Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
1. Data are presented for the chemical and botanical compositions of ryegrass seed and various by-products of the ryegrass seed cleaning industry.
2. Digestibility data are presented for a more limited range of samples of ryegrass seed, ryegrass seed cleanings and, for comparative purposes, of certain by-products of the milling of oats.
3. Ground high quality perennial ryegrass seed has a chemical composition and digestibility comparable with that of oats.
4. Ground rough (i.e. uncleaned) perennial ryegrass seed has a chemical composition and digestibility such that its starch equivalent is 90–95 % of that of oats.
5. Ground bulked ryegrass seed cleanings has a starch equivalent of about four-fifths that of oats and is comparable in feeding value with better grades of oat feed, i.e. those containing not more than about 20 % of fibre.