Seasonal variation in eating behavior and nutritive value of mixed jungle grass for goats
2011
Das, A. | De, D. | Katole, S.
Seasonal variation in biomass yield, herbal and chemical composition, samples of mixed jungle grass were assessed by conducting three digestibility trials during the month of August (monsoon), December (winter) and May (summer). During each period, 4 Sikkim local adult, non-producing does (body weight 19.1±1.8 kg) were stall fed with mixed jungle grass ad libitum. After a preliminary feeding period of 22 days a digestibility trial of 5-day collection period was conducted during each of the season mentioned. Biomass yield of the pasture of mid altitude location of Sikkim was maximum during monsoon, followed by winter and summer. DM and CF contents were significantly (P0.01) less and CP content was significantly (P0.01) more in samples collected during monsoon in comparison to those collected during winter and summer. The time spent on rumination during summer month was higher (P0.01) than monsoon Time spent on eating (min) per 100g DM was 42.40, 37.08 and 42.23 in summer, monsoon and winter, respectively. Time spent (min) on ruminating per 100g DM was higher (P0.01) in summer months (124.75) as compared with monsoon (86.63) and winter (108.15). Dry matter intake and digestibility was significantly (P0.01) higher in monsoon than summer and winter. Nutritive value of mixed jungle grass in terms of DCP and TDN content was found to be significantly (P0.01) higher in monsoon season as compared to winter and summer. It was concluded that quality of pasture was superior during monsoon in comparison to winter and summer.
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