In sacco degradability of dry matter, crude protein and cell wall of various forages

Rumen degradability of DM, CP and NDF was evaluated with in sacco technique for rye grass, oat, barseem, luceme and subabul leaves. The degradability of each of the 5 foreges was studied separately with each forage hay being used in turn its the main component of the diet offered to 3 male fistulated buffalo calves. potential extent of digestion of DM, CP and CW of non-leguminous forages and subabul leaves revealed 89.6, 91.6, 83.6 and 75.7, 74.9 and 62.3% respectively. The composition of the forages did not affect lag period to any significant extent. The fractional digestion rate varied From 0.0405 to 0.0746 hr(-1) for DM, 0.0284 to 0.0685 hr(-1) for CW and 0.0306 to 0.0786 hr(-1) for CP. The average digestion rate of leguminous forages For DM, CW and CP were higher as compared to non-leguminous forages and thus these forages were degraded at similar rates. The differences in degradability and digestibility of subabul leaves compared to forages may he attributed to the differences in specific characteristics of the protein. The lower concentration of CW in berseem and luceme caused;I faster rate of digestion of potential digestible dry matter than that of oat and rye grass. Lignin appears to affect the extent but not the rate of digestion. Rumen fill was primarily controlled by the rate and effective degradability of the forage. The barseem, luceme and subabul contained more indigestible dry mailer pool than oat and rye grass. Based on the digestion kinetic studies, it may be concluded that among herbaceous leguminous and non-leguminous forages, luceme and rye grass were superior for ruminants in terms of intake and energy yield potential.