Energy and protein values of four forages, including a comparison between tropical and temperate species

Abstract

Artificially dried grass of 2 tropical species (Setaria spacelata and Digitaria decurnbens) from which most of the stem had been removed, and a temperate grass (Loliurn perenne) grown under the same subtropical conditions, were compared for energy and protein value. Data for a temperate clover hay (Trifolium resupinatum) that was tested concurrently are included because they provide useful contrasts. Each was evaluated by measuring energy, nitrogen (N) and carbon balances in 4 adult sheep at 2 levels of intake (ad libitum and near energy maintenance) and during fasting. The 3 grasses had similar leaf content (76-83%) and the clover much less (60%). The tropical forages had similar chemical composition but they contained less crude protein (10%) than the ryegrass (L. perenne) (1 5%) and more cell wall constituents (63-66% v. 58%). The clover had the most crude protein (19%) and the least cell walls (38%); it also was highest in carbohydrates, pectin and heat of combustion. Voluntary intakes of the setaria, pangola (D. decumbens) and ryegrass were similar and 20-30% lower than the intake of clover. Digestibilities of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and energy were similar for the grasses and 8 percentage units lower than for the clover whereas digestibility of crude protein differed between the tropical and temperate species, the latter having digestibilities 12-15 units greater. Digestibility of cell walls did not vary. The metabolisable energy (ME) values of the grasses at maintenance were 8.3-8.5 MJ/kg DM while that of clover was 10.1; at maximum intakes, corresponding ME values were 7.9 and 10.0 MJ/kg DM. Net availability of ME for gain was 0.42 for the tropical grasses and the persian clover and 0.36 for the ryegrass. By contrast, the tropical forages supported higher gains of N relative to N supply than did the temperate forages because urinary N loss was not affected by intake of the tropicals; these differences in N gain were drastically reduced when gain was expressed in relation to ME. These results do not support the contention that forages of tropical species have a lower energy value per kg than temperate forages of similar composition. Indeed, the tropical species tested here appear to have had an ideal balance of energy and protein insofar as efficiency of use of digestible N was close to 100% and their energy values were commensurate with their chemical composition.