Acceptability Trials On Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and Guinea Grass Hybrid (Pannicum maxinium), as Compared with Napier (Merker) Grass (Pennisetum purpureum)

Abstract

An acceptability test was conducted for Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris). and Guinea grass hybrid (Pannicum maximum). Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) was used as the standard for comparison. A 3 X 3 latin-square design was followed. The experiment was made during the more or less recognized growing seasons in the Island, and the ages tested were 49 to 55, 63 to 69, 77 to 83, 83 to 89, 97 to 103, and 111 to 117 days. Total consumption of chopped green material and dry-matter intake per cow, per day, per 100 pounds of live weight, were used as criteria for comparison. All three grasses were equally accepted on the basis of dry-matter intake per 100 pounds of live weight. Other important observations for 1. Cows consumed more fresh material from grass of lower dry-matter content, giving an erroneous impression of better acceptability. 2. The dry-matter intake per 100 pounds of live weight increased significantly as the percentage of dry matter in the grasses increased up to about 89 days old. From the results of this study it appears that cows consume less fresh material from a grass containing more dry matter, on a percentage basis. More information is needed to reach definite conclusions on this point.