THE PHILIPPINE WATER BUFFALO

ased on eleven stages and on the entire lactation period.
Milk production of the ipil-ipil supplemented caracows (1.64
li/day) were significantly higher than the control (1.29 li/
day). Milk yield generally increased from the first month
and had its peak in the fourth (2.15 li/day) and seventh
(1.44 li/day) stages of lactation in the test caracows and
control group, respectively. High milk production of the
tests caracows continued until the fifth month of lactation
and rapidly declined until at par with the control. The
overall milk production for the 11 months lactation period
produced a 29% increase in the ipil-ipil supplemented
caracows compared to the control. Computed returns
above feed supplement cost showed a net income of
P6.209.52/head/ cropping in the ipil-ipil fed caracows. The
control treatment gave a net income of P3,128.50.
Keywords: fresh ipil-ipil leaves, milk performance, native
caracows
*VISCA Baybay, Leyte. 1986. 22 p. Also in MIS-LRD,
PCARRD, DOST. p. 84-85.
F-56
THE FEEDING VALUE OF NAPIER GRASS
(PENNISETUM PURPUREUM SCHUMACH) FOR
CATTLE AND CARABAOS*
A. Y. Robles, Research Associate, Dairy Training and Research Institute,
College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
A. L. Ordoveza, Assistant Professor, Dairy Training and Research
Institute, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
T. J. Aranas, Researcher, Dairy Training and Research Institute, College
of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños
The dry matter (DM) yield of napier grass increased from
6.0 mt/ha at 45 days regrowth to 7.2 mt/ha at 60 days
regrowth. The percent crude protein (CP) and ash declined
while the DM and crude fiber (CF) contents increased as
the grass matured. The voluntary DM and energy intakes
of the animals were not statistically different when fed with
napier grass at either 45 or 60 days regrowth. However,
chopping the grass before feeding resulted in significantly
higher intakes of DM and energy. The digestible CP intake
decline (P