Nutritive value and forage quality indices of Calopogonium mucunoides- Zea mays stover mixtures for ruminant production

Abstract

Forages, either as natural or sown pastures are a major feed source for ruminants but are limited in terms of quality. The nutritive value of Calopogonium - maize stover mixtures was assessed for proximate, fibre fraction, protein fractions, forage quality indices and in vitro gas characteristics. Two maize stover (Oba super 2 and Suwan 1) and an herbaceous forage legume (Calopogonium mucunoides) were arranged into six different proportions (75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 % DM basis) making up to nine treatments in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five replicates. The result revealed that Calopogonium had highest significant (p<0.05) CP (194.70 g/kg DM), followed by similar (p>0.05) values (162.70 and 158.80 g/kg DM) for C75:O25 and C75:S25, respectively while the least (p<0.05) was recorded for Suwan 1 (51.01g/kg). Sole Suwan 1 maize stover had the highest (P<0.05) NDF (615.43 g/kg DM) while the least values (453.34, 467.26 and 468.18 g/kg DM) were recorded similar for Calopogonium, C75:O25 and C75:S25, respectively. Highest (p<0.05) DMI was similar for Calopogonium, C75:O25 and C75:S25 with least value recorded for Suwan 1. Highest (p<0.05) CP fraction B1, B2, B3 and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) as well as Utilizable crude protein (uCP) were observed for Calopogonium while Suwan 1 recorded their least contents. Therefore, either mixture of Calopogonium and Oba super 2 or Suwan 1 at 75:25 will improve the intake and digestibility of forage legume and maize stover. Hence, legumes can improve the digestibility of maize stover and might improve the performance of ruminant animals.