Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition

UGC CARE (Group 1)
  • Year: 2001
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue: 4

Nutritional Evaluation of Improved Varieties of Guar Forage

  • Author:
  • S.K. Mahanta, V.C. Pachauri, N.P. Singh, U.P. Singh, M.S. Sharma
  • Total Page Count: 5
  • DOI:
  • Page Number: 330 to 334

*Crop Improvement Division, IGFRI. Jhansi-284 003 (U.P.)

**T-7 (Agronomy), Farm Section, IGFRI, Jhansi-284 003 (U.P.)

Plant Animal Relationship Division, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi-284 003, India

Online published on 29 December, 2011.

Abstract

Three improved varieties of forage guar (Cyamoposis tetragonoloba L. Taub.), viz. BG-1, (Bundel Guar) BG-2 and BG-3, were compared for their nutrient content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) at different stages of growth, and nutritive values in sheep fed as hay. Each variety of guar hay was fed ad libitum to adult male crossbred (Local x Corriedale) sheep (35,9±1,26 kg b.wt.) in 3 groups of 5 each. Average CP, total ash and IVDMD were marginally higher and fibre fractions lower in green herbage of BG-3 variety than in BG-1 and BG-2. However, CP and IVDMD of green forage declined sharply after 75 days of sowing. The average daily DMI of guar hay in sheep varied non significantly from 3.12 to 3.42% of body weight or 76.51 to 84.29 g/kg W0,75. The digestibility of nutrients and balance of nitrogen remained similar. However, the varieties differed significantly with respect to DCP contents, being maximum in BG-3 (12.56%) followed by BG-1 (11.14%) and BG-2 (9.38%). The average TDN contents were 60.26,57.55 and 58.08% in BG-1, BG-2 and BG-3 varieties of guar hay, respectively but the differences were non-significant.

Keywords

Guar forage varieties, Nutrient content, IVDMD, Nutritive value, Sheep