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Nile grass (Acroceras macrum)

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 
Nile grass, nyl grass, nylgras, nile vlei grass, nylvleigras, nilgras, swamp rye grass, lidjiegras, varkgra
Species 

Acroceras macrum Stapf [Poaceae]

Synonyms 
Neohusnotia macra (Stapf) C.C. Hsu
Feed categories 
Related feed(s) 
Description 
Perennial with stems up to 1 m high. The rhizomes and stolons from a dense sward. Gives large yields of hay. Withstands waterlogging but not drought. Used to improve moist natural pastures by planting splits or rhizome cuttings.
Distribution 
Common on floodplains, river banks and swamp edges in eastern and southern Africa and has been introduced to Australia and South America for cultivation.
Nutritional aspects
Ruminants 
It provides very palatable and nutritious dry-season grazing.
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
Crude protein % DM 8.7 1
Crude fibre % DM 30.8 1
NDF % DM 66.2 *
ADF % DM 36.2 *
Lignin % DM 4.5 *
Ether extract % DM 5.9 1
Ash % DM 9.9 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.7 *
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 65.8 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 62.9 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 11.8 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 9.5 *

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

References

Dougall et al., 1965

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:40

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Crude protein % DM 14.0 1
Crude fibre % DM 34.6 1
NDF % DM 69.8 *
ADF % DM 40.4 *
Lignin % DM 5.5 *
Ether extract % DM 2.6 1
Ash % DM 8.7 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.7 *
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 64.2 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 61.4 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 11.5 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 9.1 *

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

References

Dirven, 1962

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:40

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Crude protein % DM 8.5 1
Crude fibre % DM 31.8 1
NDF % DM 67.2 *
ADF % DM 37.3 *
Lignin % DM 4.8 *
Ether extract % DM 1.8 1
Ash % DM 6.1 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.5 *
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 62.3 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 58.8 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 10.9 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 8.8 *
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants % 57.5 1

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

References

Van Wyk et al., 1951

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:40

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Crude protein % DM 21.3 1
Crude fibre % DM 30.0 1
NDF % DM 65.5 *
ADF % DM 35.3 *
Lignin % DM 4.4 *
Ether extract % DM 3.8 1
Ash % DM 8.4 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 19.3 *
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 71.0 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 67.8 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 13.1 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 10.3 *

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

References

Dirven, 1962

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:40

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Crude protein % DM 7.9 1
Crude fibre % DM 38.5 1
Ether extract % DM 1.5 1
Ash % DM 9.0 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.1 *
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 58.5 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 55.9 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 10.2 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 8.2 *

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

References

Dirven, 1962

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:40

References
References 
Dirven, J. G. P., 1962. The feeding value of leaves and stems in tropical grasses. Surin. Landb., 10 (5): 199-202
Dougall, H. W. ; Bogdan, A. V., 1965. The chemical composition of the grasses of Kenya - III. E. Afr. Agric. For. J., 30 (4): 314-319 web icon
Van Wyk, H. P. D. ; Oosthuizen, S. A. ; Basson, I. D., 1951. The nutritive value of South African feeds. Part II. Hay and Pasture Crops. Union of South Africa. Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Science Bulletin No. 298
3 references found
Datasheet citation 

DATASHEET UNDER CONSTRUCTION. DO NOT QUOTE. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/511 Last updated on March 16, 2010, 17:13

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