IN VITRO AND FAECAL NITROGEN TECHNIQUES FOR PREDICTING THE VOLUNTARY INTAKE OF CHLORIS GAYANA

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Abstract
The voluntary intake by penned sheep, of two Rhodes‐grass varieties (Samford and Callide) cut at 4 stages of maturity was studied. Intake of dry matter was correlated with in vitro digestion of DM after 12 h incubation. The intake of digestible DM was correlated (r=0.99) with the sum of the digestion after 12 and 48 h incubation.Coarsely ground samples (2.5 mm screen) were digested in vitro less rapidly than finely ground samples (0.4 mm screen), especially with the more mature forages. DM digestibility, voluntary intake of DM and digestible DM were also correlated (r>0.96) with faecal nitrogen, although different regression equations applied to the two varieties.
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