Publication Date
1993
Description
The nutritional value of perennial warm-season grasses is limited primarily by digestible energy concentration. The relatively low digestibility of these grasses is due to their high concentration of fibre and its resistance to degradation in the rumen. The objective of this study was to evaluate quantitatively improvements in the digestibility of 5 experimental switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) populations in terms of a first-order digestion model in order to develop selection strategies for further improvement. The populations were developed by recurrent restricted phenotypic selection from a base population by l cycle of selection for low and 3 cycles for high digestibility. True dry matter digestibility increased linearly (P<0.05) for selection cycle. Concentration of digestible fibre increased linearly (P<0.05) for selection cycle, but there were no differences (P>0.05) in cell solubles among cycles. Digestion kinetics were similar among cycles with an average rate constant of 0.037/h and lag period of 13,3 h. Direct selection for lower fibre concentration while maintaining or increasing fibre digestion should be considered as a breeding strategy for further improving the digestibility of these switchgrass populations,
Citation
Moore, K J.; Vogel, K P.; Hopkins, A A.; Pedersen, J F.; and Moser, L E., "Improving the Digestibility of Warm-Season Perennial Grasses" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 13.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session12/13
Included in
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Improving the Digestibility of Warm-Season Perennial Grasses
The nutritional value of perennial warm-season grasses is limited primarily by digestible energy concentration. The relatively low digestibility of these grasses is due to their high concentration of fibre and its resistance to degradation in the rumen. The objective of this study was to evaluate quantitatively improvements in the digestibility of 5 experimental switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) populations in terms of a first-order digestion model in order to develop selection strategies for further improvement. The populations were developed by recurrent restricted phenotypic selection from a base population by l cycle of selection for low and 3 cycles for high digestibility. True dry matter digestibility increased linearly (P<0.05) for selection cycle. Concentration of digestible fibre increased linearly (P<0.05) for selection cycle, but there were no differences (P>0.05) in cell solubles among cycles. Digestion kinetics were similar among cycles with an average rate constant of 0.037/h and lag period of 13,3 h. Direct selection for lower fibre concentration while maintaining or increasing fibre digestion should be considered as a breeding strategy for further improving the digestibility of these switchgrass populations,
