Comparative Research On The Feeding Value Of Ramie And Forages In South China

Feed shortages, especially protein feed shortage, is one of the most important factors to limit of thedevelopment of animal husbandry, the problem is particularly prominent in the south of China. In termsof nutritional value, ramie could be compared with alfalfa. Crude protein content of the ramie tenderstems and leaves is over twenty percent. The ramie tender stems and leaves are rich in vitamins andamino acids. Ramie is a kind of very good vegetable protein feedstuff. In the south of China, thehigh-quality forages of northern, such as alfalfa, cannot be planted, because of high temperature andhigh humidity in the summer. Under the conditions of high temperature and high humidity, ramie canstill grow normally, and high biological production can be obtained. Therefore, the development andutilization of ramie as protein feed in southern China has a strong advantage, and has broad marketprospects. Currently, the breeding and promotion of forage ramie is still in its infancy, the comparativestudy for ramie and other forages have not been reported. There were only fewer reports about theproblem that setting reasonable reaping height of ramie for feed.In this research, three ramie varieties, Zhongsizhu No.1, NC03and Zhongzhu No.2, were chosenas test materials. A comparative research on grass yield, nutritional quality and other aspects of ramieand two forages, which were planted in the south widely, was conducted in the same environmentalconditions. And the purpose is providing a reference for forage ramie breeding and promotion. Inaddition, two ramie varieties, Zhongzhu No.1and Zhongzhu No.2, were chosen as test materials. Thedry matter yield, feeding quality and leaf-stem ratio of two ramie varieties were measured at differentreaping heights in this research. This study is intended to provide a reference for selection of the bestreaping height of ramie to feed the ruminants. The results showed as follows:(1) The annual fresh and dry yield of three experimented ramie varieties were lower than that ofGuimu No.1, but significantly higher than perennial ryegrass (P<0.05). The average annual fresh anddry yields of ramie were90t/hm2and12t/hm2. The annual fresh yield of ramie was two times thanperennial ryegrass. The annual fresh yield of Zhongzhu No.2was the highest, the annual dry yield ofZhongsizhu No.1was the highest, and the annual yield of NC03was the lowest.(2) Crude protein contents of three ramie varieties were significantly higher than that of GuimuNo.1and perennial ryegrass (P<0.05). The crude protein content of ramie were both above18%. Thecrude protein content of Zhongsizhu No.1reaching21.20%was the highest; the crude protein content ofGuiMu No.1was only10.59%. Crude protein content of Zhongzhu No.2(19.47%) was just less thanZhongsizhu No.1’s, NC03(18.66%) had the lowest crude protein content in three ramie varieties.(3) Annual crude protein yield of Zhongsizhu No.1and Zhongzhu No.2were both significantlyhigher than that of Guimu No.1and perennial ryegrass (P<0.05). Zhongsizhu No.1had a40%higherannual crude protein yield than Guimu No.1. The annual crude protein yield of ramie was two timesbigger than that of perennial ryegrass. Among three ramie varieties, the annual crude protein yield of NC03was the lowest. It was also slightly h igher than that of Guimu No.1, but it was significantlyhigher than that of perennial ryegrass.(4) The dry-fresh ratio of ramie was greater than the Guimu No.1and perennial ryegrass. Thedry-fresh ratio of perennial ryegrass was the lowest. The dry-fresh ratio difference between ZhongsizhuNo.1and Guimu No.1was not significant (P>0.05). Compared to GuiMu No.1and perennial ryegrass,ramie has poor performance on haymaking. For ramie as animal feed, fresh was better than hay.(5) The tillering ability of Zhongsizhu No.1was the best, followed by Zhongzhu No.2, and thetillering ability of NC03was relatively poor. First three mowing had significant influence on ramie’stillering ability. The tillering number of ramie increased significantly as harvest time increases. Thetillering number of ramie was became stabilized after the fourth harvest.(6) The fresh yield, dry yield and crude protein content of ramie, harvested in the first time, wereboth the lowest. The fresh yield of the first harvest is only about60%of the fourth. The dry yield andcrude protein yield of the first harvest were both only40%of the fourth. Effects of cutting times andgrowing time on nutritional quality of ramie were insignificant. Crude protein and fiber content of ramiedidn’t have significant differences between thefirst and fourth harvest time.(7) Ramie’s leaves, stems, and total dry matter yield were both increased with increasing of reapingheight, while the harvest time were delayed, the crude protein content was significantly reduced and thecrude fiber content was increased significantly. In this study, the crude protein content and leaf-stemratio of ramie at80cm reaping height were significantly higher than100cm and120cm. The crude fibercontent at80cm reaping height were significantly lower than100cm and120cm. Dry matter yield andgross protein yield at80cm obviously higher than60cm. The growth period of80cm height8and13days less than100cm and120cm height respectively, In addition, the daily growth rate of crude proteinof Zhongzhu No.1at80cm reaping height was significantly higher than other reaping height. Based onthe results of experiment, Zhongzhu No.1and Zhongzhu No.2, should be reaped about80cm, as feed forruminant, because ramie had higher nutritional quality and dry matter yield in this reaping height, at thesame time, the characteristics of ramie could be used more efficient, the production time and cost couldbe saved.