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Prediction of digestibility and intake of sheep fed different quality hays from the kinetics of gas production or dry matter degradation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

M.T. Dentinho ,
K. Khazaal ,
J.M. Ribeiro  and
E.R. Ørskov
M.T. Dentinho
Affiliation:
Estacao Zootecnica Nacional, Departmento de Nutricao, Santarem, Portugal
K. Khazaal
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB2 9SB, Scotland
J.M. Ribeiro
Affiliation:
Estacao Zootecnica Nacional, Departmento de Nutricao, Santarem, Portugal
E.R. Ørskov
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB2 9SB, Scotland
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Extract

Without chemical analysis, Blummel and Ørskov (1992) adapted the in vitro gas test (Menke and Steingass, 1988) and used the exponential equation p=a+b (l-e-ct) to describe the kinetics of fermentation of 10 straws. They reported high correlation with animal performance. The aim of the present study was to adopt a similar approach and assess the gas test in comparison with nylon bag for the prediction of intake or DM digestibility of 10 different quality hays.

Ten hays consisting of 3 harvesting stages of lucerne (Medicago sativa), sweet clover (Melilotus segetalis), persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum) and Italian rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum). Each hay was fed ad libitum to 4 Merino male sheep and their intake (g dry matter (DM)/day/KgW0.75) and in vivo DMD were recorded.

Type
Small Ruminant Production
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1993: Winter meeting , March 1993 , pp. 122
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1993

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References

Blumell, M and Orskov, E.R (1992). Animal Production(in press)Google Scholar
McDonald, I. (1981). Journal of Agricultural Science Cambridge. 96: 251–252.Google Scholar
Menke, K.H. and Steingass, H.(1988). Animal Research and Development.Vol 28: 7–55.Google Scholar
Ørskov, E.R, Reid, G.W. and Kay, M. (1988). Animal Production, 49: 29–34.Google Scholar
Ørskov, E.R. and Ryle, M. (1990). Editors. Energy Nutrition in Ruminants. Chapter 10.Google Scholar