A study on the influence of stage of maturity on ruminal degradation characteristics of pennisetum spp
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Date
2001
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Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
Abstract
Studies were undertaken to assess the chemical composition, presence of antinutritional factors and in-sacco degradability of Pennisetum spp. at various stages of maturity. Bajra (Pennisetum typhoides) cv PCB-141 was harvested at 30, 45, 30, 75 days after sowing (DAS) whereas Napier-bajra hybrid (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum typhoides) cv PBN-233 was harvested in four cuts with each cut having five stages at 70, 100, 120, 160 and 200 cm heights. The total quantities of these fodders were divided into two parts. One part was oven dried and kept as herbage. The other part was wilted for 24 hrs and eqsiled in double-walled airtight plastic bags.The results showed that CP, soluble sugars, total oxalates and soluble oxalates of bajra herbage as well as silage, decreased progressively upto 75 DAS, whereas NDF, ADF, HC and ADL increased upto 60 DAS. The potentially degradable fraction 'b', rate of degradation 'c' and effective degradability of DM, CP, cell-wall, total oxalates and soluble oxalates decreased with the advancing maturity. The process of ensiling led to a decrease in the CP, NFE, soluble sugars and oxalate contents, but increase in NDF, ADF, HC and ADL fractions. The 'b' and 'c' fractions of DM, CP and NDF decreased, whereas rapidly soluble fraction 'a' increased in the ensiled Bajra herbage. In Napier-bajra hybrid (NBH), CP, NFE, OM values and DMI decreased, whereas NDF, ADF, ADL, cellulose values and the rumen fill increased for both herbage as well as silage with maturity within a cut. Potentially degradable fraction 'b', rate of degradation 'c' and effective degradability of DM, CP and NDF of NBH herbage and silage decreases: with advancing maturity. The data with regard to herbage and silage of various cuts (I to IV) of NBH showed a decrease in the CP and soluble sugars in subsequent cuts, whereas total oxalate content, though decreased in I and IV cuts, yet it increased during the rainy season (ill and cut). Digestion kinetic parameters presented a similar trend as observed for various stages of maturity within the cut. The fodder samples procured from the owners of animals afflicted with ruminal impaction, contained quite high levels of NDF and soluble oxalates. It suggested that the Bajra and NBH should not be fed beyond 45 DAS and 100 cm height, respectively. The process of ensilage tended to decrease the oxalate contents in both the Pennisetc_ms.