Feeding regime
The basal diet of Guinea grass was fed at 1.0 % LW in
roughly two equal portions at 0800 and 1300 hours, with
any residuals collected and weighed at 1800 hours. Rice
straw was fed ad libitum once daily at 1830 hours, at
20 % above the previous day’s intake. The amount offered
to each animal was adjusted once a week based on
Table 1 Nutritive characteristics of the Guinea grass, rice, straw,
and concentrate used in the experiment
Nutritive Characteristic Guinea grass Rice straw Concentrate
Dry matter (%) 21.8 93.5 87.0
Ash (% DM) 5.3 17.5 7.5
Neutral detergent fibre (% DM) 72.5 73.6 11.4
Crude protein (% DM) 12.4 4.1 15.9
Ether extract (% DM) 1.6 1.1 5.0
Gross energy (MJ/kg DM) 19.5 15.8 18.2