A Comparison of Two Established Fecal Index Systems for Estimating the Digestibility and Consumption of Forages by Grazing Dairy Cattle1

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Abstract
Synopsis: Estimates of organic matter digestibility of pastured forages, derived from the fecal chromogen and nitrogen indicator methods, were highly correlated and equally sensitive when prediction equations developed by other workers were utilized. However, the nitrogen method consistently indicated higher forage digestibility. When the TDN requirement of lactating dairy cows was used as a standard, intake of digestible organic matter estimated by the nitrogen‐chromic oxide method was more reliable than intake estimated by the chromogen‐chromic oxide method.