Rizka Muizzu Aprilia, Kusmartono, Hermanto, Kuswanto, Ifar Subagiyo
This study evaluated the effects of feeding purple Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. ‘Prince’) in fresh or ensiled form on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and rumen fermentation in sheep. Eighteen growing rams were used, allocated equally into two dietary treatments (n= 9 per group). Purple Napier silage was produced through a 100-day fermentation process prior to feeding. Feed intake, digestibility, body weight change, and rumen fluid parameters were measured to determine the nutritional response to each forage form. Feed intake, digestibility, and growth performance parameters did not differ significantly between treatments (P > 0.05). Dry matter and organic matter digestibility were numerically higher in sheep fed silage, but the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). Final body weight, ADG, and FCR also did not differ significantly between treatments. Rumen fermentation characteristics were largely similar between treatments, with no significant differences in rumen pH, NH₃–N, or butyrate concentration. In contrast, silage significantly decreased acetate, increased propionate, and reduced the acetate-to-propionate ratio (P < 0.05). In summary, feeding purple Napier silage altered certain rumen VFA proportions but did not significantly affect intake, digestibility, or growth performance compared with fresh forage under the conditions of this study. © 2026, ResearchersLinks Ltd. All rights reserved.
Department of Animal Bioscience, Faculty of Food Security, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, East Java, Surabaya, 60121, Indonesia; Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya, East Java, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, East Java, Malang, 65145, Indonesia
