Nutritional value of Phalaris minor seeds and its comparison with conventional cereal grains for livestock feeding

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the nutritional value of Phalaris minor seeds in comparison to conventional cereal grains. P. minor seeds had higher ether extract (6.3%), total ash (7.5%), acid insoluble ash (AIA, 4.5%), acid detergent fibre (ADF, 10.2%), cellulose (5.5%), acid detergent lignin (ADL, 2.0%), neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP, 4.0%) and acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP, 2.7%) content in comparison to conventional cereal grains. The crude protein of P. minor seeds (12.3%) was similar to that of wheat (12.0%), but higher than other conventional cereal grains including maize (9.0%). The amino acid composition of P. minor seeds was more or less similar to conventional cereal grains. P. minor seeds had a superior mineral profile (Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) than conventional cereal grains. In vitro evaluation revealed that net gas production was lowest (P less than 0.05) in P. minor seeds (216.37 L/kg DM/24 h). The methane production (L/kg DM/24 h)from P. minor seeds (43.03)was lower (P less than 0.05) than that from wheat (54.33) and barley (57.35). The organic matter digestibility of P. minor seeds (83.27%) was similar to that of barley (81.69%).It was concluded that P. minor seeds could be considered as potential source of nutrients for livestock.