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Comparative Nutritional Value of Eastern Gamagrass and Alfalfa Hay for Dairy Cows¹

Animal Science Department

C. M. Taliaferro

Agronomy Department, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078

ABSTRACT

Digestibility and feeding value of Eastern gamagrass hay (Tripsacum dactyloides) and alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa) were compared. Digestibility of first and second cuttings of each was determined using 12 mature wethers in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin-square design. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber for first and second cutting alfalfa and first and second cutting gamagrass hay were: 53.6, 68.2, 41.4, 48.7; 54.7, 70.4, 38.3, 41.1; 57.3, 57.7, 60.0, 65.3; 52.3, 50.2, 54.1, 59.1%. Eastern gamagrass was about equal to alfalfa hay in digestibility. In a feeding trial, hays were compared as energy sources for lactating dairy cows with protein intake adjusted by feeding grain mixtures containing 12, 15, or 18% crude protein with alfalfa, first cutting gamagrass, and second cutting gamagrass hay, respectively. Intake of protein and dry matter of hay averaged 2.09 and 9.85 kg/d for alfalfa and 1.27 and 8.97 kg/d for gamagrass. Milk yield of cows fed alfalfa was higher than that of cows fed gamagrass (24.1 vs. 22.9 kg/d). Milk fat tests and weight changes were similar. Alfalfa hay was superior to gamagrass hay for milk yield primarily due to greater intake.

¹ Journal article 4644 of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078.

² Animal Science Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.

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