Proximate and digestible energy composition of grain of newly developed tropical maize hybrids for animal feed.

Abstract

This study was conducted at the National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NALIRRI) - Namulonge in Wakiso district, with the aim of determining the proximate composition and digestible energy (DE) content of grain of newly developed tropical maize Hybrids for animal feed. Linear equations for predicting DE based on proximate composition were also developed. Ten hybrids (i.e., H1 through H10) of the best newly developed maize Hybrids (as ranked by researchers at NALIRRI) were evaluated. The proximate composition of the maize Hybrids significantly (P < 0.05) differed in all the proximate fractions (i.e., DM, CP, CF, EE, ash and NFE). Maize Hybrids H3 and H7 showed the significantly lowest (P < 0.05) CF, as well as highest CP and NFE compositions, while Hybrid H8 showed the highest CF, as well as lowest CP and NFE compositions. The mean digestible energy content ranged from 3400.03 to 3632.11 kcal/kg DM. The Equation 5 containing fractions of CF, ash, DM, CP and NFE (i.e., DE (Kcal/kg DM) = - 80.97CF (% DM) - 107.56Ash (% DM) - 22.68DM (%) + 42.44CP (% DM) + 19.76NFE (% DM) + 3759.57; R2 = 0.66) emerged as the best fit equation for predicting DE. Maize Hybrids H3 and H7 are recommended for further breeding improvement efforts