Comparative nutritional evaluation of oat grass (Avena sativa) and its silage in ruminally cannulated buffalo bull

Oat grass was harvested-at the age of 60 and 80 days. All samples were chopped and dried at 55 degree C. The dried samples were ground through Wily mill. These samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM) organic matter (OM), crude protein neutral detergent fiber (ADF) grid detergent fiber (ADF) acid detergent lignin (ADL), hemicellulose, cellulose ash and gross energy (GE). After proximate and fiber analysis, 80th day oat grass was used for silage making for silage making two silage additives, molasses and ground corn at 2, 4 and 6 % levels were used. Total 21 laboratory silos were prepared, out of which 3 were controls, each having an average wt of 3 kg. Three silage fermentation periods (30, 35, 40 days) were given. These silage's were analyzed for DM, CP, true protein (TP), DM NDF, ADF, ADL hemicellulose cellulose, ash and GE. Silage's with molasses additive at 40 days of fermentation had lower PH values and higher lactic acid concentration than corn silage. A buffalo bull fitted with ruminal canola was used to study in situ digestion kinetics. The results revealed that CP content decreased with advancement of age of oat grass. However, DM, GE, ash, NDF, ADF and ADL contents increased with maturity. DM and The mean pH values range within 3.85-4.45, which is a sign of well- preserved and quality silage. However, results revealed that pH was significantly low (P less than 0.05) in molasses treated silage as compared to corn treated and control silage. The mean values of lactic acid range within 3.53-3.92 %. The data significant difference (P less than 0.05) all treatments but had higher lactic acid values in molasses treated silage than corn treated silage at 40th day of fermentation. During ensiling there was a decrease in CP, NDF, hemicellulose while there was increase in ash, DM, ADF, ADL and cellulose. During silage fermentation there was DM losses occurred. But these DM losses were minimum in OG molasses and corn treated silage than control. However, molasses treated silage had low corn treated silage. During silage making the DM losses ranges from 0.6 4.70 % in case of molasses and ground corn silage respectively. The DM digestibility (at 48 hours) was depressed significantly (P less than 0.05) by 7.57 % in silage than oat grass. NDF digestibility was also depressed significant significantly (P less than 0.05) by 15.80 % in silage than oat grass. Lag time for DM and NDF were non significant between oat grass and its silage. Rate of DM digestion of oat grass and its silage was also non-significant while there was significant. (P less than 0.05) difference in NDF rate of digestion of both oat grass and its silage. Extent of DM digestion (at 96 hours) was not different between grass and its silage however, there was significant (P less than 0.05) difference between NDF extent of digestion of oat grass and its silage. Oat grass at 80th day maturity was an ideal for silage making. The data show 2 % molasses treated silage at 40th day of fermentation had better result as compared to crushed corn During ensiling molasses treated silage's had low. DM losses as compared to crushed corn. The present results showed digestion kinetics of both dry matter and neutral detergent fiber were significantly different.