Potential yields and nutritive values of promising forages of eastern India

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the potential yield and nutritive value of promising forages viz., multicut sorghum (var. MP Chari), annual rye, berseem (var. hybrid and wardan), oat (var. kent and JHO-822), wheat (var. VL-829) and maize hybrid. Cumulative maximum fodder yield was recorded from multicut sorghum during kharif season whereas, during rabi season, maximum forage yield was recorded from annual rye followed by berseem.Total biomass yield was recorded maximum in crops that were used for dual purposes (fodder and seed) irrespective of varieties and crops. Significantly higher dry matter intake (DMI) and crude protein digestibility (CPD) were recorded in heifers fed sole annual rye which was at par to wheat and berseem fodder. Lowest DMI and CPD were recorded in heifers fed maize or sorghum.