International Journal of
Livestock Production

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Livest. Prod.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2448
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJLP
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 287

Article in Press

Evaluation of productive potential and nutritional value of humidicola (brachiaria humidicola) grass in Manesibu District West Welega Zone Oromia, Ethiopia

Kassahun DesalegnYalew

  •  Received: 14 September 2020
  •  Accepted: 21 June 2021
This study was carried out to determine the productivity potential and nutritional value of Brachiaria humidicola grass in the enclosed area of Menesibu district. The feed samples from four sites of area enclosure two from highland and two from low land which was established in different years (2007 & 2011) were taken from quadrats placed and demarked and divided with systematically sampling procedures into 3 sub samples (top, middle and bottom positions) and 3 quadrats (1m x 1m) was harvested from each of the 3 sub samples. The mean dry matter yield was 6.38 &7.08 t/ha in 2007 and 2011 establishments respectively and 7.43 ± 0.59, 6.03 ± 0.30 t/ha in low land & midland respectively. The mean plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of leaf per plant and leaf length were 107.50 ± 6.16, 13.83 ± 1.33, 5.67 ± 0.56 &37.50 ± 5.33 in those sites established in 2007 and 15.33 ± 1.90, 9.83 ± 2.21 & 18.00 ± 0.78 in those sites established in2011 respectively. The difference was statistically significant only in leaf length. The average CP, ADF, NDF, ADL, IVDMD, ME DCP & RFV was6.57 ± 0.72, 48.75± 2.32, 80.87 ± 0.79, 21.54 ±6.98, 35.59± 2.55, 4.05 ± 0.43 and 4.89 ± 0.24, 45.76 ± 2.00, 79.79 ± 0.48, 13.97 ± 4.59, 37.49 ± 1.17, 4.37 ± 0.20, 1.06 ± 0.22, 61.93 ± 1.54 respectively in the low land and in the midland. The difference in CP, plant height and DCP was statistically significant. The dry matter yield was better; however, the nutrient content was slightly less than the recommended level, but it is much better than the nutrient content of natural pasture if it is compared with the reported value by previous studies. Further study should be conducted on quality of the hay and the herbage production and quality with application of fertilizers

Keywords: dry matter yield; chemical composition; feed value