MINERAL COMPOSITION AND ANTI-NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS OF FORAGE AND HAYS OFBrachiariaruziziensis, Tephrosiabracteolata AND THEIR MIXTURES

Abstract

ABSTRACT The experiment was carried out to evaluate the mineral and anti-nutritional contents of Brachiariaruziziensis, Tephrosiabracteolataand their mixtures. Brachiariaruziziensis and Tephrosiabracteolata and their mixtures were harvested at 6 weeks after cut back from existing pasture 15 cm above the ground level. The study was a 3 x 2 factorial design with 3 pasture types (Brachiariaruziziensis, Tephrosiabracteolata and their mixtures) and 2 processing (fresh and hay), these make the total of six treatments combination and replicated three times. Data obtained from this experiment was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance option of the SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics 23) software. Treatment means were statistically compared using Duncan's Multiple Range Test to identify differences between means and significant differences were declared if P<0.05. Results shows that Tephrosiabracteolata, consistently had higher (p <0.05) calcium levels than B. ruziziensis across both fresh and hay conditions. Higher K values were recorded in both fresh and hay forms compared to the pure legume treatment. The pure legume treatment (T. bracteolata) had significantly (p<0.05) higher phytate and saponin contents when compared to the B. ruziziensis/ T. bracteolatamixture. Conclusion shows that Tephrosiabracteolata had higher Ca, P, and Ca:P, Brachiariaruzizensis had higher K content, mixing forages resulted in intermediate mineral contents but improved Ca:P ratio and Brachiariaruzizensis reduced the concentration of phytate and saponin in the mixtures. It can be recommended that while Tephrosiabracteolataoffers superior calcium and phosphorus levels, Brachiariaruzizensis provides a better potassium source. As such, combining both forages into mixtures can balance mineral content and improve Ca:P ratios. Incorporating Brachiariaruzizensis helps to mitigate the negative effects of certain anti-nutritional factors present in Tephrosiabracteolata.