Abstract
This study was carried out to evaluate the potential nutritive value of commonly found grasses collected at native pasture in West Sumatra, Indonesia during dry and rainy seasons. Variables measured included chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, concentration of Ca, P and Mg, gas production and metabolizable energy (ME) content of the grasses. The results showed that species and season had significant effect on chemical composition and mineral concentration. Crude protein content in the dry season ranged from 6.5% (B. decumbens) to 14.4% (P. maximum) and increased slightly from 7.8% (B. decumbens) to 14. 8% (A. compressus) in the rainy season. Data on fiber fraction showed that grass contained more NDF, ADF and ADL in dry season than in rainy season. Data on mineral concentration showed that C. plectostachyus and P. maximum in dry season had higher Ca than those of other species, while in rainy season P. maximum had highest Ca concentration. In dry season, the DMD varied from 50. 4% (P. purpuphoides) to 59.1% (P. purpureum), while in rainy season ranged from 50.3% (A. gayanus) to 61.8% (P. purpureum). The potential and rate of gas production were significantly (p<0.05) affected by species and season. During dry season, potential of gas production ranged from 21.8 ml/200 mg (A. compressus) to 45.1 ml/200 mg (C. plectostachyus), while in rainy season it varied from 35.6 ml/200 mg (A. gayanus) to 47.5 ml/200 mg (P. purpureum). ME content of grasses varied from 6.0 to 8.3 MJ/kg in dry season and increased slightly from 6.4 to 8.6 MJ/kg in rainy season. Both in dry and rainy seasons, the highest ME content was occurred in P. purpureum and C. plectostachyus. In conclusion, nutritive value of the observed grasses in West Sumatra, Indonesia was relatively higher during rainy season compared with dry season. Pennisetum purpureum and Cynodon plectostachyus had the best nutritive value in both dry and rainy seasons. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 12 : 1663-1668)
Highlights
In smallholders farming systems, native forages and agriculture by products are the main feed source for ruminants in Indonesia
Nutritive value of the observed grasses in West Sumatra, Indonesia was relatively higher during rainy season compared with dry season
Collection of grass samples The forage evaluated consisted of seven grasses species (Andropogon gayanus, Axonopus compressus, Brachiaria decumbens, Cynodon plectostachyus, Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpuphoides and Pennisetum purpureum) representing common grass fed to ruminants in West Sumatra
Summary
Native forages and agriculture by products are the main feed source for ruminants in Indonesia. According to Nitis et al (1980), the botanical composition of the forage fed during wet season consists 35% grass and 65% shrub and tree fodders, while during dry season it consists 6% grass and 94% shrub and tree fodders. The potential of any feed to support animal production depends on the quantity eaten and extent to which the feed consumed supplies energy, protein, mineral and vitamin requirements (Minson, 1990). Many tropical grasses have been studied in both laboratory and feeding practices. The nutritive value of forages is a result of the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors. The genetic factors include species, strain within species, type of growth and the response to environmental factors.
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