Tripsacum fasciculatum

Guatemala grass, Honduras grass

Tall broadleaved perennial with stems up to 3.5 m that grows in humid areas on rich soils. Tolerates acidity. Essentially cultivated for fodder as it is unsuitable for grazing. More persistent than elephant grass, but less productive and lower in nutritive value. Can be grown together with Desmodium intortum or D. uncinatum to increase yield of dry matter and crude protein. Should not be cut closer than 25 cm from the ground.

							As % of dry matter
						DM	CP	CF	Ash	EE	NFE	Ref
Fresh, 3 weeks, Suriname							15.9	31.4	9.6	2.8	40.3	26
Fresh, 4 weeks, Suriname							12.7	33.5	9.6	1.7	42.5	"
Fresh, 5 weeks, Suriname							10.9	33.2	8.8	1.4	45.7	"
Fresh, 6 weeks, Suriname							7.3	33.4	7.0	2.4	49.9	"
Fresh, 7 weeks, Suriname							7.1	35.9	6.5	2.4	48.1	"
Fresh, 8 weeks, Suriname							7.5	35.2	6.7	2.0	48.6	"
Fresh, 120 cm, Philippines						25.3	5.9	36.0	8.7	2.0	47.4	297
Fresh, mature, Trinidad						20.3	7.8	33.2	6.3	1.5	51.2	82
Fresh, 1st cutting,
vegetative, fertilized,
Puerto Rico						24.6	5.2	35.6	8.7	2.9	47.6	31
Fresh, 2nd cutting,
vegetative, fertilized,
Puerto Rico						30.4	4.6	31.2	8.2	2.7	53.3	"
Fresh, cut at intervals of
8 weeks, Malaysia						20.0	12.0	35.0	14.0	1.5	37.5	292
Fresh, cut at intervals of
10 weeks, Malaysia						19.0	8.4	34.7	15.8	1.0	40.1	"
Fresh, cut at intervals of
12 weeks, Malaysia						19.5	5.1	35.9	16.4	1.5	41.1	"
Fresh leaves, Suriname							6.1	40.4	5.3	3.4	44.8	126
Fresh stems, Suriname							4.6	36.1	6.4	1.9	51.0	"
Artificially dried, Suriname						88.7	9.3	37.5	5.3			124
							Digestibility (%)
					Animal		CP	CF	EE	NFE	ME	Ref
Fresh, 120 cm					Sheep		51.8	60.7	62.3	61.2	2.07	297
Fresh, mature					Sheep		50.5	69.7	46.7	63.9	2.24	82
Fresh, first cutting					Sheep		56.0	66.0	74.0	65.0	2.26	31
Fresh, second cutting					Sheep		58.0	60.0	74.0	72.0	2.33	"