Heteropogon contortus Spear, pili, tanglehead grassTufted perennial with stems up to 120 cm high and long awns that are twisted together when mature. Widely distributed and abundant in areas with less than 800 mm of annual rainfall. Highly resistant to grass fires. Quick growing and valuable as fodder or hay until awns form, as these can injure the mouths and skin of stock. Good hay obtained if cut before flowering. Seldom cultivated, but normally found wherever grasslands are periodically burned. | | | | | | | As % of dry matter | | | | | | | | DM | CP | CF | Ash | EE | NFE | Ref | | | Fresh, pasture, late | | vegetative, Zimbabwe | | 28.7 | 9.4 | 28.9 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 54.4 | 499 | | | Fresh, 4 weeks, Ghana | | 31.3 | 9.4 | 31.2 | 11.7 | | | 437 | | | Fresh, 8 weeks, Ghana | | 36.2 | 6.3 | 33.7 | 6.5 | | | " | | | Fresh, 16 weeks, Ghana | | 36.5 | 7.0 | 39.2 | 6.4 | | | " | | | Fresh, 36 weeks, Ghana | | 57.5 | 2.5 | 25.6 | 8.4 | | | " | | | Hay, late vegetative, India | | 5.9 | 33.6 | 13.3 | 1.1 | 46.1 | 436 | | | Hay, dough stage, India | | 92.6 | 3.5 | 40.1 | 8.2 | 1.0 | 47.2 | 278 | | | Silage, immature, India | | | 6.6 | 36.9 | 12.2 | 1.3 | 43.0 | 436 | | | | | | | | | | Digestibility (%) | | | | | | | Animal | CP | CF | EE | NFE | ME | Ref | | | Fresh, late vegetative | Cattle | 41.4 | 40.1 | 30.4 | 66.2 | 1.91 | 499 | | | Hay, late vegetative | Cattle | 42.0 | 63.0 | 42.0 | 50.0 | 1.74 | 436 | | | Hay, dough stage | | Cattle | 22.6 | 13.4 | 34.5 | 47.5 | 1.07 | 278 | | | | | |
References278, 436, 437, 499
AbstractsBuffaloes(9), Buffaloes(170), Cattle(9), Cattle(170), Cattle(277), Cattle(397), Cattle(398), Cattle(445), Cattle(446), Cattle(484), Cattle(525), Cattle(537), Cattle(548), Composition(257), Goats(170), Hay(273), Hay(274), Hay(397), Hay(398), Sheep(170)
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