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Evaluating the Nutritive Quality of Forage on the Basis of Energy. A Review¹

Department of Dairy Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg

ABSTRACT

The requirement of the animal for energy exceeds all of its other nutrient needs combined. It is obvious, therefore, that in feeding practice the adequacy of the energy supply must receive primary consideration. It is equally obvious that a knowledge of the nutritive value of feeds as sources of energy is essential. When it is recognized that over 75% of the feed consumed by ruminants comes from forages, it becomes apparent that a simple yet accurate measure of the energy value of this group of feedstuffs is one of the greatest needs in the field of ruminant nutrition.

Data presented by a number of workers (8, 36, 57) clearly illustrate the discrepancies which may occur when various methods are employed to assess the energy value of forages. For example, Blaxter (8) compared some of the feed-evaluation systems, using artificially dried immature grass and mature rye grass hay. The superiority of the immature dried grass varied from 29% according to the total digestible nutrient (TDN) system, to 86% when the feeds were evaluated according to the Fodder Unit System. These data illustrate that the assessment of energy in forages is an important problem and one demanding increased research attention.

¹ Presented at the joint meeting of the American Grassland Council and the American Dairy Science Association at North Carolina State College, Raleigh, June, 1958.