Abstract

PATINO PARDO, René Mauricio; GOMEZ SALCEDO, Rafael  and  NAVARRO MEJIA, Orlando Antonio. Nutritional quality of Mombasa and Tanzania (Megathyrsus maximus, Jacq.) managed at different frequencies and cutting heights in Sucre, Colombia. Ces. Med. Vet. Zootec. [online]. 2018, vol.13, n.1, pp.17-30. ISSN 1900-9607.  https://doi.org/10.21615/cesmvz.13.1.2.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cutting height (20, 30 and 40 cm) and frequency (25, 35 and 45 days) on the nutritional quality of Mombasa and Tanzania grasses (Megathyrsus maximus, Jacq.) in the Sabanas subregion, from the Department of Sucre. The samples of grasses were collected from plots already established and organized according to a split plots design. The Tanzania cultivar presented higher (p<0.05) dry matter, protein and hemicellulose contents, while higher values (p<0.05) of NDF, FDA, ash and phosphorus were observed in Mombasa cultivar. The cutting frequency (p<0.05) affected linearly the protein, ash, NDF and he-micellulose contents and, in a quadratic manner, the dry matter content. The cultivar Mombasa presented a superior range of variation in relation to the protein content, going from 12.3 to 6.5% between the frequencies of cut 25 and 45 days, which was not observed in the cultivar Tanzania. There was decrease in ash and phosphorus values, and increase in NDF and hemicellulose as a function of the cutting frequency. The FDA content increased linearly (p=0.04) as a function of the increase in cutting height. It is concluded that under the study conditions, the nutritional composition of the evaluated pastures varies according to the cultivar and the given management, mainly as a function of the cutting frequency. Nutritionally, the Tanzania cultivar presented comparative advantages over Mombasa.

Keywords : Megathyrsus spp.; nutritional composition; savannas of Sucre.

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