Chemical composition and <i>in vitro</i> total gas and methane production of forage species from the <scp>M</scp>id <scp>R</scp>ift <scp>V</scp>alley grasslands of <scp>E</scp>thiopia

Abstract

Abstract There is increasing interest in sustainable land use in the tropics to optimize animal production while also reducing methane ( CH 4 ) emissions, but information on nutritive value and CH 4 ‐emission potential of tropical forage species is limited. Samples of 24 grasses and five other forages were collected during the main rainy season on randomly positioned quadrats in semi‐arid grassland in the M id R ift V alley of E thiopia. Samples were pooled by species, analysed for chemical composition and incubated with rumen fluid to determine total gas and CH 4 ‐emission potentials using a fully automated in vitro gas production apparatus. Organic matter digestibility ( OMD ) and metabolizable energy ( ME ) contents were calculated from chemical composition and gas production data. Large variability was observed among forages for all nutritional variables considered. The grasses E leusine multiflora , P ennisetum stramineum , D actyloctenium aegyptium , E ragrostis aspera , C enchrus ciliaris and E ragrostis cilianensis showed relatively high OMD (68–72%) and ME values (9·1–10·2 MJ kg −1 dry matter). Melinis repens , E . multiflora and the non‐legume forb Z aleya pentandra showed relatively low CH 4 to total gas ratios; these species may have potential for use in low CH 4 ‐emission forage diets. Acacia tortilis fruits had high content of crude protein and moderate ME values, and may be an ideal feed supplement for the grazing ruminant. Sodium content was below the recommended level for ruminants in all the forage species. Overall, the pasture stand during the main growing season was evaluated as having moderate nutritional quality.