Forage Characteristics Related to Intake, Digestibility and Gain by Ruminants2

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Abstract
Seven sorghum × sudan hays [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moensch] and five Bermudagrass hays [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] , harvested at three locations and at various stages of maturity, were fed to yearling steers to determine intake and gain, and to growing wethers to determine digestibility. Animal responses and laboratory analyses all showed a decline in forage value with increasing maturity within forage species and location. Except when forage protein was .86) and protein content (r2>.73). Lignin content based on dry matter, NDF or ADF was generally not a good indicator of fiber digestibility. The relationship was significant (r = −.91) only for lignin to ADF ratio in the sorghum × sudan hays. Correlation coefficients for the relationships between lignin and hemicellulose digestibility and lignin and digestible organic matter were −.83 and −.84, respectively. In vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) predictor of digestible organic matter (r = .91), but the low regression coefficient (.49) suggests that unadjusted IVDMD values should be used for ranking purposes only. Copyright © 1980. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1980 by American Society of Animal Science.

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