Forage Growth Biomass, Yield and Quality Responses of Three Varieties Napier at Cutting Intervals in the South West Nigeria

Background and Objective: Forage crops are essential for livestock production, particularly in tropical regions like Southwest Nigeria. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), widely known for its high biomass yield and nutritional value, is a popular choice for livestock feed. This study aims to evaluate the growth, biomass yield and forage quality of three Napier grass varieties (Pakchong-1, CO-3 and Giant Napier) under three different cutting intervals (40, 60 and 80 days), providing insights for optimizing forage management practices. Materials and Methods: The experiment involved planting the three varieties of Napier grass and evaluating their responses to cutting intervals of 40, 60 and 80 days. Key parameters measured included plant height, tiller number per plant, leaf-to-stem ratio (LSR), fresh and dry biomass yield and forage quality indicators such as crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), calcium, magnesium and phosphorus content. Data were statistically analyzed to determine significant differences among the varieties and cutting intervals. Results: The results revealed significant differences in growth and biomass yield among the three varieties. Pakchong-1 exhibited the tallest plants, the highest tiller number and the greatest biomass yield across all cutting intervals. The CO-3 maintained a higher LSR, indicating better leaf retention. Biomass yield increased with longer cutting intervals, with Pakchong-1 yielding the highest fresh and dry biomass at 80 days. However, shorter cutting intervals favored higher crude protein content, which decreased as intervals lengthened. Fiber content (NDF and ADF) increased with longer intervals, reducing digestibility. Conclusion: Pakchong-1 yields more biomass with longer cuts, while CO-3 offers better forage quality with frequent cuts, optimizing tropical livestock feed.