Track 1-10: Assessment and Impact of Grass and Forage Quality
Description
Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) are an important source of readily fermentable energy available to rumen microbes. Limited concentrations of readily available energy in forages combined with fast and intensive protein degradation contribute to poor N use efficiency by dairy cows and other ruminants. Increasing NSC in forages has been shown to improve intake, milk yield, and N use efficiency (Brito et al. 2009). We assessed several strategies to increase forage NSC accumulation, including PM-cutting, species selection and genetic improvement.
Included in
Improving Forage Nonstructural Carbohydrates through Management and Breeding
Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) are an important source of readily fermentable energy available to rumen microbes. Limited concentrations of readily available energy in forages combined with fast and intensive protein degradation contribute to poor N use efficiency by dairy cows and other ruminants. Increasing NSC in forages has been shown to improve intake, milk yield, and N use efficiency (Brito et al. 2009). We assessed several strategies to increase forage NSC accumulation, including PM-cutting, species selection and genetic improvement.
