Digestibility and forage production from a pasture of molassesgrass (Melinis minutiflora Pal de Beauv)

Abstract

A digestion trial was conducted to determine the nutritive value o f Molassesgrass (Melinis minutiflora Pal de Beauv) during the rainy season in Pirassununga State of São Paulo Brazil. Three young Holstein bulls were kept in cages during ten days for collection, after eight-day adaptation period to the forage. Fresh chopped grass was fed to the animals after 60, 120 and 180 days growing periods. Digestible nutrients in the grass were as follows: after 60 days: DDM = 31.7%; DP = 2.0%; DEE = 2.2%; DF = 15.2%; DNFE = 14.7% and TDN = 34.1%; after 120 days: DDM=56,5%; DP = 1.0%; DEE = 4.2%; DF=20.1%; DNFE = 31.8% and TDN = 57.1%; after 180 days: DDM = 41.2%; DP = zero; DEE = 3.3%; DF = 19.5%; DNFE = 22.4% and TDN = 45.2%.