Publication Date
1993
Description
The dry matter digestibility (DMD%) of 3 categories of leaf (youngest expanding leaf, youngest fully expanded leaf, older leaves) and the pseudostem in 3 late heading diploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars (S23, Melle and Mascot) was estimated on 6 occasions during a single 6-month. grazing season. The cultivars were continuously stocked to maintain a sward height of 4 cm. Information on the DMD% of the plant parts was combined with details of the proportions of leaf and pseudostem consumed by the sheep to obtain an estimate of diet digestibility. Differences between cultivars in the DMD% of plant parts and of the ingested diet were small. For all cu ltivars there was a distinct gradient in DMD% between In the leaf categories, the youngest ellpanding leaf having a DMD% 15 units higher than that of the older leaves. Pseudostem DMQ% waa similar to that of the youngest fully expanded leaf. Plant and diet digestibility changed over the season, lower values corresponding to periods of high stocking densities and rapid decline in sward height.
Citation
Clark, H, "Seasonal Changes in vitro Digestibility of Leaf and Pseudostem and its Implications for Diet Digestibility of Perennial Ryegrass Continuously Stocked with Sheep" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session14/8
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Seasonal Changes in vitro Digestibility of Leaf and Pseudostem and its Implications for Diet Digestibility of Perennial Ryegrass Continuously Stocked with Sheep
The dry matter digestibility (DMD%) of 3 categories of leaf (youngest expanding leaf, youngest fully expanded leaf, older leaves) and the pseudostem in 3 late heading diploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars (S23, Melle and Mascot) was estimated on 6 occasions during a single 6-month. grazing season. The cultivars were continuously stocked to maintain a sward height of 4 cm. Information on the DMD% of the plant parts was combined with details of the proportions of leaf and pseudostem consumed by the sheep to obtain an estimate of diet digestibility. Differences between cultivars in the DMD% of plant parts and of the ingested diet were small. For all cu ltivars there was a distinct gradient in DMD% between In the leaf categories, the youngest ellpanding leaf having a DMD% 15 units higher than that of the older leaves. Pseudostem DMQ% waa similar to that of the youngest fully expanded leaf. Plant and diet digestibility changed over the season, lower values corresponding to periods of high stocking densities and rapid decline in sward height.
