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Natal grass (Melinis repens)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This datasheet is pending revision and updating; its contents are currently derived from FAO's Animal Feed Resources Information System (1991-2002) and from Bo Göhl's Tropical Feeds (1976-1982).

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
Common names 
Natal grass, Natal redtop
Species 

Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka [Poaceae]

Synonyms 
Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C. E. Hubb.
Feed categories 
Related feed(s) 
Description 
Annual grass with slender culms and flat blades up to 1 m high. The panicle has reddish silky hairs. Often found as a weed on cultivated land and takes possession of fallow ground. Grows well in arid or semiarid areas on poor sandy soils.
Nutritional aspects
Ruminants 
Usually stemmy and rather low in palatability.
Nutritional tables
Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value 

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This datasheet is pending revision and updating; its contents are currently derived from FAO's Animal Feed Resources Information System (1991-2002) and from Bo Göhl's Tropical Feeds (1976-1982).

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 32.0 9.7 21.6 44.0 5
Crude protein % DM 8.4 2.7 5.6 11.5 6
Crude fibre % DM 31.4 2.6 27.1 35.0 6
NDF % DM 66.8 *
ADF % DM 36.9 *
Lignin % DM 4.7 *
Ether extract % DM 2.3 1
Ash % DM 7.0 1.4 6.1 9.8 6
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.4 *
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 65.1 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 62.3 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 11.5 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 9.3 *

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Dougall et al., 1960; Sen et al., 1965

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:39

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Crude protein % DM 5.6 1
Crude fibre % DM 41.6 1
NDF % DM 76.4 *
ADF % DM 48.1 *
Lignin % DM 7.2 *
Ether extract % DM 1.4 1
Ash % DM 8.0 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.3 *
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 51.3 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 48.0 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 8.8 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 7.1 *
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants % 43.0 1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Sen, 1938

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:39

References
References 
Dougall, H. W. ; Bogdan, A. V., 1960. The chemical composition of the grasses of Kenya - II. E. Afr. Agric. For. J., 25 (4): 241-244 web icon
Sen, K. M. ; Macey, G. L., 1965. The chemical composition of some indigenous grasses of coastal savanna of Ghana at different stages of growth. 9th Int. Grassld Congr., p. 763
Sen, K. C., 1938. The nutritive values of Indian cattle feeds and the feeding of animals. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Dehli, Bulletin No. 25, 1-30
3 references found
Datasheet citation 

DATASHEET UNDER CONSTRUCTION. DO NOT QUOTE. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/389 Last updated on March 16, 2010, 17:13

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