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Understanding NDF Digestibility

Understanding NDF Digestibility. Portage County Forage Council Annual Meeting February 7, 2002. Craig Saxe UW-Extension, Juneau Co. 211 Hickory Street Mauston WI 53948 (608) 847-9329 E-mail: craig.saxe@ces.uwex.edu. How Good is My Hay, Haylage, or Corn Silage?. Forage Quality Terms:.

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Understanding NDF Digestibility

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  1. Understanding NDF Digestibility Portage County Forage Council Annual Meeting February 7, 2002 Craig Saxe UW-Extension, Juneau Co. 211 Hickory Street Mauston WI 53948 (608) 847-9329 E-mail: craig.saxe@ces.uwex.edu

  2. How Good is MyHay, Haylage, or Corn Silage?

  3. Forage Quality Terms: • total fiber, effective fiber • quick method of estimating digestibility of the fiber • calculated from ADF & NDF • - total energy content calculated using ADF • NDF • ADF • RFV • TDN

  4. TDN vs ADF TDNm (Van Soest) TDNm (In Vitro) 80 75 70 TDN (88.9-.79 ADF) 65 60 TDNm, % 55 50 45 40 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 ADF, %

  5. Measuring Forage Quality • NRC Summative Energy Model TDN=ECP + EFA + ENDF + ENFC –7 • NDF digestibility can now be measured on a quick and routine basis

  6. A New Test, So What? • More accurately balanced ration • More predictable animal response • Better decision-making tool when buying or selling a forage

  7. Ranges of NDF Digestibility for Common Forages Legume Silage/Hay Grass Silage/Hay Corn Silage Poor Fair Average Good Excellent 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 NDF Digestibility, % of NDF * based on a 48 h in vitro true dry matter digestibility assay.

  8. 7.5 Which would you prefer?

  9. Implications: • ADF is eliminated • Grasses are not unfairly penalized • Variance of forage quality is increased • Mature forages = very low energy contents • Better linkage between forage quality and cow response

  10. Closing Thoughts: • Commercially Available (Marshfield + Others) • Different Labs = Different Reference Ranges • Total NDF content is still a dominant factor

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