Abstract
Apparent digestibility coefficients and voluntary dry matter (DM) intakes by sheep fed 11 silages, comprising 3 corn, 4 legume-grass and 4 corn-hay crop silage mixtures, were estimated when silage DM content was determined by (1) toluene distillation (TD), corrected for volatiles lost into the aqueous distillate, (2) uncorrected TD, (3) freeze-drying (FD), (4) oven-drying (OD) at 40 C and (5) OD at 65 C. Highest nutrient digestibility and DM intake (P < 0.05) data were obtained by the method of corrected TD. DM intake and DM digestibility were underestimated by 7.4 and 12.0%, respectively, when oven-drying at 65 C was compared to corrected TD (P < 0.01). Digestibility coefficients and DM intakes were similar between FD and OD at 40 C. These results suggest that in vivo expressions of silage nutritive value should be based upon corrected TD for silage DM content and that biochemical determinations can be conducted on silage that has been oven-dried at 40 C.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
