Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
Nutrient utilisation by ruminants is altered by the forage species and its maturity. Maturity is the major factor affecting forage morphology and quality. Forage quality is reduced with maturity due to a decrease in the leaf:stem ratio and an increase in fibre components (Ugherughe, 1986). Improving forage utilisation by ruminants depends on accurate measurements of their nutritive value by using in vitro and in situ methods. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritive value (i.e., extent of in situ disappearance of organic matter [OM], neutral detergent fibre [NDF], and acid detergent fibre [ADF]) of four grass species that were grown under the same conditions and were harvested at two stages of maturity.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Effects of Forage Species and Stage of Maturity on in Situ Disappearance of Organic Matter and Fibre Fractions
Nutrient utilisation by ruminants is altered by the forage species and its maturity. Maturity is the major factor affecting forage morphology and quality. Forage quality is reduced with maturity due to a decrease in the leaf:stem ratio and an increase in fibre components (Ugherughe, 1986). Improving forage utilisation by ruminants depends on accurate measurements of their nutritive value by using in vitro and in situ methods. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritive value (i.e., extent of in situ disappearance of organic matter [OM], neutral detergent fibre [NDF], and acid detergent fibre [ADF]) of four grass species that were grown under the same conditions and were harvested at two stages of maturity.
