Correa et al., 2008. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 24 (8)

Pennisetum clandestinum Hoechst Ex Chiov), is the most utilized forage in dairy cattle specialized herds in the Colombian Andes. However, it has nutritional limitations the most important being a low energy content affecting both yield and composition o milk of cows grazing this forage. The high concentration of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), low dry matter and non-structural carbohydrates concentration does not seem to limit the dry matter intake (DMI) of animals grazing this forage. DMI higher than 18.0 kg DM/cow/d and equivalent intakes of NDF higher than 1.6% of live weight have been reported. The mean potential for milk production of cows grazing kikuyu grass is nearly 12.0 litres/cow/d although considering its  energy content, the potential of this forage can yield  up to  29.0 litres/cow/d. Feed supplementation improves milk yield without improving its lipid and protein content. The low milk protein content (less than 3.0%) indicates low nitrogen efficiency utilization (average 17.4%) for synthesis of milk proteins. The high linoleic and linolenic acid content of kikuyu grass has the potential to produce milk with high content of conjugated linoleic acid and concentrations of 20.0 mg/g lipids have been reported.