Chemical Composition and In Situ Degradability of Desmanthus spp. Forage Harvested at Different Maturity Stages

This study evaluated the change in nutritive value and situ degradability of Desmanthus spp. (desmanthus) cultivars JCU2; D. virgatus, JCU4; bicornutus JCU7; leptophyllus harvested at varying maturity stages to test hypothesis that desmanthus differ between with stage harvest. In Experiment 1, was 11, 38, 72 103 days regrowth (maturity), separated into leaf stem portion, dried analysed for dry matter (DM) chemical composition. 2, 78, 122 168 after planting (maturity). Samples were dried, DM, crude protein (CP) neutral detergent fibre (NDF) acid (ADF) degradation determined using technique three fistulated Droughtmaster steers. The results showed an interaction cultivar on mass ratio, CP, NDF ADF (p ? 0.04). leaf-to-stem ratio declined more steeply JCU7 compared JCU2 JCU4 = 0.04), while there a higher decline CP than < 0.01). total potentially degradable fraction DM did not ? 0.30) but However, effective high particle outflow rate JCU7. Taken together, these indicate differences exist cultivars, livestock production may be achieved by utilising different blend earlier stages. Therefore, harvest accepted.