Genetic Diversity in the Nutritive Value of Dual Purpose Sorghum Hybrids

Under the sorghum fodder improvement programme 23 hybrids were grown in 3 replications under identical agronomic conditions. Samples of hybrids were collected at 50% flowering and evaluated for their crude protein (CP), fiber fraction, in sacco dry matter degradability (ISDMD) and other nutritional attributes viz. total digestible nutrients (TDN), metabolisable energy (ME), relative feed value (RFV), net energy for lactation (NE_L), net energy for growth (NE_G), net energy for maintenance (NE_M), intake and stem to leaf ration (S: L). Average CP contents of the hybrids were about 10% while mean concentration of NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin was 65.80, 38.22, 30.55 and 5.14 per cent, respectively. Non fiber carbohydrates (NFC) and neutral detergent insoluble protein (NDIP) contents ranged between 11.96–34.55 and 1.43–3.71 per cent across the evaluated hybrids. DMI (%) and RFV ranged between 1.67 to 2.30 and 69.85 to 118.94 across the hybrids. Lowest ISDMD was recorded in 73 A x ICSR 89001 (50.23) against highest in 297 x G84 (68.79%). Total carbohydrate (TCHO) contents were higher in 276A x HD19 (86.73) and 275A x E 36-1 (85.11) and lowest in 275A x GP 65044 (73.67%). Non fiber carbohydrates (NFC) and structural carbohydrates (SC) were highest and lowest in hybrid 275A x E 361 (34.55 and 50. 56%). Mean TDN, DE and ME contents were 55.21%, 2.89 (Kcal/g) and 2.37 (K cal/g) of the tested hybrids.Mean net energy (NE_L) contents of the hybrids were 1.17 k cal/g with lowest value observed in 73 A x ICSR 89001 (0.85) against highest in 275A x E-36-1 hybrid (1.66). Results revealed that significant variability exists in CP, fiber, DMI, ISDMD, RFV and NE_L values of evaluated hybrids.