Vol. 7, Issue 5, Part D (2025)

The study was conducted during 2024-25 (September, 2024-February, 2025) at the Livestock Research Station, Vallabhnagar, Udaipur. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of Super Napier grass harvested at three different growth stages 40, 60, and 80 days and to determine the optimal harvesting age for maximum nutritional value. Super Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum glaucum) a high-yielding fodder crop known for its significant dry matter production. Samples were collected from the Livestock Research Station, Vallabhnagar, Udaipur, and subsequently dried, ground, and analyzed using proximate analysis. The analysis measured Dry Matter (DM), ash, Crude Fiber (CF), Crude Protein (CP), and fat content. Results indicated that CP content decreased and DM content increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing maturity, whereas crude fiber content increased. The increase in the amount of DM with age might be due to the accumulation of structural carbohydrates. The highest crude protein content (14.08%) was observed at 40 days, with overall nutrient composition being superior at this early growth stage. The Metabolisable Energy (ME) value decreased with maturity, likely due to excessive fiber deposition at later stages, which reduced digestibility and subsequently limited energy utilization in ruminants. These findings suggested that harvesting Super Napier grass at 40 days provided the best nutritional quality, highlighting the impact of growth age on its chemical composition.