Nutritional evaluation of elephant grass hybrids

Abstract

The nutritive value with regard to stage of maturity of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) hybrids is largely unknown. Elephant grass (KW,) and its hybrids namely, ILCA16786, ILCA16837, ILCA16791.and ILCA16798 were evaluated to determine the effect of stage of maturity on dry matter yields (DM), chemical composition, intake and digestibility by sheep. In the first experiment, forages were harvested at 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11 and 12 weeks of re-growth. With advancing maturity, DM yields and the fibrous fractions increased while crude protein (CP) and in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) decreased. In the second experiment, the re-growths at 6 weeks were fed to sheep in form of hay. Apart from ILCA16837, the rest of the forages had similar DM intakes (P>0.05). For ILCA16798 a higher (P<0.05) DM digestibility was observed compared to the other hybrids but ILCA16791, ILCA 16786 and KW, did not show any significant difference while ILCA16837 had the lowest (P>0.01) DM digestibility. Digestibility of CP was similar for KW, LCA16791 and ICAl6837 but was significantly different (P<0.05) from ILCA 16798 and ILCA16786. Hybrid ILCA 16791, had the highest NDF and ADF digestibilities followed by ILCA16786 and ILCA 16837 while KW, and ILCA 16798 had the lowest. The differences in DM intake and digestibilities might have been influenced by the genetic makeup of the individual hybrids.