Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of cutting interval on foliage yield, chemical composition of Tropical Kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides) which cover-crop in rubber plantation and the effect of molasses on quality of Kudzu silage and evaluation of feed intake and digestibility of diets supplement Kudzu silage or Kudzu hay by heifers.
In the first experiment four cutting intervals of Kudzu foliage: 40, 50, 60 and 70 days were studied. The results showed the decreasing leaf proportion, CP content and increasing DM and ADF content with increased cutting interval. The DM yield was highest at 60-day cutting interval compared to the longer or shorter cutting interval but the CP yield was not different between those treatments. The optimum cutting interval was 60 days.
The second experiment was carried out to evaluate the ensiling of Tropical Kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides) and the feed intake and digestibility of Kudzu silage and Kudzu hay. Tropical Kudzu foliage can be preserved by making hay or silage. In the silage making sugarcane molasses should be added at least 3% of fresh Kudzu material. Diet DM intake increased with the preserved Kudzu foliage, especially with the Kudzu hay as supplement. The OM and CP digestibility of Kudzu silage were 63.4 and 72.3%, and of Kudzu hay were 68.3 and 66.4%, respectively. The higher digestibility of Kudzu hay and Kudzu silage than Guinea grass 280 and the higher intake with the supplement diets resulted in increased supplement diet digestibility, high DE and high DCP daily intake that would result in a high growth rate of cattle.