Department of Animal Nutrition and Forages, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Bajra lodder was harvested after 45, 55 and 65 d of sowing. Dried, ground samples were incubated in nylon bays simultaneously in three buffalo calves each fitted with a ruminul fistula. Different parameters characterising extent and rate of ruminul degradation of DM, NDF, CP were evaluated. Bajra harvested at vegetative stage (45 DAS) had the lower cell wall contents but higher ruminal degradability of DM, CP and NDF. The protein of foraye harvested at 55 and 65 d after sowing was poorly degraded and digested. Lag was not detected for DM and CP digestion but cell wall degradation exhibited lag at all the stages of growth of plant. Acid detergent lignin appears to affect the rate of digestion of ceil wall. Rumen till was primarily controlled by the rate and extent of digestion. Based on the digestion kinetic parameters it is concluded that harvesting Bajra after 45 days of sowing gives most nutritious forage for ruminants.
