TITLE:
Proximate analysis: Relative feed values of various forage plants for ruminants investigated in a semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan
AUTHORS:
Kafeel Ahmed, Muneeba Shaheen, Farhad Mirzaei, Zafar Iqbal Khan, Sumaira Gondal, Asia Fardous, Abrar Hussain, Fahim Arshad, Tahir Mehmood
KEYWORDS:
Eragrostis pilosa; Dactyloctenium aegyptium; Parthenium hysterophorus; Calotropis procera; Nutritional Values; Proximate Contents
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.4 No.6,
June
27,
2013
ABSTRACT: The experimental site “Sial Morr Sugar mill, District
Sargodha” Punjab, Pakistan was selected to carry
out present investigation. The forage samples of Eragrostis pilosa, Dactyloctenium
aegyptium, Parthenium hysterophorus and Calotropis procera were
collected from the three sites held in this area. The forage samples were
cleaned with distilled water to rinse dust particles and other impurities.
These forage samples were air dried, oven dried and ground for the assessment
of proximate analysis. Proximate analysis procedures including the percentage
of moisture content, crude protein, ash contents and crude fiber in the sample
were determined by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. The
CP contents among different plant species ranged from 8.1% to 26.2% at all
sites. The lowest CP value was found in Eragrostis
pilosa at site III while the highest CP contents in Dactyloctenium aegyptium at site II. The CP content showed
significant (p the moisture
was found more in Calotropis procera at site II. The Dactyloctenium aegyptium
had the least moisture
content of 3.9% while the highest water content of 7%. Ash contents varied from
7.2% to 17.9% among various plant species at all sampling sites. The lowest ash
contents were recorded in Dactyloctenium
aegyptium at site III. At site II, ash contents were highest in Eragrostis
pilosa. The differences between ash contents of various plant
species were significant (p Parthenium hysterophorus had greater
crude fiber contents at site II while the lowest value of CF found in Dactyloctenium aegyptium at site I. The
differences were significant between all plant species other than the Specie I
at all sites. The values ranged from 1.2% to 4.1%. It was highest in Parthenium hysterophorus (4.1%) at site
I and least in Dactyloctenium aegyptium (1.2%) at site III. Maximum ether extract value was achieved at site I.