Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-gvh9x Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-21T17:33:05.167Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seasonal production of Andropogon gayanus

III. Changes in crude protein content and in vitro dry-matter digestibility of leaf and stem portions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. J. Haggar  and
M. B. Ahmed
R. J. Haggar
Affiliation:
Shika Agricultural Research Station, P. O. Box 116, Zaria, Nigeria
M. B. Ahmed
Affiliation:
Shika Agricultural Research Station, P. O. Box 116, Zaria, Nigeria
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The crude protein content and in vitro dry-matter digestibility (I.V.D.) of leaves and stems of Andropogon gayanus, grouped into four different age categories, were measured at weekly intervals during the secondhalf of the 1968 wet season. The crude protein content of all categories of leaf and stem rose to a maximumat ear emergence; significant reductions occurred thereafter, especiallyin the younger categories of leaf and stem. At any point in time the younger leaves and stems contained significantly more crude protein than the older leaves and stems.

Although the mean crude protein content of each stem category was significantly lower than the corresponding leaf category, the young, elongating stems had a significantly higher crude protein content than the older, mature leaves at the time of ear emergence.

The mean I.V.D. of all leaf and stem categories was highest at the start of the recording period. At ear emergence the I.V.D. of the young elongating stems was at least as high as the mature leaves. After ear emergence the I.V.D. of the stems fell more rapidly than the leaves.

The results support the principle of cutting at ear emergence to achieve maximum yields of digestible nutrients.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 77 , Issue 1 , August 1971 , pp. 47 - 52
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

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

Bland, B. F. & Dent, J. W. (1964). Animal preference in relation to the chemical composition and digestibility of varieties of cocksfoot. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 19, 306–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dent, J. W. & Aldrich, D. T. A. (1968). Systematic testing of quality in grass varieties. 2. The effect of cutting dates, season and environment. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 23, 13–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haggar, R. J. (1970). Seasonal production of Andropogon gayanus. I. Seasonal changes in yield components and chemical composition. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 74, 487–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haggar, R. J. & Ahmed, M. B. (1970). Seasonal production of Andropogon gayanus. II. Seasonal changes in digestibility and feed intake. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 75, 369–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miles, D. G., ap Griffith, G. & Walters, R. J. K. (1964). The effect of ‘winter burn’ on the chemical composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility of eight grasses. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 19, 75–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minson, D. J., Raymond, W. F. & Harris, C. E. (1960). Studies in the digestibility of herbage. VIII. The digestibility of S37 cocksfoot, S23 ryegrass and S24 ryegrass. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 15, 174–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mowat, D. N., Folkerson, R. S., Tossell, W. E. & Winch, J. E. (1965). The in vitro digestibility and protein content of leaf and stem portions of forages. Can. J. Plant Sci. 45, 321–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pritchard, G. I., Folkins, L. P. & Ploden, W. J. (1963). The in vitro digestibility of whole grasses and their parts at progressive stages of maturity. Can. J. Plant Sci. 43, 79–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Terry, R. A. & Tilley, J. M. A. (1964). The digestibility of the leaves and stems of perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, timothy, tall fescue, lucerne, and sainfoin, as measured by an in vitro procedure. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 19, 363–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tilley, J. M. A. & Terry, R. A. (1963). A two-stage technique for the in vitro digestion of forage crops. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 18, 104–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walters, R. J. K., ap Griffith, G., Hughes, R. & Jones, D. I. H. (1967). Some factors causing difference in digestibility of grasses measured by an in vitro method. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 22, 112–16.Google Scholar