Use of faecel fluid for dry matter digestibility of ruminant feeds

Abstract

To compare the suitability of buffered faecal suspensions of sheep (SFT), cattle (CFT) and horse (HFT) as an inoculum in in vitro digestibility technique ten feeds viz. commercial concentrate feed (CCF) with low CP: wheat straw (WS) (30:70; FI), CCF with high CP: WS (70:30; F2), CCF with low CP: alfalfa hay (AH) (70:30; F3), CCF with low CP: WS (70:30; F4), CCF with low CP: alfalfa hay (AH) (30:70; F5), tomato pomace silage containing 10% WS (F6), corn grain (CG): AH (40:60; F7), CG.AH (85:15; F8), AH (F9) and WS (F10) were used. Results from this study indicated that HFT had the highest potential to be used for predicting in vivo DM digestibility. However, more research is required to improve HFT. © GSP, India.