Evaluating Nutritional Values of Selected Grass Species in Chaffe area,Hawassa, Ethiopia

This study was conducted to evaluate nutritive value of grass species in Chaffe communally grazing area. According to the focus group discussion, three grass species ( Pennisetum clandestinum , Chloris gayana and Cynedem dactylon) were selected for chemical composition evaluation due to their preference for animals in this area. The variables recorded were dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Data on these values were subjected to the general linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS statistical package and used Tukey test means comparison procedure to separate difference among species. As seen from this study, DM values were 95.09%, 94.23% and 95.11% for Pennisetum clandestinum Chloris gayana , and Cynedem dactylon, respectively and showed no variation among species (p> 0.05) . Current finding indicated 16.34%, 12.40% and 12.56% ash percentage for Pennisetum clandestinum, Chloris gayana and Cynedem dactylon, respectively and seen variation (p< 0.05) among species . It was also seen from current finding that CP values obtained 13.03% , 9.21 % and 8.01 % for Pennisetum clandestinum Chloris gayana and Cynedem dactylon, respectively were significantly different (p<0.05) among three grass species . Similarly, fiber contents (NDF 57.23%, 66.06% and 62.34% for Pennisetum clandestinum Chloris gayana and Cynedem dactylon, respectively; ADF 26.33%, 32.27% and 33.41% for Pennisetum clandestinum Chloris gayana and Cynedem dactylon, respectively and ADL 4.43%, 6.18% and 6.32% for Pennisetum clandestinum Chloris gayana and Cynedem dactylon, respectively) indicated significant variation (p<0.05) among grass species. However, Pennisetum clandestinum showed better quality among selected three grass species; according to standard the present study revealed high levels of detergent fibers for all three selected native grasses used mainly as forage for livestock in this area. So, this indicates need of improved forage and supplementary feed for livestock reared in this area to obtain better production for farmers from their animals.