Abstract
Aim:To evaluate some forage feeds of ruminants in terms of their carbohydrate (CHO) and protein fractions using Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS).Materials and Methods:Eleven ruminant feeds (six green fodders - maize, oat, sorghum, bajra, cowpea, berseem and five range herbages - para grass, guinea grass, hedge lucerne, setaria grass and hybrid napier) were selected for this study. Each feed was chemically analyzed for proximate principles (dry matter, crude protein [CP], ether extract, organic matter and ash), fiber fractions (neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose), primary CHO fractions (CHO, non-structural CHO, structural CHO and starch) and primary protein fractions (neutral detergent insoluble CP, acid detergent insoluble CP, non-protein nitrogen and soluble protein). The results were fitted to the equations of CNCPS to arrive at various CHO (CA - fast degrading, CB1 - intermediate degrading, CB2 - slow degrading and CC - non-degrading or unavailable) and protein (PA - instantaneously degrading, PB1 - fast degrading, PB2 - intermediate degrading, PB3 - slow degrading and PC - non-degrading or unavailable) fractions of test feeds.Results:Among green fodders, cowpea and berseem had higher CA content while except hedge lucerne all range herbages had lower CA values. CB1 content of all feeds was low but similar. All feeds except cowpea, berseem, and hedge lucerne contained higher CB2 values. Oat among green fodders and hybrid napier among range herbages had lower CC fraction. Feeds such as bajra, cowpea, berseem and the setaria grass contained lower PA fraction. All green fodders had higher PB1 content except maize and cowpea while all range herbages had lower PB1 values except hedge lucerne. Para grass and hybrid napier contained exceptionally low PB2 fraction among all feeds. Low PC contents were reported in oat and berseem fodders.Conclusion:Based on our findings, it was concluded that feeds with similar CP and CHO content varied significantly with respect to their CHO and protein fractions. Due to lower CC fraction, oat and hybrid napier were superior feeds in terms of CHO supply to ruminants. Similarly, among all feeds oat and berseem had a lower PC fraction, thus were considered good sources of protein for ruminants.
Highlights
Forages usually constitute the major portion of the ruminant feeds in our country
Chemical constituents of forage feeds (Table-1) revealed that the dry matter (DM) content of all feeds was in the range of 15-20% though higher DM content was observed in range herbages
Average ether extract (EE) content was slightly higher in green fodders than range herbages while average Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and cellulose contents were significantly higher in range herbages
Summary
Due to acute shortage of concentrate feeds for animals, the livestock farming in India still relies heavily on forage feed resources [1] Dry forages such as straw, stover, husk, etc. Are nutritionally very poor and usually fulfill only the appetite of the animals Green forages such as fodders and range herbages are generally adequate in meeting the requirements of maintenance and moderate levels of production in ruminants. Their proper nutritive evaluation is the need of the hour for their optimum utilization in low producing animals of our country. Dietary nutrients carbohydrates (CHO) and proteins are often heavily modified in rumen before their presentation to the animal
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