Yield and nutritive value of local races of grasses and legumes to rejuvenate pastures for sustaining livestock productivity in sub-Himalayan region of India Singh Sultan2,*, Ahmad S.1, Bhat S. S.1, Singh Tejveer2, Mir N.H.1 1Regional Research Station, ICAR-IGFRI, Srinagar-191132, India 2ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi-284003, India *Corresponding author e-mail: sultansingh64@gmail.com
Online Published on 4 January, 2024. Abstract Improved local races of 8 grasses and 5 legumes were evaluated for forage yield and nutritional characteristics for introduction in sub-Himalayan pastures. Forage yield was higher for Phalaris aquatic-PA in grasses and Onobrychis viciifolia-OV in legumes. Grasses had low (P<0.05) CP and more NDF, ADF and cellulose than legumes. Grasses had higher (P<0.05) tCHO except Trifolium pretense- TP, while legumes had higher non structural carbohydrates-NSC. Lignin bound carbohydrate fraction (CC) was higher in legumes except Phleum pretense- PP and Festuca rubra-FR. Protein fraction PA (NPN) w as lower (P<0.05) in grasses. Grasses and legumes had lowest contents of rapidly degradable protein fraction (PB1). Grasses and legumes differed (P<0.05) in gross energy and digestible energy and l egumes had higher total digestible nutri ents (TDN) except Bromus unioloides-BU. Truly digestible non fibr ous carbohydr ates (tdNFC) and tdCP of legumes were higher (P<0.05) than grasses. Legumes TR, Medicago sativa-MS and Coronilla varia-CV had higher (P<0.05) digestible DM (DDM) except Festuca arundinacea-FA (59.38) and BU (60.78%). Dry matter intake (DMI) and relative feed value (RFV) were higher (P<0.05) for legumes. Neutral detergent fiber and cellulose were negatively correlated (P<0.01) with TDN, energy and DDM, RFV, DMI, tdNFC and tdCP. PB1 and moderately degradable protein fraction (PB2) were positively correlated (P<0.01) with RDP, while lignin bound protein fraction (PC) was negatively associated with TDN, energy and DDM. The NSC was positively associated with TDN, energy, DDM, RFV, DMI and tdCP. Variability in nutriti onal characteristics of grasses and legumes signify their potential to rejuvenate pastures to improve livestock production. Top Keywords Himalaya, Livestock, Quality, Temperate grasses/legumes, Yield. Top |