AN EVALUATION OF BANA, GREENGOLD AND PENNARIS - II - PARTIAL DIGESTION

The objective was to study the partial digestion by sheep of the 500-m m regrowth of three Pennisetum selections (Bana, Greengold and Pennari s) over three seasons (autumn, spring and summer). There were no diffe rences (p > 0.05) between selections in the quality of the material or intake. Rumen variables did not differ (p > 0.05) between treatments, apart from the lower (p < 0.01) rumen ammonia levels of Pennaris. Dig esta flow was correlated with OM intake, and did not differ (p > 0.05) between selections but was lower in autumn (p < 0.01) owing to lower intake. OM and fibre digestion occurred mainly in the rumen, whereas N digestion occurred in the small intestine. OM digestibility was high (ca. 70%) for all treatments. Seasonal differences were manifested as the lower digestion of fibre in the rumen in spring; perhaps as a resu lt of the higher digesta Row, and the lower OM digestibility in summer than in autumn. Seasonal differences were more pronounced than select ion differences. There were no significant differences in partial dige stion between these selections.