Directory UMM :Data Elmu:jurnal:A:Animal Feed Science and Technology:Vol85.Issue3-4.Jun2000:
Animal Feed Science and Technology
85 (2000) 239±257
Supplementation of graded levels of Desmodium
intortum hay to sheep feeding on maize stover
harvested at three stages of maturity
1. Feed intake, digestibility and body weight change
Adugna Toleraa,b,*, Frik Sundstùlc,1
a
Department of Animal Production and Rangeland Management, Awassa College of Agriculture,
P.O. Box 222, Awassa, Ethiopia
b
Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Norway, P.O. Box 5025, N-1432 Aas, Norway
c
Agricultural University of Norway, Noragric, P.O. Box 5001, N-1432 Aas, Norway
Received 16 April 1999; received in revised form 15 February 2000; accepted 3 March 2000
Abstract
Feed intake, digestibility and body weight change of lambs fed basal diets of maize stover
harvested at three stages of maturity and supplemented with graded levels (0, 150, 300 and 450 g
per head per day) of desmodium (Desmodium intortum cv. Greenleaf) hay were studied. The maize
stovers were harvested at 30, 22 and 12% grain moisture content which were designated as stages I,
II and III, respectively. The crude protein (CP) content of the stovers showed a decreasing trend
whereas the ®bre contents showed an increase from stages I to III. The desmodium hay had higher
CP, phenolic compounds, calcium, sulphur and manganese contents and lower ®bre (neutral and
acid detergent ®bres, cellulose and hemicellulose) contents than the stovers. Maize stover, total dry
matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake showed a decreasing trend (p>0.05) with increasing
stage of maturity of the stover. The CP intake was signi®cantly higher (p0.05).
desmodium hay at 150, 300 and 450 g of supplementation, respectively. This could be
explained by the high NDF content and bulky nature of the desmodium hay. Roughage
intake response to supplementation is in¯uenced by the supplement fermentation rate and
bulk density (Nsahlai et al., 1996). Forage legumes that disappear fast from the rumen are
likely to induce lower substitution rates (Umunna et al., 1995a). Kaitho et al. (1998a) and
Mpairwe et al. (1998) observed a similar increase in substitution rate with increasing
level of browse legume supplementation to basal diets of tef straw and dried elephant
grass, respectively.
3.4. Digestibility
Stage of maturity of the stover did not have any signi®cant effect (p>0.05) on DM, OM
and NDF digestibility (Table 4). However, the mean digestibility values across the four
levels of supplementation showed a decreasing trend with increasing stage of maturity.
Digestibility of CP was signi®cantly higher (p0.05).
Supplementation resulted in improved digestibility of the diet. There was a signi®cant
increase (p
85 (2000) 239±257
Supplementation of graded levels of Desmodium
intortum hay to sheep feeding on maize stover
harvested at three stages of maturity
1. Feed intake, digestibility and body weight change
Adugna Toleraa,b,*, Frik Sundstùlc,1
a
Department of Animal Production and Rangeland Management, Awassa College of Agriculture,
P.O. Box 222, Awassa, Ethiopia
b
Department of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Norway, P.O. Box 5025, N-1432 Aas, Norway
c
Agricultural University of Norway, Noragric, P.O. Box 5001, N-1432 Aas, Norway
Received 16 April 1999; received in revised form 15 February 2000; accepted 3 March 2000
Abstract
Feed intake, digestibility and body weight change of lambs fed basal diets of maize stover
harvested at three stages of maturity and supplemented with graded levels (0, 150, 300 and 450 g
per head per day) of desmodium (Desmodium intortum cv. Greenleaf) hay were studied. The maize
stovers were harvested at 30, 22 and 12% grain moisture content which were designated as stages I,
II and III, respectively. The crude protein (CP) content of the stovers showed a decreasing trend
whereas the ®bre contents showed an increase from stages I to III. The desmodium hay had higher
CP, phenolic compounds, calcium, sulphur and manganese contents and lower ®bre (neutral and
acid detergent ®bres, cellulose and hemicellulose) contents than the stovers. Maize stover, total dry
matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) intake showed a decreasing trend (p>0.05) with increasing
stage of maturity of the stover. The CP intake was signi®cantly higher (p0.05).
desmodium hay at 150, 300 and 450 g of supplementation, respectively. This could be
explained by the high NDF content and bulky nature of the desmodium hay. Roughage
intake response to supplementation is in¯uenced by the supplement fermentation rate and
bulk density (Nsahlai et al., 1996). Forage legumes that disappear fast from the rumen are
likely to induce lower substitution rates (Umunna et al., 1995a). Kaitho et al. (1998a) and
Mpairwe et al. (1998) observed a similar increase in substitution rate with increasing
level of browse legume supplementation to basal diets of tef straw and dried elephant
grass, respectively.
3.4. Digestibility
Stage of maturity of the stover did not have any signi®cant effect (p>0.05) on DM, OM
and NDF digestibility (Table 4). However, the mean digestibility values across the four
levels of supplementation showed a decreasing trend with increasing stage of maturity.
Digestibility of CP was signi®cantly higher (p0.05).
Supplementation resulted in improved digestibility of the diet. There was a signi®cant
increase (p