Abstract:
In developing countries rice straw and other different low quality forages are used as basal feed
of ruminants. Animal longevity and production are adversely affected when ruminants are reared
with poor quality forages. High quality forages can offer complementary properties for their use
to formulate forage based balanced diets to optimize the degradability and utilization of low
quality forages. Limpo grass is potential as a forage crop which can tolerate wet soils and
intermittent flooding during warm conditions may be adaptable with the sudden flash flood
condition of this region. In the present study, chemical analyses of rice straw and limpo grass
were carried out. Rice straw was lower in crude protein, ether extract but higher in fibre contents
than Limpo grass. In vitro and in vivo digestibility trials were conducted to test the potential use
of Limpo grass as in ruminant diets. Limpo grass was added at 0, 250, 500, 750, 1000g/kg level
with rice straw in different incubation times (0h, 6h, 24h and 48h). In vitro DM and OM
degradability of rice straw increased in the presence of limpo grass. In vivo study showed that
milk production did not changed by replacing Limpo grass, however fat% and total solid%
increased in presence of Limpo grass. It could be concluded that the digestibility and utilization
of low quality forage could be improved by supplementation of limpo grass. |
