*Nationat Institute of Animal Nutrition & Physiology, Adugodi, Post, Banglore, 560 030
Plant Animal Relationship Division, Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institue, Jhansi-284 003, India
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Range grasses (Cenchrus ciliaris, Heteropogon contortus, Sekima nervoasum, Chrysopogonfulvus and Dicanthium annulatum) and range legumes (Stylosanthes hamata, Atylosia scarabaeoides and Lablah purpureas) were harvested in three stage of growth i.e. 30, 60 and 120 d of first row. Dried and ground samples were analysed for proximate composition and cell wall constituents. In sacco DM degradability of samples were determined using three crossbred calves fitted with rumen fistula. Grasses were higher (P<0.01) in most of the fibre fractions except CP, ADL and macro minerals. In general, there was an increase in DM, ADL, AIA and decrease in CP from I to HI stage of growth, however, other fibre fractions did not vary between stage II and III. Mg P S and K decline significantly (P<0.01) Ca in grasses and Na in both grasses and legumes remained constant whereas Ca concentration in legumes was increased (P<0.01) with maturity. DM degradability was higher (P<0.05) in legumes than in grasses at all the stages of growth except S. hamata. Results showed that the optimum stage of utilization of these forage were upto 30d.
