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Variation in the relationship between in vitro digestibility and voluntary dry-matter intake of different grass varieties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. J. K. Walters
R. J. K. Walters
Affiliation:
Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Aberystwyth
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Summary

The relationship between digestibility (% DOMD in-vitro)and voluntary drymatter intake of a range of grasses conserved as artificially dried grass, has been studied in two experiments with reference to growth stage, percentage of leaf, stem and dead material, number of days to harvest and dry-matter yield.

In the first experiment digestibility accounted for 69% of the variation in intake during first growth and differences were established between varieties of the same and of different species in (a) intake at similar levels of digestibility and (6) the rate of change of intake per unit change of digestibility. In the second experiment differences in intake were established between varieties, within and between first growth and regrowth, when compared at a similar level of digestibility.

The variation in intake between varieties at a similar level of digestibility was not correlated with stage of growth or percentage leaf, stem and dead material in either first growth or regrowth. However, number of days to harvest and to a lesser extent, dry-matter yield, were associated with this variation, but only in first growth.

regrowths of grasses generally resulted in higher intakes than first growths, but the varietal variation in intake was not correlated between growths.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 76 , Issue 2 , April 1971 , pp. 243 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

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