Hostname: page-component-cc8bf7c57-5wl6q Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-11T23:09:34.310Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A note on the in vitro dry-matter digestibility determination of mixed herbage and browse samples collected with oesophageal fistulated steers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

C. Shorrock
Affiliation:
Animal Production Research Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Private Bag 0033, Gaborone, Botswana

Extract

The determination of in vitro dry-matter digestibility (DMD) of grass and pasture legumes under both temperate and tropical conditions is well established (Tilley & Terry, 1963; Minson & McLeod, 1972). One application of the in vitro DMD estimation of pasture samples is, together with an estimate of faecal output, the measurement of the herbage dry-matter intake of grazing cattle. Pasture samples are usually collected with oesophageal fistulated cattle. This technique is well documented and has been reviewed by a number of authors (Langlands, 1975; Minson et al. 1976).

Type
Short Note
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Langlands, J. P. (1975). Techniques for estimating nutrient intake and its utilization by the grazing ruminant. In Digestion and Metabolism in the Ruminant (ed. McDonald, I. W. and Warner, A.C.I.), pp. 320332. Armidale, Australia: University of New England Publishing Unit.Google Scholar
McKay, A. D. (1968). Rangeland productivity in Botswana. East African Agriculture and Forestry 01 34, 178192.Google Scholar
McLeod, M. N. (1974). Plant tannins – their role in forage quality. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews 44, 803815.Google Scholar
Minson, D. J. & McLeod, M. N. (1972). The in vitro technique: its modification for estimating digestibility of large numbers of tropical pasture samples. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia, Division of Tropical Agronomy, Technical Paper, No. 8.Google Scholar
Minson, D. J., Stobbs, T. H., Heoarty, M. P. & Playnb, M. J. (1976). Measuring the nutritive value of pasture plants. In Tropical Pasture Research – Principles and Methods (ed. Shaw, N. H. and Bryan, W. W.), pp. 308337. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau, Slough, U.K.Google Scholar
Tilley, J. M. A. & Tebky, R. A. (1963). A two stage technique for the in vitrodigestion of forage crops. Journal of the British Grassland Society 18, 104111.Google Scholar
van Rensbeeg, H. J. (1971). Range ecology in Botswana. Technical Document No. 2. Food & Agriculture Organization/United Nations Development Programme Botswana Project UNDP/SF/359.Google Scholar