A Comparison of Biomass Production and Quality of Congo and Rhodes Grasses in Nigeria

The yield and quality of biomass produced in a growing season determine feed allocation, livestock performance, and system capacity and resilience. Congo grass (Urochloa ruziziensis, UR) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana, CG) are important grass species for livestock in Sub-Saharan Africa, where their high yield potential and adaptability provide leverage to mitigate persistent feed gaps. This study investigated the morphological traits, biomass yield, and nutritive value of UR and CG in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria over three years (2019–2021) to assess their biomass yield and quality responses to successive harvests. We hypothesised that UR would outperform CG in yield and quality over the study period. Grasses were established in 2019, with multiple harvests annually from four replicate plots per species. UR consistently produced more tillers and leaves per tussock and achieved significantly higher biomass and crude protein (CP) yields at each harvest (p < 0.001), averaging 32.2% and 38.4% greater biomass and CP, respectively, compared to CG. Nutritional analysis revealed that CG contained 19.4% less CP, 23.4% less metabolisable energy, and 22.7% less ash than UR, while having higher fibre fractions (p < 0.001). Overall, UR demonstrated superior productivity and nutritional value under the tested conditions, highlighting its potential as a more reliable forage option for farmers in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria.