PJB-2019-529
Proximate And Elemental Assessment Of Forage Grasses For Grazing Ruminants
Muhammad Nauman Khan
Abstract
Perennial grasses show numerous useful traits as energy crops and have been expanding enthusiasm for their utilization since last century. Proficient production of energy from such enduring grasses requires the decision of most proper grass species for the natural, climatic and ecological conditons. In the present study eleven grass species (Alopecurus myosuroides, Apluda mutica, Bromus catharticus, Cenchrus ciliaris, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Desmostachya bipinnata, Dichanthium annulatum, Hordeum murinum, Leptochloa chinensis, Phalaris minor and Polypogon fugax) were collected and screened to check their potential of usage as forage. The selected forage grasses were evaluated for proximate and mineral contents in three phenological phases (Table 1 & 2). A total of sixteen elements (C, O, Al, Mg, Si, S, P, Cl, Ca, K, Mn, N, Cu, Fe, Zn and Na) those are vital for appropriate development, growth, health and other physiological functions in cattle’s. The level of common essentials elements improved in plants through various phenological stages except few species. All eleven species have high value of carbohydrates and low value of crude protein. Percent moisture contents were maximum in Phalaris minor 10.4% (Table 2 & Fig 10) but low ash contents in Alopecurus myosuroides 6.423 % (Table 2 & Fig 1). All the highlighted species in present results (proximate and nutrient composition) suggest that they have high potential for cattle as fodder and fulfill the current gap of fodder.
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