Comparative Nutritional Intake, Digestibility, and Rumen Fermentation Outcomes of Feeding Fresh or Ensiled Purple Napier Grass to Sheep

This study evaluated the effects of feeding purple Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. ‘Prince’) in fresh or ensiled form on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and rumen fermentation in sheep. Eighteen growing rams were used, allocated equally into two dietary treatments (n= 9 per group). Purple Napier silage was produced through a 100-day fermentation process prior to feeding. Feed intake, digestibility, body weight change, and rumen fluid parameters were measured to determine the nutritional response to each forage form. Feed intake, digestibility, and growth performance parameters did not differ significantly between treatments (P > 0.05). Dry matter and organic matter digestibility were numerically higher in sheep fed silage, but the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). Final body weight, ADG, and FCR also did not differ significantly between treatments. Rumen fermentation characteristics were largely similar between treatments, with no significant differences in rumen pH, NH₃–N, or butyrate concentration. In contrast, silage significantly decreased acetate, increased propionate, and reduced the acetate-to-propionate ratio (P < 0.05). In summary, feeding purple Napier silage altered certain rumen VFA proportions but did not significantly affect intake, digestibility, or growth performance compared with fresh forage under the conditions of this study.