Development of Hymenachne Acutigluma and Paspalum Atratum Pasture on Seasonally Waterlogged Soil and its use as Basal Diet for Dairy Cattle Under Household Conditions

Abstract

The first experiment was set up in a field of 500 m² to determine the productivity and nutritional value of Hymenachne acutigluma and Paspalum atratum grasses planted on waterlogged soil. Results showed that two kinds of grasses were similar in biomass and nutritive values. The second experiment was conducted in an 800 m² area, Paspalum grass was planted at different spacings in wet land of approximately 20 cm in depth. No significant differences were found on grass fresh and dry yield. The third study was carried out in dairy farms of Soctrang province for 64 days. Three households were involved in the study, in each household five cows were kept individually and offered three treatments with Paspalum grass fed ad lib supplemented with either concentrate or cottonseed cake or a combination of cottonseed cake and Trichanthera foliage. Milk parameters and feed conversion to milk were not affected by treatments.