engleski

Estimating grass and grass silage degradation characteristics by in situ and in vitro gas production methods

Fermentation characteristics of grass and grass silage at different maturities were studied using in situ and in vitro gas production methods. In situ data determined difference between grass and silage. Degradable fraction decreased as grass matured while the undergradabale fraction increased. Rate of degradation (kd) was slower for silage than fresh grass. Gas production method (GP) data showed that fermentation of degradable fraction waqs different between stage of maturity in both grass and silage. Other data did not show any difference with the exception for the rate of GP of soluble and undegradabale fraction. The in situ degradation characteristics were estimated from GP characteristics. The degradable and undegradaable fractions could be estimated by multyple relationships. Using the three-phases model for gas production kd and fermentable organic matter could be estimated from the same parameters. The only in situ parameter that could not be estimated with GP parameters was the soluble fraction. The GP method and the three phases model provided to be an alternative to the in situ method for animal feed evaluations.

Grass; In situ; Gas production; Maturity

Rad je prezentiran na skupu 13th International Symposium "Animal Science Days", održanom od 12.-15.09.2005., Agripolis, Padova, Italija.