| Abstract: | Seven lines of buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) were utilized at two harvests in an in vivo digestibility study by feeding to sheep. Each forage was fed at its voluntary intake level. Forage and fecal samples were analyzed for cellular contents and cell wall constituents with neutral and acid detergent solution. Digestibility of fry matter, organic matter, cell contents and cell wall constituents were determined. Correlations of digestibility of cell wall with various cell wall components or component rations were calculated for the purpose of establishing relationships to predict forage digestibility. Leaf, stem and whole plant samples of fifteen buffelgrass lines were utilized at two harvests in an in vitro digestion study. Estimated true dry matter and cell wall digestibilities were computed. Correlations of in vitro digestibilities with heads per clone, density (leafiness), color and spread were made. Significant differences among lines for dry matter digestibility were observed in the in vivo study. The range was from 60.0 to 67.1 percent. Correlations of digestibility with various cell wall components or component ratios were not sufficiently high to be useful for prediction purposes. Estimates of variability in digestibility associated with variations in cell wall content and cell wall digestibility were obtained through the use of simple regression and correlation analyses. About 66 percent of the variability in organic matter digestibility was associated with cell wall content while 90 percent was associated with cell wall digestibility.. |
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