Comparison of In Vitro Gas Production, Organic Matter Digestion, Relative Feed Values and Metabolic Energy Contents of Some Forage Grasses

Abstract

This study was carried out to compare the in vitro gas production, organic matter digestibility, relative feed value and metabolic energy contents of wheat forage plants including tufted brome (Bromus tectorum), spike grass (Bromus hordeaceus), wild oat (Avena fatua), perennial rye (Mountain rye: Secale montanum), perennial rye (Lolium perenne), peacock grass (Agrostis sp), wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) and tuberous bunchgrass (Poa bulbosa) naturally growing in Siirt-Batman pastures. Rumen fluid used in the in vitro gas production technique was taken from 7-year-old Holstein breed sterile cattle. The obtained data were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance in SPSS 13.0 package program. The highest ether extract (EE), crude protein (HP) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) values and the lowest potential gas production amount (a + b) of the forage grass samples examined in the study were determined in peacock. Metabolic energy (ME) contents were determined as 8.54-6.58 MJ kg^-1 DM, net energy lactation (NE_L) contents as 4.61-3.60 MJ kg^-1 DM and organic matter digestibility (OMD) degrees were determined as 57.49-48.33%. The highest dry matter intake (DMI) and relative feed value (RFV) were determined in peacock forage grass. In conclusion, verification of the findings under field conditions and integration into national animal nutrition programs may support the sustainable use of regional forage resources and increasing livestock productivity. The research conducted in this context is a reference study that will make significant contributions not only to the regional but also to the national livestock sector.