Pakistan Veterinary Journal (Feb 2009)
NUTRITIVE VALUE OF JUMBO GRASS (SORGHUM BICOLOUR SORGHUM SUDANEFE) SILAGE IN LACTATING NILI-RAVI BUFFALOES
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of Jambo grass (Sorghum bicolour Sorghum sudanefe) silage as a replacement of conventional fodder (Jambo grass; JG) in the diet of lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Jumbo grass was ensiled with molasses (at 2% of fodder DM) on large scale in bunker silos for 30 days. Two experimental iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic diets were formulated with 75:25% of forage to concentrate ratio on DM basis that contained 75% of JG fodder or silage and 25% concentrate. Twenty early lactating Nili-Ravi buffaloes were divided into two equal groups and fed experimental diets for 60 days at ad libitum. First 10 days were given for adaptation to new diets and the rest 50 days for sample collection. Daily feed intake and milk yield were recorded for each animal. Milk samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), fat, solids not fat, total solids and non-protein nitrogen. During last week of the study, a digestibility trial was conducted. The acid insoluble ash was used as digestibility marker. Intakes of dry matter (DMI), CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were higher in animals fed control diet than those fed Jambo grass silage (JGS) diet. A significant difference among experimental diets for DMI may be due to the presence of fermentation products in ensiled material that might have depressed the intake in silage based diets. The apparent DM, CP, NDF and ADF digestibilities were non-significantly different between both experimental diets, showing a trivial loss of nutrients during silage making. Milk yield (4% FCM) and its composition did not show any treatment effect. The present results indicated that JG ensiled with 2% molasses for 30 days could safely replace the conventional fresh Jumbo grass fodder in the diet of lactating Nili Ravi buffaloes without affecting their milk yield.
