Utilization of rice (Oryza sativa L.) forage as feed for goats (Capra hircus)
1987
Jamarun, N.
The chemical composition and feeding values of rice forage as animal feed were determined by pruning at different height and maturity. Digestion trials were conducted to determine the best treatment given as a sole diet or in combination with stargrass and rice straw. Rice variety B4259 a long maturing variety pruned 50 days after transplanting at 15 cm above the soil showed acceptable forage yield, total crude protein yield, crude protein content, in vitro true dry matter digestibility and cell wall level. Stargrass cut at 30, 40, 50 and 60 days regrowth using the upper portion only resulted to similar herbage yield, total crude protein yield and crude protein content. Rice forage conserved as hay and silage indicated good quality feed as shown by their chemical composition with higher crude protein and low lignin content. Digestion trial using rice forage hay (RFH) alone fed to goat gave low nutrient digestibility, nutrient intake and negative nitrogen retention, but with 25% stargrass supplementation to RFH, higher (P0.05) digestibility, intake and nitrogen retention were noted. Rice forage silage (RFS) proved to be a better quality feed than rice forage hay and rice straw because of its higher (P 0.05) digestibility, voluntary intake and nitrogen retention. The feeding value of rice straw can be improved by supplementing it with 50% rice forage silage. The study revealed that rice forage, either in the form of hay or silage is a promising good quality feed for ruminant. The supplementation of 25% green forage to RFH or 50% RFS to rice straw would alleviate the problem of farmers in providing better quality roughage to their animals.
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