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Composition, Intake, Digestibility, and Prediction of Digestibility of Coastal Bermudagrass Hays

Department of Dairy Science, Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama

ABSTRACT

The composition, digestibility, and intake of 15 Coastal Bermudagrass hays were studied. Ranges in composition of the hays were large, CP (6.1 to 14.7%), CF (28.5 to 36.9%), lignin (9.3 to 11.4%), ash (3.7 to 6.2%), Ca (0.29 to 0.97%), P (0.15 to 0.41%), and Mg (0.08 to 0.22%).

The DP content of the hays ranged from 2.5 to 9.4% and could be estimated with a high degree of accuracy from CP by the prediction equation % EDP = (0.821) (% CP) — 2.57. Mean TDN content of the hays was 54.9%, with a range of 52.3 to 62.2%. The equation used in the Pennsylvania system of forage evaluation overestimated TDN content of the hays an average of 2.6%. Another equation, % ETDN = [3079 + (% EDP x 14) – (% CF x 36.84) ÷ 3563] x 100, resulted in agreement between TDN and ETDN contents of the hays.

The TDN contents of the hays were correlated negatively with crude fiber, cellulose, and lignin, and were correlated positively with total and invert sugars, and cold- and hot-water extractables of the hays (P < 0.05). Mean daily intakes of the hays per 100 lb of body weight by cows were correlated positively with crude protein and ash, and were correlated negatively with lignin contents of the forages (P < 0.05).