INFLUENCIA DE LA CANTIDAD DE FORRAJE OFRECIDO SOBRE EL VALOR NUTRITIVO DE TRES GRAMINEAS TROPICALES

Abstract

Influence of forage supply level upon nutritive value of three forage grasses with different growing habits was studied using a total randomized design. An excess proportion of 10, 30 and 50% of the studied species as fresh matter apart from the normal and daily average intake was given to sheep situated in metabolism cages. Crude protein and digestible protein content, the organic matter and crude protein digestibility were increased with supply level. Intake of digestible crude protein was 18,7; 23,5 and 30,6 g/animal/day with king grass (P<0,01); 13,2; 46,8 and 65,6 with guinea grass (P<0,001) and 12,6; 49,6 and 102,6 with coastcross-1 bermuda grass (P<0,001). Metabolizable energy intake (Mj/animal/day) reached values of 4,66; 5,90 and 6,70 with king grass, 3,30; 6,70 and 8,30 with guinea grass and 4,90; 8,40 and 12,30 with coastcross-1 bermuda grass with highly significative differences (P<0,001). The nutrient intake may be increased in these studied grasses with the increment of the quantity of forage supplied and the best results were found when the excess of forage supply was among 20 and 30% of fresh matter exceeding the daily intake.