Author : Soriano, Ma. Luz Licayan

Summary : Three studies were conducted to determine the herbage and small ruminant productivity of selected grasses, legumes and their combinations under conditions in Bukidnon, the Philippines. Napier (Pennisetum purpureum), ginea (Panicum maximum), stargrass (Cynodon plectostachyus) centro, (Centrosema pubescens) and stylo (Stylosanthes guyanensis) as well as their combinations were studied for their dry matter production (t/ha/yr), botanical composition, leaf-to-stem ratio; chemical composition (CP, NDF, ADF, cellulose, lignin, silica), digestibility (In vitro, In vivo and crude protein) while guinea/centro, guinea/stylo, star/stylo and napier/stylo were studied as to their effects on goats in terms of liveweight changes, average daily gain, feed efficiency, dry matter intake and crude protein intake. Guinea/stylo had the highest dry matter production (18.59 T/ha/yr; P<0.01), botanical composition was better in napier for pure stands; and star/stylo grass/legume combination was closest to the ideal 70/30 ratio. Centro was more leafy among the pure stands with stargrass combinations having broadest leaf to stem ratio. Non-significant differences were observed average daily gain and feed efficiency. Dry matter intake (kgs.,% of body weight or % of metabolic body weight) were highly and significantly different (P<0.01) with goats fed star/stylo performing best among others. Crude protein intake followed the same trend.