Assessment of Nutritional Potential and Methane Mitigation Efficacy of Napier Grass Cultivars

Abstract

Napier grass is cultivated as a high-yielding forage crop and widely utilized in the nutrition of grazing animals such as cattle and goats due to its rapid growth rate, expansive leaf surface, and ability to thrive even in low-quality soils, making it a valuable animal feed option. In this study, the chemical compositions, in vitro gas (GP) and methane (CH4) production, metabolizable energy (ME), organic matter digestibility (OMD), true digestible dry matter (TDDM), microbial protein (MP), partitioning factor (PF), microbial protein synthesis efficiency (MPSE, and relative feed values (RFV) of the grasses Packhong1 (Penisetum purpureum x Penisetum americanum), Chinese Pennisetum (Penisetum purpureum x Penisetum alopecurides), and Dwarf Elephant (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) were investigated. Significant differences were found in the chemical contents of napier varieties used in the study (p<0.05). The crude protein (CP) values of the Napier grass varieties were 12.21, 13.58, and 12.04%, while the acid detergent fibre (ADF) values were 51.91, 50.58, and 47.09%, respectively. Following a 24-hour incubation period, GP values were 70.16, 73.42, and 85.36 ml, with corresponding CH4 of 13.08, 16.68, and 16.08%. The TDDM contents were measured at 231.96, 253.82, and 239.61, and the PF values were found to be 3.58, 3.75, and 3.04. The findings highlight variations in chemical composition and GP characteristics among the varieties, offering insights for more efficient feed utilization and environmental sustainability in livestock management. In conclusion, additional in vivo studies are warranted to assess the impact of Napier grass varieties on feed intake.

Keywords

• digestion
• feed value
• gas production
• napier grass

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