Effects of supplementation of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatá and Napier grass with Desmodium distortum on feed intake, digesta kinetics and milk production in crossbred dairy cows

Mutimura, Mupenzi; Ebong, Cyprian; Rao, Idupulapati M.; Nsahlai, I. V.

doi:10.1016/j.aninu.2018.01.006

Cited by 27 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In this study, the improved grasses had the highest nutrient digestibility, with BhH superior to NGH. In line with this, Mutimura et al [ 14 ] reported that, on the basis of palatability, Brachiaria is preferred to Napier grass. In our current study, NDF digestibility increased from NPH (48.1%) to BhH (56.5%) in TMR diets.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Dry matter intake increased as dietary CP content increased because of the inclusion of TTS, NGH, or BhH as nitrogen sources in a basal diet. Similarly, Mutimura et al [ 14 ] reported that the differences in DMIs of Napier grass and Brachiari brizantha fed as sole diets are related to the dietary composition of grasses. In this study, the improved grasses had the highest nutrient digestibility, with BhH superior to NGH.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To this end, supporting the traditional feed resources with planted forages appears to be a plausible and sustainable solution [ 11 ]. This situation encourages the cultivation of suitable and adapted improved forages to the tropical regions, such as Napier grass ( Pennisetum purpureum ) [ 13 , 14 ] and Brachiaria hybrid (CIAT 36087) Mulato II grasses [ 15 ], to fulfill the nutrient requirements of dairy cows for milk production [ 16 ]. Napier grass is a fast-growing perennial grass widely grown for smallholder dairy production in tropical and subtropical regions [ 14 , 17 ], while Brachiaria hybrid grasses are the newest options for improving productivity in semi-intensive systems, and some of these cultivars are high-yielding, nutritious, and ecofriendly [ 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This situation encourages the cultivation of suitable and adapted improved forages to the tropical regions, such as Napier grass ( Pennisetum purpureum ) [ 13 , 14 ] and Brachiaria hybrid (CIAT 36087) Mulato II grasses [ 15 ], to fulfill the nutrient requirements of dairy cows for milk production [ 16 ]. Napier grass is a fast-growing perennial grass widely grown for smallholder dairy production in tropical and subtropical regions [ 14 , 17 ], while Brachiaria hybrid grasses are the newest options for improving productivity in semi-intensive systems, and some of these cultivars are high-yielding, nutritious, and ecofriendly [ 18 ]. As a result of these benefits, Brachiaria hybrid grasses have recently garnered considerable interest in Africa and have factored into several ongoing initiatives to support the emerging livestock industry in tropical regions, particularly to prepare hay for the dry season [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Effect of Feeding Improved Grass Hays and Eragrostis tef Straw Silage on Milk Yield, Nitrogen Utilization, and Methane Emission of Lactating Fogera Dairy Cows in Ethiopia

Mekuriaw

Tsunekawa

Ichinohe

et al. 2020

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The nutritionally imbalanced poor-quality diet feeding is the major constraint of dairy production in tropical regions. Hence, alternative high-quality roughage-based diets are required to improve milk yield and reduce methane emission (CH4). Thus, we tested the effects of feeding natural pasture hay, improved forage grass hays (Napier and Brachiaria Hybrid), and treated crop residues (Eragrostis tef straw) on nutrient digestibility, milk yield, nitrogen balance, and methane emission. The eight lactating Fogera cows selected for the experiment were assigned randomly to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Cows were housed in well-ventilated individual pens and fed a total mixed ration (TMR) comprising 70% roughage and 30% concentrate. The four roughage-based basal dietary treatments supplemented with formulated concentrate were: Control (natural pasture hay (NPH)); treated teff straw silage (TTS); Napier grass hay (NGH); and Brachiaria hybrid grass hay (BhH). Compared with the control diet, the daily milk yield increased (p < 0.01) by 31.9%, 52.9%, and 71.6% with TTS, NGH, and BhH diets, respectively. Cows fed BhH had the highest dry matter intake (8.84 kg/d), followed by NGH (8.10 kg/d) and TTS (7.71 kg/d); all of these intakes were greater (p = 0.01) than that of NPH (6.21 kg/d). Nitrogen digestibility increased (p < 0.01) from the NPH diet to TTS (by 27.7%), NGH (21.7%), and BhH (39.5%). The concentration of ruminal ammonia nitrogen was higher for cows fed NGH than other diets (p = 0.01) and positively correlated with plasma urea nitrogen concentration (R² = 0.45). Feeding TTS, NGH, and BhH hay as a basal diet changed the nitrogen excretion pathway from urine to feces, which can help protect against environmental pollution. Estimated methane yields per dry matter intake and milk yield were decreased in dairy cows fed BhH, NGH, and TTS diets when compared to cows fed an NPH diet (p < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding of TTS, NGH, and BhH roughages as a basal diet to lactating dairy cows in tropical regions improved nutrient intake and digestibility, milk yield, nitrogen utilization efficiency, and reduced enteric methane emission.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Effect of Feeding Improved Grass Hays and Eragrostis tef Straw Silage on Milk Yield, Nitrogen Utilization, and Methane Emission of Lactating Fogera Dairy Cows in Ethiopia

Mekuriaw

Tsunekawa

Ichinohe

et al. 2020

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In 2013, eight improved Brachiaria cultivars were introduced and evaluated for adaptation and biomass yield in different agro-ecological zones (Ghimire et al 2015). These cultivars were successfully integrated into mixed crop-livestock system that subsequently improved forage availability and livestock productivity (Mutimura et al 2016;Mutimura et al 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of improved Brachiaria (Urochloa) grass cultivars to foliar diseases and their agronomic performances in Rwanda

Uzayisenga

Mutimura

Muthomi

et al. 2021

African Journal of Range & Forage Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This is the final version of the article that is published ahead of the print and online issue Brachiaria (Urochloa) grass is one of the most important tropical forages distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern and western hemispheres (Renvoize et al. 1996). Brachiaria grass possess several characteristics of agricultural and environmental significance, such as high biomass yield, nutritious to livestock, drought and shade tolerance, soil fertility improvement, high nutrient use efficiency, mitigation of the climate change adversity and effective bioagents for pests and parasitic weed management (Subbarao et al. 2009;Maass et al. 2015;Khan et al. 2016). The genus Brachiaria consists of approximately 100 species, of which seven perennial species of African origin have been exploited for fodder production, and they have been cultivated in Asia, Australia, the South Pacific, and South America at various scales (Stür et al. 1996;Jank et al. 2014). Brachiaria species are a common and valuable constituent of natural vegetation in East Africa (Boonman 1993), but their use as sown pasture for animal production is very recent in the region (Maass et al. 2015;Njarui et al. 2016). A broad adaptation, excellent animal performances and high biomass yields are among the major factors that promote a wider and rapid adoption of Brachiaria grass across the tropics and subtropics. However, the productivity of Brachiaria grass is affected by different abiotic and biotic factors, including diseases causing high yield losses (Nzioki et al. 2016; Hernandez et al. 2017). Diseases of Brachiaria grass, their symptoms, geographical distribution, and management options have been reviewed by Valerio et al. (1996). These diseases have negative impact on livestock productivity, because they reduce forage yields and quality.Brachiaria grass is one of the preferred forages by livestock keepers in Rwanda and in other East African countries (Mutimura and Everson 2012;Maass et al. 2015). As mentioned earlier, diseases are among the major biotic constraints of Brachiaria grass production, and diseases, such as leaf rust, leaf spot, and leaf blight are reported to cause economic loss (Lenné and Trutman 1994;Miles et al. 1996;Rao et al. 1996;Alvarez et al. 2014;Maass et al. 2015). For instance, leaf rust can cause up to 100% yield loss, reduces leaf crude protein content to between 49 and 53% and subsides availability of other nutrients (Lenné and Trutman 1994). Similarly, leaf blight reduces forage biomass yield by approximately 50% in the tropics (Alvarez et al. 2013). Recent studies have shown widespread distribution of leaf rust, leaf spot, and leaf blight diseases in Kenya and Rwanda (Nzioki et al. 2016;Uzayisenga et al. 2020). Therefore, sustainability of Brachiaria grass production in Africa relies on how well these diseases are managed.Many pastures including Brachiaria grass are considered low-value crops, often cultivated in large acreage and management of diseases using chemical is too costly and

show abstract

Brachiaria Grass for Sustainable Livestock Production in Rwanda under Climate Change

Mutimura

Ghimire

2021

Handbook of Climate Change Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Effects of supplementation of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatá and Napier grass with Desmodium distortum on feed intake, digesta kinetics and milk production in crossbred dairy cows

Cited by 27 publications

References 27 publications

Effect of Feeding Improved Grass Hays and Eragrostis tef Straw Silage on Milk Yield, Nitrogen Utilization, and Methane Emission of Lactating Fogera Dairy Cows in Ethiopia

Effect of Feeding Improved Grass Hays and Eragrostis tef Straw Silage on Milk Yield, Nitrogen Utilization, and Methane Emission of Lactating Fogera Dairy Cows in Ethiopia

Response of improved Brachiaria (Urochloa) grass cultivars to foliar diseases and their agronomic performances in Rwanda

Brachiaria Grass for Sustainable Livestock Production in Rwanda under Climate Change

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About