Abstract

ALVAREZ, Enrique et al. Nutritive value of kikuyo grass (pennisetum clandestinum, var. Whittet) in two growth seasons compared to riegrass (lolium multiflorum) and sudan grass (sorgum sudanense) offered to holstein steers. INCI [online]. 2008, vol.33, n.2, pp.135-139. ISSN 0378-1844.

Four Holstein steers (167kg) with cannulae in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a 4×4 Latin Square design to evaluate the comparative feeding value of seasonal Kikuyugrass hay (Pennisetum clandestinum var. Whittet) harvested in winter and summer vs. summer (Sudangrass; Sorghum sudanense) and winter (Annual Ryegrass; Lolium multiflorum var. Oregon) grass hays. Experimental diets (88.4% OM, 35.5% NDF, and 11.8% CP) were formulated with 70% forage and 30% supplement. There were no effects (P>0.05) on ruminal NDF and N digestion, ruminal microbial efficiency (grams MN/ kg OM fermented) and ruminal N efficiency (non-ammonia N entering the small intestine/ N intake). There were no seasonal effects (summer vs winter harvest; P>0.10) on ruminal and total tract digestion of OM, N or NDF of kikuyugrass-based diets. Ruminal and total tract digestion of OM, NDF and N were similar (P>0.10) for sudangrass- and kikuyugrass-based diets. However, ruminal digestion of OM and total tract digestion of OM and N was lower (19, 12, and 9%, respectively; P<0.05) for the kikuyugrass-based diets than for the annual ryegrass-based diet. Kikuyugrass-based diets had higher (P<0.05) ruminal molar proportions of acetate and acetate/propionate ratio than ryegrass- and sudangrass-based diets. There were no treatment effects (P>0.05) on acetate/propionate ratio. Kikuyugrass has a feeding value similar to that of sudangrass hay and an acceptable nutritive quality in the summer

Keywords : Digestión; Pasto Kikuyo; Rumen; Ryegrass.