Yield and nutritive value of local races of grasses and legumes to rejuvenate pastures for sustaining livestock productivity in sub-Himalayan region of India

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 (C_c ) was higher in legumes except  Phleum pretense-PP and Festuca rubra-FR. Protein fraction P (NPN) was lower (P<0.05) in grasses. Grasses and A legumes had lowest contents of rapidly degradable protein fraction (P_B1 ). Grasses and legumes differed (P<0.05) in gross energy and digestible energy and legumes had higher total digestible nutrients (TDN) except Bromus unioloides-BU. Truly digestible non fibrous carbohydrates (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. P_B1 and moderately degradable protein fraction (P_B2 ) were positively correlated (P<0.01) with RDP, while lignin bound protein fraction (P_c ) was negatively associated with TDN, energy and DDM. The NSC was positively associated with  TDN, energy, DDM, RFV, DMI and tdCP. Variability in nutritional characteristics of grasses and legumes signify their potential to rejuvenate pastures to improve livestock production.