BACKGROUND Information about the nutritive value, dry matter (DM) digestibility, and methane (CH4) emission potential of grass species is required for their optimal utilization in ruminant rations. The present study was designed: (i) to quantify the nutrient profile, mineral composition and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of winter grass species commonly available in northern Pakistan; and (ii) to measure the in vitro gas production (IVGP) and CH4 emission of the grass species during 72 h in vitro ruminal fermentation. Seven grass species, namely, Cenchrus ciliaris, Setaria anceps, Panicum antidotale, P. maximum, Pennisetum purpureum, Pennisetum orientale, and Atriplex lentiformis were assessed. RESULTS A high level of variability (P < 0.001) was observed among grass species for the content of all measured nutrients, IVDMD, IVGP, and CH4‐production. Notably, the content (g kg−1 DM) of crude protein varied from 59.8 to 143.3, neutral detergent fiber from 560.3 to 717.9, IVDMD from 375.1 to 576.2, and 72 h cumulative IVGP from 97.6 to 227.4 mL g−1 organic matter (OM) and CH4 from 48 to 67 mL g−1 OM. Among the grasses, P. antidotale had greater content (g kg−1 DM) of crude protein (CP) (143.3), IVDMD (576.2), and 72 h cumulative IVGP (227.4 mL g−1 OM), and produced the smallest amount of total CH4 (48 mL g−1 OM) during 72 h fermentation. In contrast, A. lentiformis had the lowest content (g kg−1 DM) of CP (59.8), IVDMD (375.1), 72 h cumulative IVGP (97.6 mL g−1 OM), and produced a greater amount of total CH4 (67 mL g−1 OM) during 72 h fermentation. CONCLUSION The findings of the current study highlight that it is possible to select and further develop grass species with high nutritional value and lower CH4‐production, which can improve livestock productivity, farm profitability, and long‐term environment sustainability. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
P akistan is the fourth largest milk producing country in the world, and milk and milk products play an important role in national Gross Domestic Products (GDP), particularly in livelihood and economy of rural population. However, there is still an increasing demand for milk and milk products, Abstract | This research study evaluated the genetic variation in forage biomass yield, morphological characteristic, forage nutritional value and digestibility among five selected wheat genotypes. The five cultivars, namely, Pir Sabaq (PS)-15, Bakhtawar-92, PS-2000, National Agriculture Research Council (NARC)-11 and Zam-04 were grown in 12 replicate plots (6 m × 10 m), that were blocked in three fields according to Randomized Complete Block Design. Uniform field preparation, irrigation, weeds control and standard agronomic practices were applied to all plots. For forage yield, morphological and quality evaluation, samples were collected from randomly selected one-meter long strip of two consecutive rows of each plot at feekes stages 7 to 8, when the second last leaf was visible. The collected samples were immediately weighed, and 10 plants were subsampled from each sample for morphological evaluation. Ten plants were weighed and separated into stem and leaves portion, subsequently weighed and analysed for dry matter (DM) content. The remaining samples were air dried, ground and analysed for chemical composition and in vitro digestibility (IVDMD) and in vitro gas production (IVGP). The results revealed large variability (P < 0.001) in DM yield, ranging from 1943 to 2763 kg/ha. There was also greater variability (P ˂ 0.001) in morphological characteristics among the wheat cultivars. The percentage of leaves varied from 0.33 to 0.45% and leaf to stem ratio varied from 0.47 to 0.84. There was also marked variation (P ˂ 0.001) in the plant height, ranging from 68.7 to 79.3 cm. The chemical composition showed large range (P ˂ 0.001) among the five wheat cultivars, the ash content varied from 6.01 to 7.90%, crude protein (CP) from 8.71 to 12.40% and crude fat (CFat) from 1.02 to 3.26%. The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) from 43.2 to 44.7%. The IVDMD varied from 48.4 to 58.9% and IVGP varied from 110 to 172 mL/g organic matter. Among the five wheat cultivars Bakhtawar-92 had maximum DM yield (2747 kg/ha), proportion of leaves (45%), CP (12.4%), IVDMD (58.9%) and IVGP (172 mL/g organic matter), and minimum portion of stem (55%) and NDF (43.2%), and thus supported greater yield of high quality wheat fodder. Other cultivars which combined similar desirable characteristic were ranked in order of merit as PS-15, PS-2000, NARC-11 and Zam-04.
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