Combining Orchardgrass and Alfalfa: Effects of Forage Ratios on In Vitro Rumen Degradation and Fermentation Characteristics of Silage Compared with Hay
This study aimed to investigate the effects of different forage ratios of orchardgrass (<i>Dactylis glomerata</i>) and alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i>) on in vitro rumen degradation and fermentation characteristics. Orchardgrass and alfalfa were harvested separately and prepa...
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MDPI AG
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/1/59 |
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| author | Zhulin Xue Nan Liu Yanlu Wang Hongjian Yang Yuqi Wei Philipe Moriel Elizabeth Palmer Yingjun Zhang |
| author_facet | Zhulin Xue Nan Liu Yanlu Wang Hongjian Yang Yuqi Wei Philipe Moriel Elizabeth Palmer Yingjun Zhang |
| author_sort | Zhulin Xue |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to investigate the effects of different forage ratios of orchardgrass (<i>Dactylis glomerata</i>) and alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i>) on in vitro rumen degradation and fermentation characteristics. Orchardgrass and alfalfa were harvested separately and prepared as hay and silage mixtures at ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 (w/w on a dry matter basis) and anaerobically incubated for 48 h with rumen fluid obtained from lactating dairy cows. Fermented residues and cultured fluids were used to determine nutrient degradability, fermentation parameters, and associative effect indices. Increasing the proportion of alfalfa in hay and silage mixtures quadratically increased in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD, up +5.14%) and marginally decreased in vitro neutral detergent fiber disappearance (NDFD, down −1.79%). Meanwhile, increasing the proportion of alfalfa accelerated the rumen fermentation process (e.g., gas production) and remarkably enhanced the growth of rumen microbes as indicated by microbial protein production (MCP, 13.4% increase). Increments of rumen degradability and methane production were more pronounced in silage mixtures than hay mixtures. In combination, a forage ratio of 50:50 for orchardgrass and alfalfa is recommended for both hay and silage in order to improve the feed use potential in ruminants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:01:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b671d288ca9f41019eafe30b43e6eeab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T17:01:04Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b671d288ca9f41019eafe30b43e6eeab2022-12-22T00:57:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152019-12-011015910.3390/ani10010059ani10010059Combining Orchardgrass and Alfalfa: Effects of Forage Ratios on In Vitro Rumen Degradation and Fermentation Characteristics of Silage Compared with HayZhulin Xue0Nan Liu1Yanlu Wang2Hongjian Yang3Yuqi Wei4Philipe Moriel5Elizabeth Palmer6Yingjun Zhang7Key Laboratory of Grasslands Management and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaKey Laboratory of Grasslands Management and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaKey Laboratory of Grasslands Management and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaIFAS-Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USAIFAS-Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USAKey Laboratory of Grasslands Management and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaThis study aimed to investigate the effects of different forage ratios of orchardgrass (<i>Dactylis glomerata</i>) and alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i>) on in vitro rumen degradation and fermentation characteristics. Orchardgrass and alfalfa were harvested separately and prepared as hay and silage mixtures at ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 (w/w on a dry matter basis) and anaerobically incubated for 48 h with rumen fluid obtained from lactating dairy cows. Fermented residues and cultured fluids were used to determine nutrient degradability, fermentation parameters, and associative effect indices. Increasing the proportion of alfalfa in hay and silage mixtures quadratically increased in vitro organic matter disappearance (IVOMD, up +5.14%) and marginally decreased in vitro neutral detergent fiber disappearance (NDFD, down −1.79%). Meanwhile, increasing the proportion of alfalfa accelerated the rumen fermentation process (e.g., gas production) and remarkably enhanced the growth of rumen microbes as indicated by microbial protein production (MCP, 13.4% increase). Increments of rumen degradability and methane production were more pronounced in silage mixtures than hay mixtures. In combination, a forage ratio of 50:50 for orchardgrass and alfalfa is recommended for both hay and silage in order to improve the feed use potential in ruminants.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/1/59forage qualitygas productionmethaneruminant |
| spellingShingle | Zhulin Xue Nan Liu Yanlu Wang Hongjian Yang Yuqi Wei Philipe Moriel Elizabeth Palmer Yingjun Zhang Combining Orchardgrass and Alfalfa: Effects of Forage Ratios on In Vitro Rumen Degradation and Fermentation Characteristics of Silage Compared with Hay Animals forage quality gas production methane ruminant |
| title | Combining Orchardgrass and Alfalfa: Effects of Forage Ratios on In Vitro Rumen Degradation and Fermentation Characteristics of Silage Compared with Hay |
| title_full | Combining Orchardgrass and Alfalfa: Effects of Forage Ratios on In Vitro Rumen Degradation and Fermentation Characteristics of Silage Compared with Hay |
| title_fullStr | Combining Orchardgrass and Alfalfa: Effects of Forage Ratios on In Vitro Rumen Degradation and Fermentation Characteristics of Silage Compared with Hay |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combining Orchardgrass and Alfalfa: Effects of Forage Ratios on In Vitro Rumen Degradation and Fermentation Characteristics of Silage Compared with Hay |
| title_short | Combining Orchardgrass and Alfalfa: Effects of Forage Ratios on In Vitro Rumen Degradation and Fermentation Characteristics of Silage Compared with Hay |
| title_sort | combining orchardgrass and alfalfa effects of forage ratios on in vitro rumen degradation and fermentation characteristics of silage compared with hay |
| topic | forage quality gas production methane ruminant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/1/59 |
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