid detergent lignin contents increased whereby ash, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber contents decreased, as the plants matured. Acid detergent fiber fraction remained similar for all cuttings. Voluntary dry matter intake and digestion coefficients of nutrients were relatively high at week 4 and 8 and markedly low at week 12 for both species. Buffaloes fed with signal grass had higher intakes and digestibilities than those fed with guinea grass. Cutting at week 8 for the two species should be employed for better utilization by the water buffaloes.