Availability of Nutrient Minerals in Four Tropical Forages Fed Freshly Chopped to Sheep

Abstract

Digitaria decumbes Stent (Pangola digit-grass), Panicum maximum Jaq. (guineagrass), Cynodon plectostachyum Pilger (stargrass), and Brachiaria decumbens Staph (Sheepgrass) were harvested at 28, 42 and 56 days of regrowth and fed fresh to wethers. Mineral levels in the fresh forage and digestibilities and retention by wethers were determined. With maturity K, Na, Cu and Zn decreased in concentration. Pangola had notably low K and high Fe and Na content. Digestibility and retention of Ca, P, Na and Cu by sheep tended to decline with maturity while availability of Mg and Fe tended to increase.