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Ramie (Boehmeria nivea)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This datasheet is pending revision and updating; its contents are currently derived from FAO's Animal Feed Resources Information System (1991-2002) and from Bo Göhl's Tropical Feeds (1976-1982).

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
Common names 
Ramie blanche, chinese silkplant, ramie, zhu ma, ramie de Chine, namban kara mushi, rami, ortiga blanca, ramio, white ramie
Species 

Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich. [Urticaceae]

Synonyms 
Urtica nivea L., Urtica tenacissima Roxb
Feed categories 
Related feed(s) 
Nutritional aspects
Nutritional attributes 
The ramie plant, grown mainly as a fibre crop, is also a source of nutritious green feed. Ramie is palatable to all classes of domestic livestock.
The leaves and tops, unlike the stems, have a low fibre content and are rich in protein, minerals, lysine and carotene. The nutritive value of ramie has been described as similar to that of lucerne, which it can, however, greatly outyield. When ramie is grown for fodder, up to fourteen cuttings a year can be taken from established crops, yielding as much as 300 tons of fresh material (42 tons dry matter) per hectare per year. The foliage is palatable and has proved to be of value not only to stock but also to pigs and poultry.
Potential constraints 
The only problem associated with feeding ramie is its high mineral uptake, especially molybdenum on soils rich in this element; this can be corrected by adding appropriate levels of copper sulphate to the diet.
Ruminants 
Ramie is an excellent feed for cattle.
Pigs 
As long as satisfactory ad lib mineral levels are achieved, ramie can be fed ad lib to pigs of all ages and acceptable production obtained.
Nutritional tables
Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value 

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This datasheet is pending revision and updating; its contents are currently derived from FAO's Animal Feed Resources Information System (1991-2002) and from Bo Göhl's Tropical Feeds (1976-1982).

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 96.1 1
Crude protein % DM 22.4 1
Crude fibre % DM 11.9 1
Ether extract % DM 3.2 1
Ash % DM 17.7 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 16.8 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 45.0 1
Phosphorus g/kg DM 1.4 1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

INFIC, 1978

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:51

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 14.0 2.4 9.6 16.2 6
Crude protein % DM 16.4 6.5 11.1 30.1 7
Crude fibre % DM 24.9 5.7 13.1 29.0 7
Ether extract % DM 3.8 0.5 3.1 4.4 7
Ash % DM 16.8 1.3 15.4 18.8 7
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 17.2 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 31.8 12.9 12.6 40.6 4
Phosphorus g/kg DM 3.5 0.5 3.1 4.2 4
Potassium g/kg DM 18.7 5.9 13.3 25.0 3
Sodium g/kg DM 0.8 0.2 0.6 1.0 3
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 49.4 4.0 44.4 54.0 4
ME ruminants (FAO, 1982) MJ/kg DM 6.4 6.2 6.6 2
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants % 51.0 5.8 46.0 56.0 4

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Holm, 1971; Holm, 1971; INFIC, 1978

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:51

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 91.7 1
Crude protein % DM 21.0 1
Crude fibre % DM 16.6 1
Ether extract % DM 4.0 1
Ash % DM 14.8 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 17.4 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 49.0 1
Phosphorus g/kg DM 2.7 1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

INFIC, 1978

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:52

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 90.3 1
Crude protein % DM 22.7 1
Crude fibre % DM 11.3 1
Ether extract % DM 8.6 1
Ash % DM 18.8 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 17.5 *
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 49.0 1
Phosphorus g/kg DM 4.1 1
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 46.9 1
ME ruminants (FAO, 1982) MJ/kg DM 6.7 1
Nitrogen digestibility, ruminants % 56.2 1

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

Cleasby et al., 1958

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:44:52

References
References 
Cleasby, T. G. ; Sideek, O., 1958. A note on the nutritive value of ramie leaves (Boehmeria nivea). E. Afr. Agric. For. J., 23 (3): 203-211
da Silva, J. H. V. ; Rodrigues, M. T. ; Campos, J., 1999. Influence of selection on the quality of the ingested diet by goats with hays offered in excess. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 28 (6): 1419-1423 web icon
Holm, J., 1971. Personal communication. Nutrition Laboratory, Chiung Mai
INFIC, 1978. Data from International Network of Feed Information Centres. Rome, FAO
4 references found
Datasheet citation 

DATASHEET UNDER CONSTRUCTION. DO NOT QUOTE. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/179 Last updated on March 16, 2010, 17:13

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