In vitro Digestibility and Gas Production Characteristics of Four Brachiaria Cultivars as Fresh Fodder

Abstract

Brachiaria is a grass that is potentially in the development of pastures, due to have a characteristic that is resistant on heavy grazing, trampling and drought and responsive to nitrogen fertilization. The potential of this grass is also survival in the dry season (drought resistant), other than that because it has very strong roots and quickly shut the soil so that it can be reduce soil erosion. However, there is a need to have comparative evaluation of these Brachiaria cultivars so that definite recommendations can be made in the choice and management of the respective cultivars. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the in vitro digestibility and gas production of four Brachiaria cultivars namelyg Brachiaria brizantha, Brachiaria Mulato, Brachiaria ruzinensis, and Brachiaria decumbens. Grass harvested at 40 days, and dried with air dried for 3 days, then grinded with a grinding machine. Sample collection was analyzed at the Laboratory of Biochemistry Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The parameters data consists of nutritional quality of grass and dry matter digestibility and organic matter. Data of the chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, in vitro gas production were analysed using one way annova in SPSS version 16. The model included the fixed effect of treatment. Data are presented as least squares means with standard error of the means. Significance was declared at p≤0.05, and tendencies were considered at 0.05<p≤0.10. Significant treatment effects were detected by Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). The results showed that the digestibility of dry organic matter by in vitro on Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria mulato, Brachiaria decumbens, and Brachiaria brizantha significantly different (P <0.05) in consecutive as much as 45.83%, 52.05%, 42.83%, 52.80% (Digestibility of dry matter) and 48.28%, 51.74%, 47.51%, and 54.90% (Digestibility of organic matter). Based on these results it can be concluded that dry and organic matter digestibility on the type of Brachiaria has the distinction of good digestibility of dry matter and organic matter.