Comparisons on the nutritive values of local and introduced forages and feed mixture for ruminant feed in central dry zone of Myanmar

Aung Aung,Dennis P Poppi,Jenny E Hanks, ,Werner W Stur

doi:10.25081/jsa.2017.v1.870

Abstract

This study aimed to compare nutritive values of local (Sorghum) and introduced (Mombasa) forages and their feed mixtures for ruminant feed in central dry zone of Myanmar. Sorghum based feed mixtures (FeedMix-1, 2 and 3) were the commonly used feed mixtures for cattle in dry zone of Myanmar and other feed mixtures (FeedMix-4, 5 and 6) were based on Mombasa. The lower CP and higher fibre contents (P<0.05) were observed in sorghum and its feed mixtures. The highest gas volumes (P<0.05) were observed in the FeedMix-4 and 6, and then the lowest gas volume (P<0.05) was observed in FeedMix-3. The gas production from quickly soluble fraction (a) of sorghum was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of Mombasa, inversely the gas production from insoluble fraction (b) of sorghum was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of Mombasa. Moreover, potential gas production (a+b), ME, OMD and SCFA of sorghum were also significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of Mombasa. The value of “a” was lowest (P<0.05) in FeedMix-1, whereas the highest value was found in FeedMix-6. The lowest values (P<0.05) of “b”, “a+b”, ME, OMD and SCFA were observed in FeedMix-3 and the highest values (P<0.05) of those parameters were found in FeedMix-4. Thus, the higher nutritive values observed in the introduced forage, Mombasa and its feed mixtures were indicating that Mombasa should be used instead of sorghum for the feed of cattle in dry zone of Myanmar.

Highlights

In Myanmar, usually the animal feed consists of crop residues and agricultural by-products
The higher nutritive values observed in the introduced forage, Mombasa and its feed mixtures were indicating that Mombasa should be used instead of sorghum for the feed of cattle in dry zone of Myanmar
The lower crude protein (CP) and higher fibre (NDF and acid detergent fibre (ADF)) contents (p

Summary

Introduction

In Myanmar, usually the animal feed consists of crop residues and agricultural by-products. As the report of Min Aung et al (2015a), the common available feedstuff in the dry zone of Myanmar were rice straw, natural grass, butter bean residue, lablab bean residue, sesame residue and sorghum stover, which have the valuable nutritional potential to use as feed for ruminant animals (Min Aung et al, 2015b). The farmers in dry zone of Myanmar grew sorghum, which were. The forages grasses such as Ruzi, Mombasa, Simaung, Toledo, Mulato II and Cayman were introduced and grew in dry zone of Myanmar. Among the introduced forage grasses, Mombasa possessed the highest sowing rate (Nan Khan Hline et al, 2015), greater forage yield and nutritive values (Unpublished data). It is still needed to clarify the nutritive and feeding values of those local forage (Sorghum) and introduced forage (Mombasa)

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