NUTRITIVE VALUE OF CHLORIS GAYANA AND BRACHIARIA RUZIZIENSIS HAYSAS AFFECTED BY STORAGE PERIOD

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of storage period on nutritive value of Chloris gayana and Brachiaria uziziensishays. The experimental design was a two (2 years) x two (2 grasses) factorial replicated three times. Proximate nutrient and detergent fibre composition such as Crude Protein (CP), Ash, hemicelluloses, lignin, acid detergent fibre (ADF), and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in the hays for the year 2019 and 2020 were determined. Results revealed that, the values for CP (12.6%), ash (9.7%) and hemicellulose (32.5%) were significantly (p<0.01) higher in Brachiariaruziziensis than Chloris gayana. NDF, ADF and Lignin contents were however, higher (p<0.05) in Chloris gayana with 64.9%, 33.3% and 6.4%, respectively. The content of CP (11.7%) and ash (9.0%) was high in 2020 compared with 2019. The interaction shows that the contents of CP (13.1%), ash (10.0%) and Hemicellulose (32.2%) were higher (p<0.05) in Brachiaria ruziziensis in the year 2020 compared with Chloris gayana in 2019. Calculated Dry matter intake, total digestible nutrients (TDN), relative feed value (RFV) and digestible dry matter (DDM) were higher (p<0.05) in Brachiaria ruziziensis than Chloris gayana. In conclusion, B. ruziziensis hay has higher nutritive value than C. gayana hay. Farmers should establish the two types of grasses for conservation as hay for dry season feeding.