• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2019

In vitro antioxidant effect of 50% ethanol extract from Napier grass (Penninsetum purpureum) was investigated. The yield and polyphenol content of the Napier grass extract were $6.3{\pm}0.35%$ and $79.6{\pm}3.65{\mu}g$ gallic acid equivalents/mg-extract, respectively. Antioxidant ability of the Napier grass extract such as fee radical and cation radical scavenging activities, reducing power, nitrite scavenging activity, and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity proportionally increased as concentration of the extract increased. $EC_{50}$ values of the Napier grass extract for free radical scavenging, cation radical scavenging, reducing power, and nitrite scavenging were 1,930.0, 350.0, 840.0, and $1,470.0{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. In the presence of $85.0{\mu}g/mL$ of the Napier grass extract, lipid peroxidation was potently inhibited by 74.6%.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.516-521
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to compare two varieties of Napier grass (Bana Napier grass vs French Cameroon Napier grass) and to determine whether feed intake, digestibility, average daily gain (ADG) and milk yield of lactating Friesian cows from fresh cut Bana Napier grass was greater than from French Cameroon Napier grass, using a completely randomized design. Results show that Bana Napier grass had similar percent dry matter (DM), ash and gross energy (GE) to French Cameroon. Bana grass had higher percent crude protein (CP) and lower fiber fractions, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin compared to French Cameroon. Overall the forage quality was marginally higher in Bana Napier grass compared to French Cameroon. The DM and NDF intake expressed as a percentage of body weight (BW) were similar in both Napier grass types. Both grasses had similar digestible DM and energy. Bana had higher digestible CP but lower digestible ADF and NDF than French Cameroon. Bana Napier was not different from French Cameroon when fed as a sole diet to lactating cows in terms of low DM intake, milk yield and a loss of BW and condition. To improve the efficient utilization of both Napier grass varieties, a supplement capable of supplying 1085-1227 g CP/d and 17.0-18.0 Mcal ME/d is required for cows to support moderate gains 0.22 kg/d and 15 kg 4% fat corrected milk/d.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.680-684
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• 1998

The effect of feeding heifers young Napier grass (7-weeks regrowth) or old Napier (16-weeks regrowth) supplemented with either wilted Desmodium intortum, Sesbania sesban or dried Calliandra calothyrsus leaves on intake and live weight changes was evaluated in a 67-day trial. Thirty-two Friesian heifers with an average live weight of 271 kg and 16.8 months old were randomly allocated to the four diets. The diets were either ad libitum young Napier grass or old Napier grass supplemented with 25% of either Sesbania, Desmodium or Calliandra. There was significant difference in chemical composition between the young and old Napier grass. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed on intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre. The total dry matter intake was 2.77, 2.86, 2.62 kg/100 kg live weight (LW) for Desmodium, Calliandra and Sesbania supplemented diets, respectively. A dry matter intake of 3.11 kg/100 kg LW was observed on the heifers fed young Napier grass. The mean daily gains were 638, 732, 606, and 1,001 g/day for Desmodium, Calliandra, Sesbania supplemented and young Napier grass diets respectively. Low level supplementation rate (1-1.5 kg DM/day) was adequate to maintain good growth rate when the heifers were fed old Napier grass.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 1992

Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) harvested at an early growth stage was ensiled with 4% of molasses in a polyethylene bag silo which contained 15 kg of chopped forage each. Dry matter (DM) content of the silage was so low as 14.75%, although chemical quality of the silage was very high. Ratio of ammonia nitrogen to total nitrogen was 6.59%, and the pH value of the silage was 3.79. Nutritive value of the silage was estimated using goats and compared to that of a timothy hay as a reference ration. Feeding level of each rations was adjusted to a level of nitrogen (N) recommendation. DM and N digestibilities of the silage were 65.0 and 54.5%, respectively, but those of the timothy hay were 37.6 and 37.2%. Feeding of the napier grass silage maintained body weight and kept positive N retention. Ammonia N concentration in the rumen fluid in goats fed the napier grass silage increased after feeding, but blood urea concentration was constant. Feeding of the timothy hay did not increase ammonia N concentration in the rumen fluid, but increased blood urea concentration. These facts indicated that the napier grass silage had enough digestible DM and N for maintenance ration to goats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1913-1922
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• 2018

Objective: To find out ways of improving fermentation quality of silage, the comparative analysis of fermentation characteristics and in vitro digestibility of tropical grasses silage applied with cellulases produced from Acremonium or Tricoderma species were studied in Thailand. Methods: Fresh and wilted Guinea grass and Napier grass silages were prepared with cellulases from Acremonium (AC) or Trichoderma (TC) at 0.0025%, 0.005%, and 0.01% on a fresh matter (FM), and their fermentation quality, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility were analyzed. Results: All silages of fresh Napier grass were good quality with lower pH, butyric acid, and ammonia nitrogen, but higher lactic acid content than wilted Napier grass and Guinea grass silage. Silages treated with AC 0.01% had the best result in terms of fermentation quality. They also had higher in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro organic matter digestibility at 6 and 48 h after incubation than other silages. Silages treated with lower levels at 0.005% or 0.0025% of AC and all levels of TC did not improve silage fermentation. Conclusion: The AC could improve silage fermentation and in vitro degradation of Guinea grass and Napier grass silages, and the suitable addition ration is 0.01% (73.5 U) of FM for tropical silage preparation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1248-1254
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• 2012

The effect of silage additives on ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) silages was studied. Napier grass silages were made with no additive, fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB), molasses or cassava meal. The ensiling characteristics were determined by ensiling Napier grass silages in airtight plastic pouches for 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 45 d. The effect of Napier grass silages treated with these additives on voluntary feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and microbial rumen fermentation was determined in 4 fistulated cows using $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. The pH value of the treated silages rapidly decreased, and reached to the lowest value within 7 d of the start of fermentation, as compared to the control. Lactic acid content of silages treated with FJLB was stable at 14 d of fermentation and constant until 45 d of ensiling. At 45 d of ensiling, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of silage treated with cassava meal were significantly lower (p<0.05) than the others. In the feeding trial, the intake of silage increased (p<0.05) in the cow fed with the treated silage. Among the treatments, dry matter intake was the lowest in the silage treated with cassava meal. The organic matter, crude protein and NDF digestibility of the silage treated with molasses was higher than the silage without additive and the silage treated with FJLB. The rumen parameters: ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen ($NH_3$-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and bacterial populations were not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, these studies confirmed that the applying of molasses improved fermentative quality, feed intake and digestibility of Napier grass.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.697-701
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• 1998

In order to improve silage quality and utilization of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) by goats, the grass was ensiled with molasses (MOL) and/or defatted rice bran (DRB). Napier grass was harvested at the growing stage in July and cut into 3 cm length. The grass was mixed with 4% MOL and/or 15% DRB, ensiled 15 kg each into plastic bags and stored for 9 months. Dry matter content of the silage ensiled with MOL (MOL-silage) was 13.4%, but increased to 20% with DRB addition. The addition of MOL decreased pH value and ammonia nitrogen content, but increased lactic acid content. MOL-silage contained about 6% spoilage, but addition of DRB decreased spoilage to less than 1%. Goats were fed the silage at a level of 2.25% (DM basis) of their body weight. Goats fed DRB- or MOL/DRB-silages maintained nitrogen retention, but goats fed MOL-silage did not. The rumen fluid of goats fed DRB-silage tended to be higher in acetic acid and lower in propionic acid than those fed the other silages. Ammonia in the rumen fluids, urea nitrogen in the blood and the urinary nitrogen excretion were the lowest in goats fed MOL/DRB-silage. As the result, the ratio of retained nitrogen to nitrogen intake was the highest in goats fed MOL/DRB-silage. In conclusion, addition of DRB to napier grass increased DM of silage and decreased the volume of spoilage. The combination of MOL and DRB can improve the fermentation quality and thus enhance the utilization of the silage by goats, more than the MOL or DRB being as a single treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.377-382
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• 1991

The effect of molasses addition and hot temperature on the ensiling characteristics of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) were studied. Napier grass was harvested five times at intervals from 22 to 39 days and each harvest was divided into two equal portions. The half portion was ensiled directly and the other half was ensiled after mixing with molasses into polyethylene bag silos of 15 kg capacity. Molasses was added at the rate of 4% of fresh weight of the grass. One half of the each treatment was conserved at a room of $40^{\circ}C$ for a month and then moved to an ambient temperature room. The other half was kept at ambient temperature for the whole experimental duration. The silages were opened 3 to 7 months after ensiling. Addition of molasses enhanced lactic acid fermentation by increasing lactic acid content and reducing pH value, ammonia nitrogen and acetic, propionic and butyric acid contents of the silages in both temperature treatments. Enhanced temperature increased pH value and decreased acetic, propionic and butyric acids.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.986-991
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• 2002

An experiment was conducted at Suwanvajokkasikit Research Station, Pakchong, Nakornratchasima, Thailand, to determine the yield and quality of three different grass cultivars intercropped with leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala). The treatments consisted of three grass cultivars (ruzi, dwarf napier and Taiwan A25) as the main plots, planted between leucaena at three row spacings (1, 2 and 4 m width) as the sub plots and leucaena cutting height (10 and 25 cm above ground levels) as sub-sub-plots. Dwarf napier consistently produced more dry matter than Taiwan A25 or ruzi and Taiwan A25 outyielded ruzi. Leucaena yield was highest in the ruzi plot and lowest in the dwarf napier plot. However, yields of grass plus leucaena were highest in the dwarf napier plot and were lowest in the ruzi plots. The difference was due mainly to the grass components. Increasing the spacing between rows of leucaena resulted in a lower leucaena yield but the reverse was true for the grasses. Cutting of leucaena at 10 cm above ground levels depressed yields of leucaena but did not affect the associated grasses. In terms of herbage quality, it was found that the crude protein of leaves and stems of the dwarf napier and Taiwan A25 were higher than that of the ruzi grass. Leucaena gave higher levels of crude protein than all grasses. The phosphorus and potassium levels of all grasses were higher than leucaena. ADF levels were higher in the grasses than in the legumes. Nutrient contents in the leaves and stems of grasses and leucaena were not affected by leucaena spacing and cutting height.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.203-209
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• 1991

Collection, evaluation and preservation of tropical forage grasses, napier grass breeding, tissue culture of pangola grass and alfalfa selection were conducted in Taiwan. The results showed that some species such as pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) with good performance and wide adaptability were selected and released. Forage yield and quality of napier grass have been improved and have good results in animal performance. Embryogenic callus cultures from young inflorescences and stem segments of pangola grass could provide an alternative method for rapid propagation and improvement. Three better varieties of alfalfa were selected. They maintain satisfactory stands for two or three years on well-drained sand loam and loam soil, and used only as annual crop in flat area and acid soil. However, more studies in forage breeding for acid soil arc required to maximise the forage quality and animal production. Thus, animal fed with forages of high quality and a few grains supplement will be the future achivement in livestock industry.