In Vitro Digestibility of Chemically Treated Coastal Bermudagrass

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Abstract
Coastal bermudagrass containing 8.5 (low), 15.4 (good) and 19.4% (high) crude protein was extracted with water, methanol, methanolic and aqueous potassium hydroxide, and aqueous sodium hydroxide, and the “In Vitro Dry Matter Disappearance” (IVDMD) determined on the residues. Extraction of Coastal with methanol had little effect on the IVDMD. Extraction with methanolic potassium hydroxide, however increased the IVDMD of Coastal by 5 to 46%, depending on the level of base and quality of Coastal. Potassium hydroxide levels in methanol ranged from .5 to 20% by weight of the Coastal. The percent increases of IVDMD of low, good and high quality Coastal was 46, 14 and 15%, respectively, after extraction with 10% potassium hydroxide in methanol. Extraction of the low and good quality Coastal bermudagrass with aqueous potassium or sodium hydroxide increased the IVDMD of the residue. At the 10% base level, extraction of good quality Coastal with aqueous sodium hydroxide increased IVDMD of the residue by 18% compared to a 12% increase obtained with aqueous potassium hydroxide. Extraction of low quality Coastal with aqueous alkali resulted in the greatest increase in IVDMD. Aqueous sodium hydroxide extraction increased the IVDMD of Coastal to a greater extent than aqueous potassium hydroxide (49 vs 39%) at the 10% base level. Copyright © 1977. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1977 by American Society of Animal Science.