Fodder yield and chemical composition of hybrid napier and multi-cut sorghum fodder at different stages of cutting

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal during 2015–2016 to study the fodder yield and chemical composition of hybrid Napier and sorghum fodder at different stages of cutting. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design with 5m x4m size. Each was replicated five times and the fodder was harvested at three different intervals (45th, 60th and 75th days). Fodder was harvested ateach plot with 1mx1m area. The yield was significantly (P<0.01) higher in Coimbatore Cumbu Napier-5 {CO(BN)5} (12.6 and 14.9 kg)at60thand 75th daysofcutting respectively, followed by Coimbatore Cumbu Napier-4 {CO(CN)4} (8.8 and 9.3kg) and lower value was recorded in Coimbatore fodder sorghum (COFS29) (5.2 and 5.8kg). The leaf-stem ratio at 45th day of cutting was significantly (P<0.01) higher in CO(CN)4 (2.20: 1) and at 75th day of cutting, it was significantly (P<0.05) higher in CO(BN)5 (0.84: 1). Further, it was inferred that, irrespective of stage of cutting, the leaf-stem ratio was lower in COFS29. Proximate analysis (dry matter basis) showed that crude protein content was more in CO(CN)4 (16.88, 17.08, 13.35%) followed by CO(BN)5, whereas crude fibre was more in COFS29 (26.59, 33.33, 37.38%) at 45th, 60th and 75th day of cutting. Cost of production per kg of green fodder was higher in COFS29 (Rs. 0.50/kg) followed by CO(CN)4 (Rs. 0.49/kg) and CO(BN)5 (Rs. 0.40/kg). Itwas concluded that CO(BN)5 was better than CO(BN)4 and COFS29 in terms of yield and leaf-stem ratio and the first cutting at 60th day was recommended for all three fodder varieties for better yield and nutrient content.