Abstract:
Abstract : This experiment intended to figure out the nutritive value of fodder species
and industrial by-products for feeding ruminants in Anuradhpura. Fodder species;
maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolour), CO-3 (Pennisetum purpureum x P.
americanum), gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), and guinea grass (Panicum maximum)
and agro-industrial by-products; rice (Oryza sativa) bran, coconut (Cocos nucifera)
poonac, maize (Zea mays) meal and soya bean (Glycine max) meal (SBM) were
analyzed for proximate composition, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent
fiber (NDF) and gross energy (GE). Nitrogen free extract (NFE), total digestible
nutrients (TDN) and metabolizable energy (ME) were calculated. The data were
analyzed using the one-wayANOVAprocedure in SAS. The observed TDN, ME and
GE of fodder species differed significantly (p<0.05).The highest (p<0.05) values of
dry matter (DM), crude fat(EE), crude protein (CP), TDN, GE and ME were obtained
for gliricidia. Guinea grass contained the highest (p<0.05) ADF and NDF contents
compared to other fodder species. Sorghum and CO3 showed the highest (p<0.05) ash
and crude fiber (CF) while the lowest (p<0.05) ash and CF were recorded in maize and
gliricidia. The DMwas not significantly differed (p>0.05) in agro-industrial byproducts.
The highest (p<0.05) total ash, CP, TDN and MEwere reported in SBM
while NFE was highest in maize meal. The highest (p<0.05) values of EE and GE
contents were obtained for rice bran. The nutrient content observed in the feed
ingredients in the present study, is in par with other references. According to the
nutrient composition, these feed ingredients can be used for feeding ruminants and in
the formulation of total mixed rations for dairy cows inAnuradhapura
