Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Online published on 29 December, 2011.
Mottgrass (Pennisetum purpureum) alone and in combination with 25% berseem (Trifolium alexandrium) hay was evaluated at restricted and ad lib lelels of intake for ruminal characteristics and nutrient digestibility in buffalo calves. Calves fed ad lib mottgrass supplemented with 25% berseem consumed 25 and 15% more DM and NDF, respectively, than those fed mottgrass alone. The increased intake may be due to attributed to both the positive associative effects of legumes, which had higher digestion when compared with grasses and an increased amount of nitrogen and cell solubles available for microbial growth. No difference was noted in the digestibilities of DM, NDF, ADF, cellulose and faemicellulose.
