The effect of fine particle removal from ground forage samples on In Saccro dry matter and neutral detergent fiber disappearance values
Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Abstract: In vitro and in situ methods using the in sacco technique have a wide application in ruminant nutrition as they allow the degradability and quality of forages and ruminant diets to be determined quicker and at a lower cost than in vivo methods.These trials make use of artificial fibre bags, made of polyester (dacron) or nylon which are available in variable pore sizes.Results from such degradability trials are of great value to feed formulation programs such as AMTS.cattle and CPM Dairy and the more accurate the results are obtained from such trials the more accurate feed formulation models are enabling the ruminant nutritionist to formulate the best diet possible to reach the genetic potential of ruminants.The accepted method for in sacco trials (NRC, 2001) requires that the feed samples are ground through a 2 mm screen.This usually results in a variety of particle sizes, including a significant amount of extremely fine particles.Research has, however, shown that these fine particles can potentially be washed out of the dacron bags that are used in in sacco degradability trials.This would result in an overestimation of the soluble and rapidly fermentable nutrient fractions.The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fine particle removal from ground forage samples on the chemical composition and in vitro dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) degradability of forages.Lucerne hay, oat hay and wheat straw samples were sourced from seven different locations in the Western Cape.Samples were milled through a 2 mm screen and then sieved through either 150 µm, 125 µm or 106 µm.All fractions were analysed for DM, crude protein (CP), NDF, fat and ash.Based on the NDF content of the original samples, four samples from each forage type were selected for in vitro trials to determine DM and NDF disappearance over time.Samples were incubated for 0, 6, 24 and 48 hours in an ANKOM Daisy II incubator.Significant variation occurred within forage types in terms of chemical composition.Fine particle
Author: Claudia Isabell Mack
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W58611043