Vol. 12, Special Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Ranjith Roy Yadav, Mahadevappa D Gouri, Ningaraju K, Vivek M Patil, Prabhu TM, Prasanna SB and Malathi V

Abstract:
Study was conducted to evaluate in vitro digestibility and NDF digestibility of South African Tall maize fodder variety as influenced by advancing maturity. The fodder was harvested at 75, 85, 95 and 105 days after sowing (DAS). The maize fodder was analyzed for their chemical composition and in vitro digestibility. The results showed that in vitro dry matter digestibility of maize fodder and Neutral detergent fibre digestibility of maize fodder decreased significantly (p<0.05) with advancing stage of maturity, On exogenous fibrolytic enzyme supplementation, the results showed that there was non-significant difference in maize fodder harvested at 75, 85 and 95 DAS. There was a significant difference in digestibility in maize fodder harvested at 105 DAS. Therefore the addition of fibrolytic enzyme showed increase in TDMD and NDFD in later stage of harvesting. It is concluded that maize fodder harvested at early harvesting stage showed better nutrients and digestibility when compared to maize fodder harvested at a later stages. In the current findings it was conferred that the supplementation of fibrolytic enzymes is beneficial in fodders harvested at a later stages, but had no effect on early harvested fodder. The results obtained in the current in vitro experiment need to be assessed using in vivo trials before concluding with final results.