Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-ckgrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-07T03:03:40.813Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The prediction of intake potential and organic matter digestibility of grass silages by near infrared spectroscopy analysis of undried samples

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

R.S. Park
Affiliation:
Agricultural and Environmental Science Division, DANI, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX
F.J. Gordon
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR
K. Cooper
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR
R.W.J. Steen
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland, Large Park, Hillsborough, Co. Down BT26 6DR
Get access

Extract

Baker et al. (1994) and Park et al. (1996) have demonstrated the potential of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for the prediction of organic matter digestibility (OMD) of grass silages. Equally, Steen et al. (1995) and Park et al. (1996) have shown a similar potential in the use of NIRS to predict intake potential. However these workers have all used NIRS with dried silage samples, a practice which increases analytical costs and results in differential losses of volatile components. The present study was designed to explore the potential of NIRS with undried silage for the prediction of OMD and intake potential.

One hundred and thirty six grass silages, produced commercially on farms across Northern Ireland, were selected and their ad libitum intake and OMD determined through cattle and sheep respectively (Steen et al., 1995).

Type
Ruminant Nutrition and Metabolism In Vitro
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1996

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

Baker, C.W., Givens, D.I. and Deaville, E.R. 1994. Prediction of organic matter digestibility in vivo of grass silage by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy: effect of calibration method, residual moisture and particle size. Animal Feed Science and Technology 50: 1726.10.1016/0377-8401(94)90006-XCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Park, R.S., Gordon, F.J. and Steen, R.W.J. 1996. The use of near infrared spectroscopy on dried samples to predict biological parameters of grass silage. Paper No. 21, BSAS Spring Conference, 1996.Google Scholar
Steen, R.W.J., Gordon, F.J., Mayne, C.S., Agnew, R.E., Kilpatrick, D.J., Unsworth, E.F., Barnes, R.J., Porter, M.G. and Pippard, C.J. 1995. Prediction of silage intake by cattle. Animal Production 60: 514.Google Scholar