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Biometrical Ranking of Fodder Crops for Sustainable Livestock and Clean Air Production

Khan Shahidul Huque
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh

Biplob Kumer Roy
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh

Nani Gopal Das*
Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Savar Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted with the objectives to develop a professional forage quality ranking scale by considering their efficiency of biomass production (Xddm), animal production response (Xap), enteric methane emission reduction (XCH4) and benefit to cost ratio of their production (Xbc) in proportion to a typical fodder: maize, considering its constant efficiency of 1.0. Available fodder crops were cultivated following standard agronomical practices and conserved to develop database for calculating Xddm, and Xbc. Considering maize as a control roughage, a series of feeding trials on the native cattle of Bangladesh was conducted to calculate Xap and XCH4. The maize index (Mi) of a test fodder crop was calculated as: Mi = . The Mi of Moringafeed was found the highest (1.64), followed by Maize (1.00), Australian sweet jumbo (0.99) and Napier- Bajra (0.82). The German, NapierHybrid, Napier Arusha and Andropogon had the Mi of between 0.80 and 0.50 (0.72, 0.63, 0.57 and 0.50, respectively). Next, the Mi of Sugargraze jumbo, Splendida, UMS (Aus), and Para fall between 0.49 and 0.40 (0.45, 0.43, 0.42, 0.41 and 0.40, respectively). The least Mi (below 0.40) was found in UMS (Aman), local grass and Plicatulum (0.39, 0.35 and 0.35, respectively). The Mi of UMS (Aman), local grass and Plicatulum was below 0.40. The Mi may be used for the ranking of fodder crops for their cost effective production and feeding to animals and help reduction of enteric methane emission in the rumen.

Keywords: Maize index, Biomass production, Enteric methane, Emission factor

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Fodder

Objectives:

The present research work was undertaken to develop a database on the production efficiency of biomass, daily live weight gain of growing bulls, benefit to cost of fodder cultivation and the reduction efficiency of enteric methane emission in the rumen of available fodder cultivars, and the mathematics of their relative values among different cultivars of forages for devising their ranking system integrating the above biological attributes.

Methodology:

2.1.Fodder Cultivation and Silage Preparation of Fibrous Feeds Rice straw of Aus (harvest in July and August) and Aman ( harvest in November and December) were procured and impregnated with urea and molasses solution of water (UMS) following the method described by Huque and Talukder, and it, being practiced by farmers, was considered to be compared as fibrous feeds with other fodder crops. Fodder crops available in the fodder germplasm bank of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), Savar, Dhaka and the cultivars extended to farmers were cultivated in its research field in the Modhupur tract agroecological zone following recommended agronomical practices for each of them. The biomass was harvested at their optimum maturity and conserved following ensiling process different fodder crops. Moringa was cultivated and lopped branches with leaves (tops) were chopped and dried in the sun, milled mechanically, dried and conserved as Moringafeed in synthetic bags. The other graminaceous perennial fodder crops (Napier of different cultivars, Andropogon, Splendida, Plicatulum) were cultivated, harvested and ensiled in underground pits. The German grass or Para was cultivated in low lying lands and considering farmers practice their freshly harvested biomass was fed to animals. The seeds of Maize, SugargrazeJumboo, Jumboo green and Australian Sweet Jumbo were procured from the local market and they were cultivated in the fodder field of the BLRI, the biomass produced was harvested at recommended maturity and ensiled for feeding to animals. Maize was harvested with cobs at their dough stage and ensiled. All the data on the production of biomass and its loss during the harvest and conservation or cost of production and market price were collated. The fresh dry matter (DM) of different fodder biomass was determined according to AOAC.

2.2. Feeding Trials Ensiled Maize fodder was considered to be a control roughage feed. A diet of sole Maize silage was considered as the control during the feeding trials conducted on the different roughages on the growing native bulls with an average live weight (LW) of 146 (±22) kg in different trials conducted over a period of last five years (2010 to 2015). Each of the roughage diet was fed to six bulls, and the duration was at least 60 days including a 7 days digestibility trial. After recording initial live weight (LW), the bulls under each trial were weighed at ten days interval, feed offered and refused was weighed daily with a continuous adjustment of ad libitum DM intake by supplying at least 10% additional roughage. The feces and feed refusal of an individual bull were weighed and recorded during the digestibility trial period. Representative feed, feces and refusal samples were collected and preserved for their DM determination according AOAC. The intake and digestibility of feed DM was calculated accordingly. The cumulative LW of bulls was regressed on the growth period of animals and the slope of the regression line was calculated to be the average daily weight gain of the animals. The gross energy (GE) of a fodder crop was determined using a Bomb Calorimeter (IKAØ Calorimeter System C5003 Control, USA) of the Nutrition Lab of the BLRI.

2.4. Statistical Analysis of Data The primary data of different crops were tabulated with their average values and standard deviation. After calculation of Mi of the fodder crops the correlation and regression of Mi of all the tested fodder crops with their DDM yield (kg/ha), LW production of animals (kg/ha), methane production per kg gain of animals, or with benefit to cost were determined and the significance of r values were compared with the tabulated r values at 5.0% level of significance.

Source of Information: Asian Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences (ISSN: 2321 – 1571) Volume 05 – Issue 03, June 2017

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The biometric ranking system may be followed for the ranking of available fodder crops. However, the derived ranks of available fodder may vary according to the regions of a country and the physiological stages of animals. This requires further research for the validation of the ranking system in different agro-climates for animals of different physiology.

Knowledge Management: Journal