Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-qxsvm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-12T02:49:07.072Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The digestibility of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) in relation to season and proportion of the diet of sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

H. Tagari  and
D. Ben-Ghedalia
H. Tagari
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel
D. Ben-Ghedalia
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, Israel
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Digestibility trials were carried out to study the digestibility of Rhodes grass fed alone and in mixed concentrate diets. Twelve Awassi rams were used to examine the seasonal effect on the digestibility of Rhodes grass harvested at 21-day intervals.

A consistent increase in the content of crude protein up to the 6th harvest was observed, being accompanied by an increase in crude protein digestibility and voluntary feed intake.

In the second experiment Rhodes grass and concentrate mixed diets were examined. Sixteen Awassi rams were allocated to four diets which included 16, 32, 52 and 100% Rhodes grass. Dry-matter digestibility was found significantly different between the all-grass diet and the rest. The digestibility of crude fibre in the whole diet decreased significantly with the increase in concentrate content. The digestibility of crude fibre of Rhodes origin was calculated. It appears that the detrimental effect of concentrate on the digestibility of crude fibre of Rhodes grass origin is limited. This finding is supported by the high C2/C3 ratios in rumen liquor which were maintained up to 68% concentrate in the diet.

This study indicates that Rhodes grass may serve as a highly efficient roughage component in dairy rations.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 88 , Issue 1 , February 1977 , pp. 181 - 185
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Batist, J., Golani, N., Kipnis, T. & Dovrat, A. (1970). Nitrogen fertilization studies with Rhodes grass. Edited by the Ministry of Agriculture, Israel (Hebrew).Google Scholar
Butterworth, M. H. (1967). The digestibility of tropical grasses. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews 37, 349–58.Google Scholar
Chimwano, A. M., Orskov, E. R. & Stewart, C. S. (1976). Effect of dietary proportions of roughage and concentrate on rate of digestion of dried grass and cellulose in the rumen of sheep. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 35, 101A–102A.Google Scholar
Elliott, R. C. (1956). Digestion trials on Rhodesian feedstuffs. The Rhodesia Agricultural Journal 53, 538–45.Google Scholar
Flatt, W. P., Moe, P. W., Moore, L. A., Wooven, N. W., Lehman, R. P. & Orskov, E. R. (1970 a). Energy utilization by high producing cows. I. Experimental design, ration composition, digestibility data and animal performance during energy balance trials. In Energy Metabolism of Farm Animals (ed. Blaxter, K. L., Kaielanowski, J. and Thorbek, G.), Newcastle upon Tyne: Oriel Press Ltd., pp. 221–34.Google Scholar
Flatt, W. P., Moe, P. W., Munson, A. W. & Cooper, T. (1970 b). Energy utilization by high producing dairy cows. II. Summary of energy balance experiments with lactating Holstein cows. In Energy Metabolism of Farm Animals (ed. Blaxter, K. L., Kaielanowski, J. and Thorbek, G.), Newcastle upon Tyne: Oriel Press Ltd., pp. 235–51.Google Scholar
Kipnis, T. & Dovrat, A. (1968). The effect of harvesting frequency on the yield and the nutritive value of three varieties of Rhodes grass. Hassade 49, 223–6 (Hebrew).Google Scholar
Lonsdale, C. R., Poutiainen, E. K. & Tayler, J. C. (1971). The growth of young cattle fed on dried grass alone and with barley. 1. Feed intake, digestibility and body gains. Animal Production 13, 461–71.Google Scholar
Macrae, J. C. & Armstrong, D. G. (1969). Studies on intestinal digestion in the sheep. 2. Digestion of some carbohydrate constituents in hay, cereal and hay cereal rations. The British Journal of Nutrition 23, 377–87.Google Scholar
Milford, R. (1960). Nutritional values for 17 subtropical grasses. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 11, 138–48.Google Scholar
Milford, R. & Minson, D. J. (1968). The digestibility and intake of six varieties of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana). Australian Journal of Experimental Agricultural and Animal Husbandry 8, 413–18.Google Scholar
Tagari, H. (1969). Comparison of the efficiency of proteins contained in Lucerne hay and soya-bean meal for sheep. The British Journal of Nutrition 23, 465–70.Google Scholar