Nutritive value of five Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass) genotypes (IG96-50, IG96-96, IG96-358, IG96-401 and IG96-403) weredetermined. Their sugar contents (>70 mg/g of dry matter) and ensiling ...potential were evaluated using in vitro batch culture and in vivo studies. Research indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) in the dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose and lignin contents of the C. ciliaris genotypes tested. Genotypes also differed (P < 0.05) in total carbohydrates, structural carbohydrates, non-structural carbohydrates and protein fractions. Genotype IG96-96 had the lowest total digestible nutrients, digestible energy and metabolizable energy contents (377.2 g/kg, 6.95 and 5.71 MJ/kg of dry matter, respectively), and net energy values for lactation, maintenance and growth. After 45 days of ensiling, C. ciliaris silages differed (P < 0.05) in dry matter, pH, and lactic acid contents, and their values ranged between 255-339, 4.06-5.17 g/kg of dry matter and 10.8-28.0 g/kg of dry matter, respectively. Maize silage had higher (P < 0.05) Organic Matter (919.5g/kg of dry matter), ether extract (20.4g/kg of dry matter) and hemi-cellulose (272.3 g/kg of dry matter) than IG96-401 and IG96-96 silages. The total carbohydrates and non-structural carbohydrates of maize silage were higher (P < 0.05), while structural carbohydrates were comparable (P < 0.05) with C. ciliaris silages. Sheep on maize silage had (P < 0.05) higher metabolizable energy, lower crude protein, and digestible crude protein intake (g/kg of dry matter) than those on C. ciliaris silage diets. Nitrogen intake and urinary-N excretion were higher (P < 0.05) on genotype IG96-96 silage diet. Overall, this study suggested that certain C. ciliaris genotypes, notably IG96-401 and IG96-96, exhibited nutritive values comparable to maize silage in sheep studies, offering a promising avenue for future exploration as potential alternatives in diversified and sustainable livestock nutrition programs.
Pastures may act as carbon sources and sinks depending on grazing pressure and management practices. Soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and its fractions were quantified under 3 different grazing ...intensities using 5, 10 and 15 sheep/ha under sown, improved and natural pastures in the semi-arid tropics of India. Results revealed that after 3 years, improved pasture had significantly higher particulate organic carbon (POC ~4.5 g/kg), SOC (~0.53 %), total organic carbon (TOC~7 g/kg) and SOC stock (~15 mg/ha) as compared with sown and natural pastures. Labile carbon (LC ~185 mg/kg) and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC ~378 µg/g soil) were higher under natural pasture. A moderate grazing intensity of 10 sheep/ha resulted in significantly greater carbon fractions, TOC and SOC stock. SOC stock and its fractions were significantly higher in the topsoil layers as compared with the subsoil layers. These results indicate that improved pasture management practices with moderate grazing intensity can be recommended for improving SOC stock and its fractions in semi-arid tropical pastures.
is important genera of grasses inhabiting tropical pastures and the Indian grasslands system. Its forage value is well established to sustain nomadic livestock and wildlife. This study deals with the ...evaluation of the representative set of global
germplasm collection with 79 accessions belonging to six species (
at flowering stage. Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, and lignin values were in the range of 61.1-136, 640-749, 373-490, 277-375, and 35.6-75.50 g kg
DM, respectively, while sugar contents varied from 11.6 to 101 mg g
DM. From the evaluated germplasm, 14 accessions of
having >70 mg g
DM sugar contents were selected and further evaluated for protein, fiber, carbohydrate and protein fractions, palatability indices,
CH
production, and ensiling traits. Protein contents were lower in EC397323 (61.8) and higher in IG96-96 (91.5), while the NDF, ADF, cellulose, and lignin contents varied between 678-783, 446-528, 331-405, and 39.6-62.0 g kg
DM, respectively. The carbohydrate and protein fractions of selected accessions differed (
< 0.05), and the sugar contents varied (
< 0.05) between 74.6 and 89.6 mg
g DM. Dry matter intake (DMI) and relative feed value (RFV) of accessions varied (
< 0.05) and were in the range of 1.53-1.77% and 58.2-73.8 g kg
DM, respectively. The total digestible nutrients (TDNs), digestible energy (DE), and metabolizable energy (ME) of selected accessions varied between 362-487 g kg
DM, 6.62-8.90, and 5.42-7.29 Mj kg
DM, respectively.
gas and CH
production (24 h) varied (
< 0.05) between 73.1 to 146 and 7.72 to 21.5 ml/g, respectively, while the degraded dry matter (g kg
DM) and CH
(ml/g DDM) ranged between 399-579 and 17.4-47.2, respectively. The DM contents at ensiling, silage pH, and lactic acid contents of accessions differed (
< 0.05) and ranged between 185-345 g kg
DM, 5.10-6.05, and 1.39-23.3 g kg
DM, respectively. Wide genetic diversity existed in germplasm and selected
accessions for protein fiber, energy, sugar, and other nutritional traits. Silage prepared from EC397366, IG96-96, IG96-50, and EC397323 had pH and lactic acid contents acceptable for moderate to good quality silage of tropical range grasses.
Heteropogon contortus, an important constituent of major grasslands of India, Australia and many countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas, is important for pasture and grassland productivity. Hence ...genetic improvement of the grass needs attention. A genetic variability study, including development of a core subset, was carried out by evaluating 235 accessions collected from different agro-ecological zones of India. The study, based on 16 metric and 14 non-metric traits along with 8 nutritional parameters, indicated that considerable genetic variability existed among the germplasm and selection could result in identification of suitable types for target environments. Clustering and subclustering was performed to select 35 accessions to form a core subset. The statistical analysis indicated that the core subset captured almost all the variability present in the entire germplasm. The study will help researchers to focus future studies on this core subset in developing genetic improvement programs.
Nutritive value of five Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass) genotypes (IG96-50, IG96-96, IG96-358, IG96-401 and IG96-403) weredetermined. Their sugar contents (>70 mg/g of dry matter) and ensiling ...potential were evaluated using in vitro batch culture and in vivo studies. Research indicated significant differences (P < 0.05) in the dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, cellulose and lignin contents of the C. ciliaris genotypes tested. Genotypes also differed (P < 0.05) in total carbohydrates, structural carbohydrates, non-structural carbohydrates and protein fractions. Genotype IG96-96 had the lowest total digestible nutrients, digestible energy and metabolizable energy contents (377.2 g/kg, 6.95 and 5.71 MJ/kg of dry matter, respectively), and net energy values for lactation, maintenance and growth. After 45 days of ensiling, C. ciliaris silages differed (P < 0.05) in dry matter, pH, and lactic acid contents, and their values ranged between 255-339, 4.06-5.17 g/kg of dry matter and 10.8-28.0 g/kg of dry matter, respectively. Maize silage had higher (P < 0.05) Organic Matter (919.5g/kg of dry matter), ether extract (20.4g/kg of dry matter) and hemi-cellulose (272.3 g/kg of dry matter) than IG96-401 and IG96-96 silages. The total carbohydrates and non-structural carbohydrates of maize silage were higher (P < 0.05), while structural carbohydrates were comparable (P < 0.05) with C. ciliaris silages. Sheep on maize silage had (P < 0.05) higher metabolizable energy, lower crude protein, and digestible crude protein intake (g/kg of dry matter) than those on C. ciliaris silage diets. Nitrogen intake and urinary-N excretion were higher (P < 0.05) on genotype IG96-96 silage diet. Overall, this study suggested that certain C. ciliaris genotypes, notably IG96-401 and IG96-96, exhibited nutritive values comparable to maize silage in sheep studies, offering a promising avenue for future exploration as potential alternatives in diversified and sustainable livestock nutrition programs.
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