The objectives of this study were to determine how feeding diets that differed in dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration and in vitro NDF digestibility affects dry matter (DM) intake, ruminal fermentation, and milk production in early lactation dairy cows. Twelve rumen-cannulated, multiparous Holstein cows averaging 38 +/- 15 d (+/-standard deviation) in milk, and producing 40 +/- ...

The evaluation of foodstuffs provides the animal nutritionists with necessary information to adjust the diet from a physiological and economic point of view, so that the animal performance be desirable. Nowadays, there are various methods for evaluating ruminant feed intake. One of the most important methods is in situ nylon bag technique. Prosopis farcta is one of plants which is used as forag...

intercropping is considered as a method for increasing yield per unit and stability. in order to evaluate the effects of phosphorous biofertilizer and chemical phosphorous on fodder quality of corn (zea mays l.) and grass pea (lathyrus sativa l.) intercropping, two field experiments were conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with four replications at two places simult...

Prediction of carbohydrate fractions using equations from the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) is a valuable tool to assess the nutritional value of forages. In this paper, these carbohydrate fractions were predicted using data from three sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars, fresh or as silage. The CNCPS equations for fractions B2 and C include measurement of ash and p...

Silicon in forage reduces dry matter digestibility and may reduce grazing preference. Two studies were conducted with the following objectives: (1) to evaluate a method of determining grazing preference, and (2) to characterize the distribution and solubility of silicon in 31 accessions of C-3 grasses and relate these traits to grazing preference and estimated forage digestibility. Forage sampl...

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is used as medicinal plant in many Asian countries and has been reported to have forage quality similar to alfalfa. Fenugreek is an annual crop and may have the potential to diversify forage production systems in the central High Plains. This study evaluated forage dry matter (DM) production and the nutritive value of three fenugreek cultivars as influen...

Six ruminally cannulated steers, five Holsteins and one Hereford (250 to 295 kg), were fed 84% forage sorghum silage plus 16% supplement or 50% forage sorghum silage plus concentrate and supplement diets containing either no addition (controls), 1% sodium bicarbonate (NaI-1CO 3 ) or 2% sodium bentonite in a 2 X 3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a 6 • 6 Latin-square experiment with 3-wk p...

The plant cell wall plays vital roles in various aspects of the plant life cycle. It provides a basic structure for cells and gives mechanical rigidity to the whole plant. Some complex cell wall components are involved in signal transduction during pathogenic infection and pest infestations. Moreover, the lignification level of cell walls strongly influences the digestibility of forage plants. ...

Objective: This study carried out to monitor the status of nutritional management and measuring difference between present and desired feeding system in dairy cattle of rural conditions of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Methods: 334 rural flocks consisting of 1442 dairy cows were selected from seven towns of this province. The experiment was lasted for in a year and using completely randomized desi...

We used chemical composition and in vitro digestibility data from temperate and tropical forages to develop relationships between indices of lignification and forage indigestible NDF. Neutral detergent fiber indigestibility increased nonlinearly as the lignin concentration of the NDF increased. Differences in estimated indigestible NDF using equations developed for a specific forage class (C3 a...