Abstract
The degradability of dry matter and crude protein was studied in 96 grass silages, which were collected from practical farms in different parts of Finland. The degradabilities were determined by the nylonbag technique in sheep on a grass silage and hay (50 : 50 on DM basis) -based diet. Among chemical components the N-free extracts increased, and the crude fibre decreased the dry matter degradation in the rumen. The correlation between the end-products from silage fermentation and the dry matter degradability was generally negative. The level of the crude protein degradability was significantly increased when the crude protein content in the silage DM was increased. The amount of NO3 in the silage DM had a similar effect. The rate of crude protein degradation was regulated mainly by the proteolysis in the silage, e.g. the amounts of NH, and especially watersoluble N in the total N of silage. Crude fibre tended to protect crude protein against ruminal digestion.
Highlights
Grass is the most potential feed with reasonably high energy and protein contents, which can successfully be grown and harvested for silage in the northern countries
The material included 96 grass silage samples which were collected from practical farms in 1981 in different parts of Finland
Water soluble N was analyzed after the fresh sample had been extracted in distilled water as described by Huida (1973)
Summary
Grass is the most potential feed with reasonably high energy and protein contents, which can successfully be grown and harvested for silage in the northern countries. Factors affecting the energy and protein value of grass silage have intensively been studied in many countries. Some of the experimental results in Finland have shortly been reviewed by StiAi a (1984). The increase in the knowledge concerning the protein metabolism and requirements of a ruminant has drawn attention to the importance of the feed energy and protein degradability in the rumen. The aim of the present study was to investigate factors affecting ruminal degradability of the dry matter and crude protein of the silage. In order to receive the most realistic data, experimental material was collected from practical farms
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