International Journal of Livestock Research eISSN : 2277-1964
Vol 6 (8) Aug’16
Assessment of Nutritive Value of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Fodder in Sri Lanka P. G. G. Bandara1, G. G. C. Premalal2, W. A. D. Nayananjalie1* 1
Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Puliyankulama, Anuradhapura, SRI LANKA 2 Pasture and Fodder Division, Veterinary Research Institute, Gannoruwa, Peradeniya, SRI LANKA *Corresponding author:
[email protected] Rec. Date:
Jul 11, 2016 20:52
Accept Date:
Aug 10, 2016 22:56
Published Online:
August 30, 2016
DOI
10.5455/ijlr.20160810105641
Abstract The study was carried out to compare the yield and nutritive value of recently introduced fodder species; Sorghum var. Sugar Graze with hybrid Napier var. CO-3, commonly used fodder by Sri Lankan dairy farmers. Field experiment was conducted as a Randomized Complete Block Design. Two harvests were obtained at 50% flowering stage and yield parameters, nutritive and anti-nutritive factors were determined. Plant height and dry matter yields of Sugar Graze were significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to CO-3 in both harvests. However, the highest soluble carbohydrate contents were recorded for Sugar Graze in second harvest. Oxalate contents were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in Sugar Graze compared to CO-3 in both harvests. Sorghum var. Sugar Graze could be effectively utilized to increase nutritional status of dairy cows in Sri Lanka. Key words: Anti-nutritive factors, Hybrid Napier var. CO-3, Nutritive value, Sorghum var. Sugar Graze, Yield
How to cite: Bandara, P., Premalal, G. & Nayananjalie, W. (2016) Assessment of Nutritive Value of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Fodder in Sri Lanka . International Journal of Livestock Research, 6 (8), 44-49. doi:10.5455/ijlr.20160810105641
Introduction Genetic potential, feeding program, cowherd management and animal health are the significant influencing factors on the milk yield. With the continuation of breeding programs with the aim of high milk production, cow nutrition and management conditions should be improved to permit the cow to produce its hereditary potential production. Therefore, feeding a balanced diet which consists with
farmers in Sri Lanka can obtain supreme production with upgraded dairy cattle, paying attention to feeding programs under good management systems (Ibrahim et al., 1999).
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DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20160810105641
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and efficient utilization of feed resources. Hence with comparatively low disease challengers, dairy
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required nutrients is more important. The amount of milk produced is highly influenced by the availability
International Journal of Livestock Research eISSN : 2277-1964
Vol 6 (8) Aug’16
Combination of good quality forage, concentrates and crop residues can be efficiently utilized as the basal feed for sustaining and increasing Sri Lanka’s dairy production (Ranawana, 1994). As in many dairy milk producing countries in the region, the cheapest source of animal feed is forage in Sri Lanka (Premarathne et al., 2003). Hybrid Napier var. CO-3 (Pennisetum americanum × Pennisetum purpureum) has been accepted as one of the high yielding fodder crops in Sri Lanka (Premarathne and Premalal, 2006). Moreover, Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is recently introduced fodder species among dairy farmers. It is a crop for semi-arid regions in tropical and sub-tropical zones, where moisture is a restrictive factor for crop growth. It can be grown successfully throughout the country with irrigated or rain-fed conditions. To increase the fodder production, new high yielding varieties of Sorghum has been developed and Sugar Graze is a top quality 3-way cross among Sorghum, Sorgho and Sudan-grass (Annon, 2011). However, yield parameters, nutritive quality parameters and adverse factors are different from forage to forage. Adverse factors such as oxalate, nitrates and cyanides etc. which can negatively affect the animal’s health and performances. Feeding forages containing levels of 2.0% or more soluble oxalate in dry matter basis can lead to acute toxicities in ruminants (Rahman et al., 2013) and plants containing more than 1.76% nitrate affects badly on animals’ health (Vough et al., 2006). Hence, it is important to evaluate the nutritive and anti-nutritive factors of Sorghum var. Sugar Graze, which may have a greater potential to popularize as a fodder crop among dairy farmers in Sri Lanka. Therefore, present study was carried out to assess and compare the yield; nutritive value and anti-nutritive factors of fodder Sorghum var. Sugar Graze with hybrid Napier var. CO-3 grown under local conditions. Materials and Methods Experimental Design and Sample Collection The experiment was conducted as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) at the Animal Experimental Farm, Veterinary Research Institute, Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka. Land was divided into three blocks and three plots (plot size = 6 m × 2.5 m) were maintained in each block. Randomization was done within each block separately and the fodder varieties were randomly allocated in the plots. First harvest was obtained from all the plots at 50% flower initiation after establishment (at a height of 10 - 12 cm from the soil surface). Thereafter, recommended fertilizers (400 kg/ha of urea) were added. After re-growth, second harvest was also obtained at 50% flowering stage. Sample Preparation and Laboratory Analysis
Dried samples were ground into powder and stored in labeled glass bottles for further analysis. Forage
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samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP), according to AOAC procedures
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Harvested forage samples were cut into small pieces and dried at 80°C until reached a constant weight.
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DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20160810105641
International Journal of Livestock Research eISSN : 2277-1964
Vol 6 (8) Aug’16
(2005). In addition, soluble carbohydrate, nitrate and oxalate contents were analyzed using anthrone method (AFIA, 2011), colorimetric method (Bedwell et al., 1995) and permanganate method (Naik et al., 2014) respectively. Statistical Analysis Data were analyzed using two way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) procedure of Statistical Software for Data Analysis ver. 9.0 (SAS, 1996). Mean separation was done by Tukey’s Studentized Range Test (TSRT) and statistical significance was declared at P < 0.05. Results and Discussion Yield Parameters of Sorghum var. Sugar Graze and Hybrid Napier var. CO-3 Result revealed that, there was a significant interaction between forage variety and harvest for forage height (P < 0.05). Forage height of Sugar Graze in both harvests was greater compared to the first harvest height of CO-3 (Table 1). Interaction between forage variety and harvest on fresh and dry matter yields were significant (P < 0.05). Fresh and dry matter yields of Sugar Graze in both harvests were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than second harvest yields of CO-3. However, similar fresh yields of Sugar Graze were obtained in both harvests (P > 0.05). Rate of increase in fresh yield was higher in CO-3 compared to Sugar Graze. Even though fresh yield of Sugar Graze was not drastically increased at second harvest, it was numerically higher than the first harvest. When a forage species is selected, plant height, number of shoot, tillering capacity, leaf/stem ratio and yield potential are some of the significant factors that should be considered since they influence the total forage yield (Assaeed, 1984). Greater height of Sugar Graze in both harvests compared to CO-3 verified the suitability of Sugar Graze as a ratoon crop (two harvests from a single planting). Rate of increase in fresh yield was higher in CO-3 compared to Sugar Graze. Even though fresh yield of Sugar Graze was not drastically increased at second harvest, it was numerically higher than the first harvest. Therefore, harvests can be taken continuously from Sugar Graze, as it is more economical and beneficial for dairy farmers as ratoon crop. Duncan and Gardner (1984) also proposed that ratoon crop provides an extra yield for farmers. Nutritive Qualities of Sorghum var. Sugar Graze and Hybrid Napier var. CO-3 Interaction between forage and harvest on crude protein, soluble carbohydrate, crude fiber contents and
0.05) in CO-3 at second harvest compared to the first but; it was vice versa in Sugar Graze (Table 1).
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Differences observed in crude protein contents in two forages during two harvests can be due to
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dry matter percentage was significant (P < 0.05). Crude protein content was significantly higher (P
0.05) between CO-3 and Sugar Graze at second harvest. Dietary fiber plays an important role in ruminants in order to maximize their dry matter intake and stimulate chewing activity and rumen fermentation. Therefore, Sugar Graze is an ideal fodder with high fiber content as Grant (2007) stated that higher Non Detergent Fiber (NDF) content in fodders will be “effective” when it ensures a good chewing activity that preserving an acceptable milk fat content. The highest (P < 0.05) soluble carbohydrate content was observed in Sugar Graze at second harvest compared to the two harvests of CO-3 and first harvest of Sugar Graze. The observed greater soluble carbohydrate content in Sugar Graze was support with findings of Burns et al. (1970) who found that the nutritive value of some Sorghum varieties does not decrease with increased maturity and higher water-soluble carbohydrate was reported in mature Sorghum fodder than in less mature Sorghum fodder. This may be due to increased stem diameter and an active pith parenchyma. “Sugar Graze” was a hybrid Sorghum variety and its high sugar content was caused to designate it as “Sugar Graze”. Knudsen (1997) suggested that feeding forages with higher levels of soluble carbohydrates enhance product performances; meat and
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significantly reduced (P < 0.05) at second harvests compared to first harvests in both fodder varieties.
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milk, therefore feeding with Sugar Graze can achieve these benefits. The dry matter contents were
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DOI 10.5455/ijlr.20160810105641
International Journal of Livestock Research eISSN : 2277-1964
Vol 6 (8) Aug’16
Anti-nutritive Factors of Sorghum var. Sugar Graze and Hybrid Napier Var. CO-3 Small amount of nitrate is available in most of the forages. Nitrate is not particularly toxic to cattle but excess consumption could cause adverse effects (Vough et al., 2006). Interaction between forage and harvest on anti-nutritive factors was significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in nitrate contents between first and second harvests for Sugar Graze though the nitrate contents significantly increased in CO-3 at second harvest (P < 0.05, Table 1). However, the highest nitrate content was recorded in CO-3 compared to Sugar Graze at 2nd harvesting stage. Furthermore, existed rainy condition at second harvest could be caused to increase the soil moisture content and then accelerate the uptake of nitrate from soil. These results supported with the findings of Gadberry and Jennings (1914) who reported that some amount of moisture must be present in the soil for nitrate absorption and accumulation. In plants that survive through drought, nitrate concentrations are often high for several days following the first rain. Therefore, Sorghum is consisted with comparatively low nitrate content and it may avoid the conditions of nitrate poisoning of dairy animals. Soluble oxalate have reported adverse effects on cattle (Rahman et al., 2011). Even though it was lower than toxic level [20 g/kg (2%) or more in DM basis] (Rahman et al., 2011), soluble oxalate contents were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CO-3 compared to Sugar Graze at first harvest. However, there was no difference (P > 0.05) in soluble oxalate contents of Sugar Graze between two harvests. Plants having a higher tendency to accumulate soluble oxalate such as CO-3 might not be selected for cultivation since feeding forages with higher oxalate create adverse effects on the animal. Otherwise, consumption of oxalate containing forages by ruminants should be carefully monitored. Conclusion Sorghum var. Sugar Graze could be effectively utilized to increase nutritional status of dairy cows in Sri Lanka since it produces higher yield with maximum nutritive values and minimum anti-nutritive factors.
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1. AFIA, 2011. Laboratory Methods Manual, A reference manual of standard methods for the analysis of fodder Australian Fodder Industry Association Ltd. 2. Annon, 2011. Sorgum Sugar Graze 11 Sudangrass. Retrieved on February 10, 2014, from http://www.lacrossessed.com. 3. AOAC, 2005. Official Methods of Analysis, 18 ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington. D.C. USA. 4. Assaeed, AM, 1984. Evaluation of some sweet Sorghum varieties under the condition of Central Region. Annals Agricultural Science 39, 649 - 654. 5. Bedwell, CL, Hamar, DW, Hoesterey, ML, Sonderman, JP, Odde, KG, 1995. Comparison of four methods for forage nitrate analysis. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 7, 527-530. 6. Burns, JC, Barnes, RF, Wedin, WF, Rhykerd, CL, Noller, CH, 1970. Nutritional characteristics of forage sorghum and Sudangrass after frost. Agronomy Journal 62, 348 - 350.
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Vol 6 (8) Aug’16
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