NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SEDGE AND KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS HAYS GROWN IN ALBERTA

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Abstract
The nutritive values of sedge and Kentucky bluegrass hays grown in a partially drained lake bottom in central Alberta were assessed in the laboratory and compared with those of brome–fescue hay and oat straw. The extent and rate of in vitro digestion for each forage with rumen fluid from cows fed either sedge, Kentucky bluegrass or brome–fescue were measured using a two-stage technique. The forages were analyzed for proximate components and minerals, and the rumen fluid for trichloroacetic acid-insoluble nitrogen (TCA-N) and volatile fatty acids (VFA). The effects of sulphur and phosphorus supplementation on the in vitro digestion of purified cellulose in the presence of aqueous extracts of sedge, Kentucky bluegrass and brome–fescue were also determined. In vitro dry matter and cellulose digestibilities were highest for brome–fescue and lowest for oat straw; DMD values for Kentucky bluegrass were consistently higher (P > 0.05) than for sedge. Phosphorus supplementation did not enhance cellulose digestion with brome–fescue extract, but with sedge and Kentucky bluegrass extracts, the responses were significant. Ruminal TCA-N and VFA concentrations were highest after feeding brome–fescue, followed by Kentucky bluegrass and then sedge. These studies indicated that the nutritive value of brome–fescue hay was highest, followed by Kentucky bluegrass and sedge hays, and then oat straw.

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