Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T01:40:39.509Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Digestibility trials on forages in Trinidad and their use in the prediction of nutritive value

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

M. H. Butterworth
Affiliation:
Faculty of Agriculture, University of the West Indies Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad

Extract

Twenty-nine digestibility trials were carried out on various tropical forages and the results obtained were used to investigate possible prediction of nutritive value from chemical composition.

1. The digestibility coefficient of crude protein could be predicted from the level of dietary crude protein. This prediction could be slightly improved by the incorporation of crude fibre in the expression. Results were somewhat higher than those reported from temperate areas.

2. In order to investigate the above phenomena, a value for metabolic faecal protein was calculated. This was found to be similar to values reported from temperate areas. There was no correlation between faecal crude protein and either level of dietary crude fibre or undigested crude fibre.

3. No significant relationships could be obtained to predict total digestible nutrients from either crude fibre or crude protein.

4. There was a low (non-significant) negative correlation between the content of dietary crude fibre and the digestibility coefficient of organic matter; comparison of this value with those in the literature suggested that the effect of crude fibre in tropical areas was different to that reported from temperate areas.

5. Results obtained were compared with standards of intake and nutrient requirements as recommended by the N.R.C. It was concluded that the factor most frequently limiting was digestible crude protein whilst total digestible nutrients were adequate in the greater part of the samples considered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1963

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (1955). Official Methods of Analysis, 8th edn.Washington: Ass. Off. Agric. Chem.Google Scholar
Anellson, J. (1938). Arch. Tierernähr. 10, 238.Google Scholar
Anellson, J. (1950). LantbrHögsk. Ann. 17, 321.Google Scholar
Blaxter, K. L. & Mitchell, H. H. (1948). J. Anim. Sci. 7, 351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butterworth, M. H. (1961). Trop. Agriculture, Trin., 38, 189.Google Scholar
Duckworth, J. (1946). Trop. Agriculture, Trin., 23, 4.Google Scholar
Glover, J., Duthie, D. W. & Dougall, H. W. (1960). .J. Agric. Sci. 55, 403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glover, J., Duthie, D. W. & French, M. H. (1957). J. Agric. Sci. 48, 373.Google Scholar
Glover, J. & French, M. H. (1957). J. Agric. Sci. 49, 78.Google Scholar
Harris, L. E. & Mitchell, H. H. (1941). J. Nulr. 22, 167.Google Scholar
Holter, J. A. & Reid, J. T. (1959). J. Anim. Sci. 18, 1339.Google Scholar
Mangold, E. & Behm, G. (1954). Arch. Tierernähr. 5, 10.Google Scholar
Meyer, J. H. (1956). J. Nutr. 58, 407.Google Scholar
Mitchell, H. H. (1934). J. Biol. Chem. 105, 537.Google Scholar
Mitchell, H. H. (1942). J. Anim. Sci. 1, 159.Google Scholar
Mitchell, H. H., Hamilton, T. S. & Haines, W. T., (1942). J. Nutr. 23, 101.Google Scholar
Morrison, W. B. (1936). Feeds and Feeding; A Handbook for the Student and Stockman. Ithaca, N.Y.20th. Ed.Google Scholar
National Research Council U.S.A. (1955). Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle.Google Scholar
National Research Council U.S.A. (1958). Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle.Google Scholar
Quarterman, J. (1961). Emp. J. Exp. Agric. 29, 101.Google Scholar
Raymond, F. (1959). In The Measurement of Grassland Productivity, ed. Ivins, J. D.. London: Butterworths.Google Scholar
Schneider, B. H. (1947). Feeds of the World. West Virginia University, Morgantown, U.S.A.Google Scholar
Schneider, B. H., Lucas, H. L., Pavlech, H. M. & Cipolloni, M. H. (1951). J. Anim. Sci. 10, 706.Google Scholar
Schneider, B. H., Lucas, H. L., Cipolloni, M. H. & Pavlech, H. M. (1952). J. Anim. Sci. 11, 77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stohmann, F. (1869). Landw. Vers-Sta. 11, 401.Google Scholar