A comparison of three laboratory techniques for the estimation of the digestibility of feedstuffs for ruminants

Abstract
SUMMARY: Three in vitro methods, one enzymic and two microbial, were applied satisfactorily to the determination of the dry matter digestibility of forages, but failed when applied to a variety of concentrate feeds. The microbial methods had the advantage that the proportion of weight lost from forages during the in vitro process approximated closely with their determined in vivo digestibilities.The microbial method based on sheep faeces was as effective as that using rumen liquor in digesting ruminant feedstuff's in vitro. Since sheep faeces are readily obtained from intact animals, the faeces liquor method would seem to have a distinct advantage in use.