Effects of Maturity Stage on Chemical Composition and in situ Ruminal Degradation Kinetics of Meadow Hay in Awassi Sheep

摘要

Chemical composition and in situ degradation characteristics of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) for meadow hay cut at early and late bloom stages in Eastern Turkey were investigated in this study. The CP content of meadow hay decreased from 7.6-5.9% and DM (from 89.6-0.8%), NDF (from 54.8-7.5%), ADF (from 37.1-38.4), ADL (from 3.3-3.8) increased with advancing maturity. The rates of DM, CP, NDF and ADF disappearances in rumen of meadow hay cut at early bloom stage (EBS) were significantly higher than those of meadow hay harvested at late bloom stage (LBS). Significant maturity effects were observed for effective degradabilities of DM, CP, NDF and ADF due to increase of cell wall constituents. Rates of DM, CP, NDF and ADF degradation for meadow hay at EBS of the maturity were significantly faster than those for meadow hay cut at LBS.