Nutritive value of perennial pastures along an elevation gradient in tropical conditions
IntroductionThe nutritive value of forages is one of the main drivers of productivity for livestock. In many tropical regions, same grass species occur at different elevations, but few studies have evaluated nutritive value changes within elevation gradients.MethodsThe objective of this study was to...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1529103/full |
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| author | Luis Villalobos Claudia Arndt Rein van der Hoek Andre M. Mazzetto Dave Chadwick |
| author_facet | Luis Villalobos Claudia Arndt Rein van der Hoek Andre M. Mazzetto Dave Chadwick |
| author_sort | Luis Villalobos |
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| description | IntroductionThe nutritive value of forages is one of the main drivers of productivity for livestock. In many tropical regions, same grass species occur at different elevations, but few studies have evaluated nutritive value changes within elevation gradients.MethodsThe objective of this study was to analyze the changes in nutritive value of six grass genera across and within elevation gradients in Costa Rica. We synthesized elevation and nutritive data for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in a database (n = 1,192) containing five C4 grasses (Urochloa, Cynodon, Digitaria, Megathyrsus, and Cenchrus) and one C3 grass (Lolium). Urochloa, Megathyrsus, and Digitaria are grasses grown primarily at low elevation (0–999 masl), and Lolium at high elevation (>2,000 masl).ResultsCynodon and Cenchrus overlap low to mid, and mid to high elevations, respectively. Greater CP and lower NDF concentrations were found for grasses grown at high elevation compared to those grown at low elevation (CP = 18.2–22.4 vs. 7.8–15.2%, NDF = 48.9–49.3 vs. 64.6–67.3%, and ADF = 32.2–33.2 vs. 37.4–44.3%). Consequently, IVDMD was greater for grasses grown at high than at low elevation (80.9–86.0 vs. 61.4–71.1% of DM). CP increased with elevation, especially for Lolium, while NDF and ADF tended to decrease for Megathyrsus, Urochloa, and Cenchrus.DiscussionThe groups of grasses classified by nutritive value in this study, provide a baseline for potential nutrient supply to livestock and rations adjustments accordingly. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eafa22bf657e44e8988baea8e5e6fa29 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-eafa22bf657e44e8988baea8e5e6fa292025-08-20T02:07:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-03-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.15291031529103Nutritive value of perennial pastures along an elevation gradient in tropical conditionsLuis Villalobos0Claudia Arndt1Rein van der Hoek2Andre M. Mazzetto3Dave Chadwick4Department of Animal Sciences and Research Center for Animal Nutrition, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa RicaMazingira Centre, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, KenyaAlliance of Biodiversity International and CIAT, Dakar, SenegalAgResearch, Lincoln, New ZealandSchool of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United KingdomIntroductionThe nutritive value of forages is one of the main drivers of productivity for livestock. In many tropical regions, same grass species occur at different elevations, but few studies have evaluated nutritive value changes within elevation gradients.MethodsThe objective of this study was to analyze the changes in nutritive value of six grass genera across and within elevation gradients in Costa Rica. We synthesized elevation and nutritive data for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in a database (n = 1,192) containing five C4 grasses (Urochloa, Cynodon, Digitaria, Megathyrsus, and Cenchrus) and one C3 grass (Lolium). Urochloa, Megathyrsus, and Digitaria are grasses grown primarily at low elevation (0–999 masl), and Lolium at high elevation (>2,000 masl).ResultsCynodon and Cenchrus overlap low to mid, and mid to high elevations, respectively. Greater CP and lower NDF concentrations were found for grasses grown at high elevation compared to those grown at low elevation (CP = 18.2–22.4 vs. 7.8–15.2%, NDF = 48.9–49.3 vs. 64.6–67.3%, and ADF = 32.2–33.2 vs. 37.4–44.3%). Consequently, IVDMD was greater for grasses grown at high than at low elevation (80.9–86.0 vs. 61.4–71.1% of DM). CP increased with elevation, especially for Lolium, while NDF and ADF tended to decrease for Megathyrsus, Urochloa, and Cenchrus.DiscussionThe groups of grasses classified by nutritive value in this study, provide a baseline for potential nutrient supply to livestock and rations adjustments accordingly.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1529103/fulldigestibilityelevationfibergrass generaperennial pasturesprotein |
| spellingShingle | Luis Villalobos Claudia Arndt Rein van der Hoek Andre M. Mazzetto Dave Chadwick Nutritive value of perennial pastures along an elevation gradient in tropical conditions Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems digestibility elevation fiber grass genera perennial pastures protein |
| title | Nutritive value of perennial pastures along an elevation gradient in tropical conditions |
| title_full | Nutritive value of perennial pastures along an elevation gradient in tropical conditions |
| title_fullStr | Nutritive value of perennial pastures along an elevation gradient in tropical conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutritive value of perennial pastures along an elevation gradient in tropical conditions |
| title_short | Nutritive value of perennial pastures along an elevation gradient in tropical conditions |
| title_sort | nutritive value of perennial pastures along an elevation gradient in tropical conditions |
| topic | digestibility elevation fiber grass genera perennial pastures protein |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1529103/full |
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