Nutritive Values of Whip Grass (Hemarthria compressa) at Different Cutting Intervals Consumed by Thai Indigenous Cattle
Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cutting intervals of Hemarthria compressa on feed intake,nutrient digestibility, and energy concentration of the grass consumed by Thai indigenous cattle. A 3 × 4incomplete Latin Square Design was used. Treatments were 3 cutting intervals (30, 45 and 60 days) of grassfed to the bulls as green forage. Four Thai indigenous bulls were allocated into the experimental treatments.Total collection method was used. Feed intake, apparent nutrient digestibility and energy concentration ofgrass were subsequently assessed.The result showed that it was a linear decline (p<0.05) in crude protein (CP) and ash contents ascutting intervals increased while there were linearly increased (p<0.05) in dry matter (DM), organicmatter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent lignin contents. As grass maturation increase, CP intakewas decreased but not for DM intake (79.11-81.90 g/BW0.75/d). There was no significant difference ofthe digestibility coefficient of any nutrient among cutting intervals except gross energy. Nevertheless, themetabolizable energy concentration of the grass were significantly decreased (linear, p<0.05) in accordancewith increasing cutting intervals. In conclusion, harvesting the grass at 30 days of regrowth gave betternutritive values and suitable to use as livestock feed.
Institutions: Department of Livestock Development, Silpakorn University
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W54874179