Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #73273
Title: LEVEL OF FORAGE CONDITIONING: MEASUREMENT AND EFFECT ON DIGESTIBILITY

Author
item Kraus, Timothy
item Koegel, Richard
item STRAUB, RICHARD - UNIV OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

Submitted to: ASAE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/14/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An index, based on the electrical conductivity of leachate from conditioned forage, was developed. This index was determined for forage samples which had undergone a wide range of conditioning levels. This same material was placed in polyester bags and the in situ rate of DM and NDF disappearance was determined in fistulated dairy cattle. Preliminary analysis illustrates sthere was a direct correlation between level of conditioning, as measured by leachate conductivity and in situ rate of DM and NDF disappearance from polyester bags placed in the rumen. It appears that severe conditioning of the plant material improved the digestibility characteristics of mature crops to a much greater extent than immature crops. Conditioning the crop may also reverse the effects of crop maturity on digestibility.