ARS | Publication request: WHAT WE DO AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT FORAGE AND CARBOHYDRATE DIGESTION IN THE DAIRY COW (AND SOME MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT).

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2004
Publication Date: January 11, 2005
Citation: Hall, M. B. 2005. What we do and don't know about forage and carbohydrate digestion in the dairy cow (and some more food for thought). In: Proc. Feed and Nutritional Management Cow College, January 11 - 12, 2005, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. p. 1 - 12.

Technical Abstract: Nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) have commonly been treated as a uniform pool, with no differentiation among chemically or nutritionally distinct entities within it. However, the different dietary NFC, notably sugars, starch, and soluble-fiber have different effects on ruminal digestion and their effects on dairy cattle production. Understanding the differences among the NFC can help nutritionists more accurately formulate diets to support improved production and efficiency.