Some aspects of the utilization of tropical forages. 2. Pangola and coastal Bermuda hays

Abstract

1. Three hays of Coastal Bermuda (Oynodon dactylon) grass and three hays of Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) from grasses cut at different stages of maturity were used for the determination of digestibility coefficients, voluntary intake, rate of passage through the gut, production of total and individual volatile fatty acids, total counts of bacteria determined microscopically and examination of bacterial types present using Gram-stained smears. The animals used were individually housed sheep.2. The hays of Coastal Bermuda were significantly superior to those of Pangola from the point of view of digestibility. Significant differences did not exist within grasses.3. The hays of Coastal Bermuda were superior to those of Pangola from the point of view of intake although this was not significant.4. No relation was evident between digestibility of the various hays and rate of passage through the digestive tract; it was concluded that intake was not limited by rate of passage through the gut.