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The use of the in vitro fermentation technique to estimate the digestible energy content of some Egyptian forages I. The in vitro digestion of cellulose as a criterion of energy content
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
Extract
Twelve digestibility trials were carried out using three adult rams on seven legumes and five nonlegume roughages.
In vitro fermentations were carried out over 24 hr. and the percentage cellulose digestion was determined. The whole rumen juice used to inoculate the fermentation tubes was obtained from a sheep with a permanent rumen fistula. Carbon dioxide was bubbled through during the fermentation run, unless otherwise indicated, to ensure anaerobic conditions.
The following significant correlations were calculated from the results:
In vivo and in vitro cellulose digestion for non-legumes: r = 0·93.
In vivo cellulose digestion and D.E./kg. D.M. for non-legumes: r = 0·90.
In vitro cellulose digestion and D.E./kg. D.M. for non-legumes: r = 0·90.
In vitro cellulose digestion and D.E./kg. D.M. for non-legumes + alfalfa and cashrangeeg: r = 0·91.
In vitro cellulose digestion and D.E./kg. D.M. for all forages tested gave a highly significant correlation: r = 0·73.
In vitro cellulose digestion and D.E./kg. D.M. for legumes: r = −0·77.
Regression equations calculated for non-legumes and for all tested forages, when used for predicting D.E./kg. D.M. gave values which differed from the determined digestible energy by ± 8·70and ± 9·90% respectively. Applying Hershberger's regression equation to the present data, the D.E./kg. D.M. values differed by ± 8·69%.
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