Ajayi et al., 2008. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 20 (6): 83

Organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME), short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and degradation constants of Panicum maximum and legume mixtures and Panicum maximum intercrop with legumes were estimated from in vitro gas production parameters.    Crude protein (CP) content ranged from 7.63 to 23.29%, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) ranged from 50.66 to 64.28%, Ether extract ranged from 2.73 to 9.24% and the ash content values ranged from 6.78 to 12.66%. Phenol content varied from 1.47 – 1.76 %, Tannin value ranged from 1.05 – 1.38 %, Saponin content ranged from 1.38 – 1.72 %, Phytate content ranged from 2.17 – 2.31 % and Oxalate content ranged from 1.54 – 1.73 %. Potential gas production, b from the insoluble fraction of the legumes ranged from 22.38 to 28.46 ml/g DM, the value for the mixtures ranged from 14.55 to 22.10 ml/g DM. The b fraction of the grass in legume intercrop ranged from 20.45 to 24.50.ml/g DM. Increased gas production was observed in the mixtures and intercrop than sole grass. Methane production was higher in legumes than the mixtures. ME, OMD and SCFA values were in the order of mixtures > legumes > sole grass. Grass in legume intercrop had higher ME, OMD, SCFA than sole grass.  This study revealed that grass in legume intercrop and grass/legume mixtures have greater benefit in animal nutrition than grass only.