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In Situ Digestion Kinetics of Mottgrass (Pennisesetum Purpureum) With or Without Supplemental Legume at Two Levels by Buffalo Calves |
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M. Sarwar, Mahr-un-Nisa |
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| Abstract |
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The present study was conducted to evaluate the mottgrass alone and in combination with berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) at different intake levels to determine the lag time, rate and extent of digestion of DM and NDF of mottgrass. Four ruminally cannulated buffalo calves were used in a 4횞4 Latin Square Design with 2횞2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The two factors were forage intake levels (ad libitum versus restricted) and forage source (mottgrass versus mottgrass plus 25% berseem). Four dietary treatment consisted of 1) ad libitum mottgrass, 2) restricted feeding of mottgrass, 3) ad libitum mottgrass plus berseem with a ratio of 3:1 and 4) restricted mottgrass plus berseem in a ratio of 3:1. Calves fed ad libitum mottgrass supplemented with 25% berseem consumed 25% more DM and 15% more NDF than those fed mottgrass only. The in situ DM digestibility, the lag time and extent of digestion were not affected by intake level. However, rate of disappearance was greater in restricted fed animals than those fed ad libitum. This increased rate could be due to greater concentration of fibrolytic bacteria in restrict fed animals. The DM digestibility was greater (64.1%) in calves fed mottgrass supplemented with 25% berseem than those fed mottgrass only (57.7%). The reduced mottgrass DM digestion may be due to its higher NDF contents. The NDF digestibility, the lag and extent of NDF digestion were not affected by varying intake levels. However, rate of digestion of NDF was higher in restricted fed animals than those of ad libitum fed animals. The NDF digestibility was greater (58.4%) in calves fed mottgrass supplemented with 25% berseem than those fed mottgrass (48.7%) only. |
| Keywords:
Mottgrass; Digestion; Kinetics; Buffalo; In Situ |
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