• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.1585-1590
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• 2002

Thirty female goats of local breed (mature weight 28 kg), weighing 11 to 18 kg, were used in a growth experiment with the objectives to evaluate the effect of different levels of Gliricidia sepium leaves in a diet of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) on feed intake, weight gain and apparent digestibility. The goats were allotted to five treatments, consisting of 5 levels, 0 (GL-0), 20 (GL-20), 30 (GL-30), 40 (GL-40) and 50% (GL-50) of Gliricidia sepium leaves in the diet based on the energy requirements of the goats. Another six female goats were used to study the digestibility of three dietary treatments, GL-0, GL-30 and GL-50, according to a double $3{\times}3$ Latin square arrangement. The crude protein (CP) content in Gliricidia was higher and the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) lower than in the Guinea grass. Increasing the amount of Gliricidia leaves resulted in similar intake of total dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), NDF and ADF among treatments, but CP intake increased with increasing Gliricidia in the diet. The highest total DM intake was 3.0% of body weight in the GL-20 diet. The highest daily live weight gain was 43 g/day in the GL-30 diet. Inclusion of 30% of Gliricidia leaves improved the apparent DM, OM and CP digestibility compared to 0% or 50% inclusion. NDF and ADF digestibility declined with increasing levels of Gliricidia leaves in the diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 1995

An experiment was conducted to study the comparative performance of cattle fed young or mature guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. ecotype A) and urea supplemented rice straw. Evaluation was based on intake and digestibility parameters. Twelve crossbred bulls calves weighing $90{\pm}15$ kg were offered young (4 weeks regrowth) or mature (9 weeks regrowth) grass in the long or chopped (10-15 cm) form, and rice straw supplemented with urea. The diets were offered 30-60% in excess of voluntary intake, and the experiment consisted of two periods. The crude protein content of the young grass, mature grass and the straw offered were 12.2, 5.4 and 7.7%, respectively, and the refusal was 10.1, 3.9 and 7.0%, respectively. The organic matter digestibility of the young grass (69%) was significantly higher than the mature grass (62.5%) and straw (55.8%) diets. The organic matter intake (kg/100 kg LW/day) of the unchopped and chopped grass diets were 2.6 and 3.3 respectively, and these values were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the young grass (2.3) and straw (2.1) diets. The digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) of the mature grass diet offered in the chopped form (2.1 kg/100 kg LW/day) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the other three diets. The DOMI of the young and mature grass offered in the long form was similar (1.6 kg/100 kg LW/day), but were significantly better (p < 0.01) than the urea supplemented straw diet.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 1989

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of frequency of defoliation on the ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of Guineaecotype 'A' (Panicum maximum Jacq) grass. Guinea grass harvested at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12-week cutting intervals was chopped (2 cm) and ensiled alone or with the addition of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) meal (w/w-fresh weight basis), for periods of 6, 7 or 8 weeks in 2-litre laboratory silos. Dry matter, water soluble carbohydrates, lactic acid, pH, ash, nitrogen and digestibility in vitro were measured in representative samples of preensiled and ensiled material. Dry matter content of silages prepared from herbage harvested at 2 and 3 weeks intervals was lower (P<0.05) compared to longer defoliation intervals. The pH of silage prepared from herbage over 8 weeks old were higher (P<0.05) than those harvested below 8 weeks. The water soluble carbohydrate content of silage prepared from 3-weekly defoliated herbage was higher (P<0.05) than those prepared from longer periods. Lengthened growth period decreased (P<0.001) the crude protein content of the ensiled material, whereas the addition of coconut meal resulted in marginal increases. In vitro organic matter digestibility of the silages decreased (P<0.05) with the increase in forage maturity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.349-357
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of supplements containing different energy sources in relation to mineral supplementation of steers grazing guineagrass (Panicum maximum cv Tanz$\hat{a}$nia) pasture, during the dry season. The experimental design was a randomized block with three treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of a mineral supplementation and two other supplements, one based on corn seed and the other based on soybean hulls, and provided at 0.8% of body weight. Forty-eight, 12 month-old crossbred steers with an average initial body weight of 267 kg, were assigned to twelve paddocks (1,125 ha) of guineagrass. The animals that were fed with soybean hulls and corn seed presented a greater average daily gain (0.982 and 0.937) when compared with the mineral supplementation. Soybean hulls can be used as a satisfactory food source, replacing corn as an energy source in the supplementation of beef cattle without compromising animal performance.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 1998

This experiment was conducted to clarify the characteristics of germination and emergence of Panicum dichotomiflorum which is a noxious weed species in direct-seeded rice field. P. dichotomiflorum was planted with several treatments such as different depths of irrigation to verifiy the ecological habits of seedling emergence and growth. In order to know the germination characteristics, Panicum dichotomiflorum seeds, pretreated with low-temperature($4^{\circ}C$) stratification for breaking the dormancy, were germinated under different temperature regimes and water potentials. Germination rates of P. dichotomiflorum was increased from 0% of dormant seed to 1%, 35% and 44% by stratification for 21, 28 and 42 days, respectively. Two dominant weed species in directseeded rice fields, Echinochloa crus-galli and Panicum dichotomitlorum, showed different germination habit under different temperature regimes. Echinochloa crus-galli showed more higher germination rate than Panicum dichotomiflorum at relatively low temperature regime(20/$10^{\circ}C$). Both species germinated faster at 30/$20^{\circ}C$ than at 20/$10^{\circ}C$. When the water potential was lowered, germination of Panicum dichotomiflorum was reduced more drastically than Echinochloa crus-galli. The critical water potential for germination of P. dichotomiflorum was -0.7MPa but Echinochloa crus-galli was affected slightly by the same water potential. The results showed that Echinochloa crus-galli can germinate under more wide range of soil water potential than Panicum dichotomiflorum. Emergence of P. dichotomiflorum was highly affected by irrigation depth and the level of water table. When the depth of irrigation water was increased, emergence of P. dichotomiflorum was dragged and emergence rate showed significant difference under the irrigation depth deeper than 6cm. The maximum depth of irrigation water for survival of Panicum dichotomiflorum seedling was 9cm.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.180-187
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• 2012

Panicum maximum, Panicum repens, Imperata cylindrica, Pennisetum polystachion and Cyperus rotundus are five rhizomatous grass weeds that exist and are problematic in the coconut lands of Sri Lanka. Rhizomatous weeds are the most difficult to control because of their vegetative reproduction by underground propagules. Therefore chemical and biological techniques have failed to control these weeds to acceptable levels. Experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of depth of burial, duration of sun drying or duration of air drying rhizomes of the selected weed species on germination. Depth of burial reduced germination of all species. Burying rhizomes at depths less than 10 cm inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Burying depths below 30~40 cm inhibited germination of all species. Sun drying or air drying rhizomes for durations less than 5 days inhibited germination of P. maximum and P. polystachion. Germinations of all species were inhibited by sun drying rhizomes for 15 days or air drying rhizomes for 20 days. Sun drying of rhizomes of all species for five days reduced the moisture content to a greater extent than air drying. The results indicated that burying rhizomes at the depthsbelow 30~40 cm, sun drying rhizomes for durations beyond 15 days or air drying rhizomes for durations beyond 20 days would be effective in controlling germination of these species. The investigations of the experiments also suggest that keeping rhizomes on the soil surface without burying, sun drying rhizomes or air drying rhizomes for durations of 5~15 days would produce weak plants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.335-342
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• 1994

This study was undertaken at Gowa, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, as part of a larger forage genetic resource evaluation project. The experimental program consisted of a field experiment where grass and legume species were grown in monocultures and the dry matter yield, rumen bag digestibility (RBDMD) and N content of leaf and stem components were monitored in the wet and dry seasons. Eight species of grass (Brachiaria decwnbens cv. Basilisk. Panicum maximum cv. Riversdale, Urochloa pullulans CPI 41192, Imperata cylindrica from Maiwa, South Sulawesi, Digitaria milanjiana CPI 41193, Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Malopo, Heteropogon contorlus and Setaria sphacelata cv. Splenda) were studied. P. maximum was the highest yielding grass in the wet season and B. decumbens in the dry season. The highest RBDMD in the whole plants were U. pulluians, P. maximum, S. sphacelata and D. milanjiana after 2 weeks regrowth in cycle I and S. sphacelata, B. decumbens, D. milanjiana and C. ciliaris in cycle 2. When total digestible DM was calculated for the whole of cycle I, P. maximum, B. decumbens and S. sphacelata were superior, but B. decumbens produced over twice as much as the other species in the dry season (cycle 2). The leaf N concentration of all grasses exceeded 1.0% (6.25% crude protein) in the regrowth in cycle I but did not exceed 0.5% in the dry season regrowth (cycle 2).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.176-180
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• 2006

This study was carried out to establish clipping interval of Pennisetum orientale (PO) and Panicum antidotale (PA) to get maximum biomass production with optimal nutritional value for Nili buffaloes. Two clipping intervals i.e. $CI_1$, and $CI_2$ (clipped after every one and two months, respectively) were studied for both grasses. The data on various parameters were compared with PO and PA each clipped at 4 months of age (control). Leaf to stem ratio in both PO and PA declined with increasing clipping interval. Concentration of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) increased (p<0.05) whereas crude protein contents decreased with increasing clipping interval in both grasses. Crude protein and dry herbage yields in PO and PA increased (p<0.05) with increasing clipping interval. The DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibilities of PO and PA in ruminally cannulated buffalo bulls decreased (p<0.05) due to more lignification with increasing clipping interval. Ruminal extent of digestion, rate of disappearance of DM and neutral detergent fiber of PO and PA decreased in buffaloes while ruminal lag time of these nutrients increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing clipping interval. The results from the study imply that two month clipping interval for both PO and PA grasses favored higher biomass with greater nutritional value for Nili buffaloes and sustained grass vigor.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.283-290
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• 2010

Guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) is an important warm-season forage grass as well as biomass crop. It has both sexual and asexual mode of reproduction (apomictic) depending on cultivar. We developed efficient plant regeneration system for an apomictic (cv. Natsukaze) and a non-apomictic (Noh-PL1) guineagrass by optimizing the level of L-proline in the callus induction and that of $AgNO_3$ in plant regeneration medium. Among the L-proline concentrations tested, the best callus induction was achieved by using 2g/L L-proline in both the genotypes. Immature embryos proved to be the best explant source for tissue culture of guineagrass. The highest frequency of shoot regeneration was obtained on MS plant regeneration medium supplemented with 2 mg/L $AgNO_3$. These results provide a foundation for efficient tissue culture and genetic improvement of guineagrass.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 1988

The rumen degradability of rice straw (untreated, urea-sprayed, urea-treated), grasses (Panicum maximum, Pennisetum clandestinum) and rice bran was compared. The mean in vivo organic matter digestibility of the untreated (US), urea-supplemented (SS) and urea-ammonia treated (TS) rice straw were 50.9, 53.9 and 57.4%, respectively. Rice bran contained extremely high levels of acid-insoluble ash (25.2% DM), and its OMD was 36.1%. Grasses had OMD values around 66%. Degradability measurements were performed with buffaloes using the nylon bag technique. The organic matter (OM) disappearance data were fitted to an model which was used to describe degradation pattern. The mean potentially degradable fraction for US, SS and TS was 61.5, 61.9 and 69.4%, respectively. Urea-ammonia treatment increased both the amount of OM degraded and the rate at which it was degraded in the rumen. Both grasses had similar values for degradable fraction (around 65%) and for rate constant for degradation (0.04). Rice bran contained high proportions of readily soluble material (23.9%), but the degradable OM fraction was only 13.2%. The low quality of rice bran is attributed to the contamination of rice hulls during processing.