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In Vitro and In Vivo Digestibility and Ad Libitum Intake of Mechanical Mixtures of Forages¹

We determined in vitro digestible dry matter for two legumes (alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil) and four grasses (smooth bromegrass, timothy, Reed canarygrass, and orchardgrass). Early- and late-cut forage from each species was analyzed by a modified Tilley and Terry two-stage digestion procedure. One-third/two-thirds mixtures were studied in all combinations within species and between each grass and legume. Certain mixtures of grasses and birdsfoot trefoil gave small, but consistent increases in dry-matter digestibility over that calculated from the weighted mean of the mixture components. Dry-matter digestibility and ad libitum intake of timothy and birdsfoot trefoil, separately and in mixtures, were determined in a feeding trial with sheep and steers. All forages in the in vivo studies had similar digestibilities. Average intake values of 117, 124, and 136% (timothy alone = 100) were obtained when forage fed was 33, 67, or 100% birdsfoot trefoil.

Key Words: in vitro digestibility • perennial grasses • alfalfa • birdsfoot trefoil

² Research Agronomist, Crops Research Division, ARS, USDA, Department of Agronomy; and Professor of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Science; respectively, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. Senior author now at Coastal Plain Exp. Sta., Tifton, Ga. 31794.

Received for publication March 5, 1968.