PERFORMANCE OF PALATABLE AND LOW PALATABLE GRASSES AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR PHENOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT. II. FORAGE QUALITY

Abstract

A study was conducted during 2011 to find out forage yield and nutritive value of six palatable grasses, Blue panic grass (Panicum antidotale), Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), Tall tail grass (Pennisetum orientale), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and Setaria grass (Setaria anceps) and three low palatable grasses (cotton grass, Tanglehead grass and Johnson grass) at different stages of their phenological development. Samples were analyzed for determining crude protein, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), ash and ether extract percentages. The results revealed that yield and composition of grasses changed as these attained maturity. Generally, fresh yield increased significantly (p < 0.05) at full flowering stage and decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at maturity. Crude protein of grasses decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increase in growth stages upto the final harvest stage but it did not differ significantly among the grasses. On the other hand both ADF and NDF increased significantly from pre-flowering to full flowering stage. The ash content showed mixed response for different grasses and stages.