Determination of digestibility of different forages in dairy cows using indigestible NDF as marker

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Abstract
Four 4×4 Latin square experiments were conducted with four cannulated dairy cows. Eight forages were fed ad libitum or supplemented with concentrate. Digestibility and flow of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were evaluated using chromic oxide as a marker. Additionally, duodenal and ileal flows were determined based on faecal flow of in situ estimated indigestible NDF (iNDF) as marker, where faecal flow of iNDF was determined using chromic oxide. No significant difference was found between intake of iNDF and faecal flow of iNDF calculated using chromic oxide as a marker, whereas ileal flow of iNDF accounted for 0.85±0.02 and duodenal flow of iNDF for 0.89±0.02 of faecal flow of iNDF, respectively. Using chromic oxide as a marker underestimates intestinal flows of fibre. Average iNDF:NDF ratios were 0.22, 0.39, 0.54, 0.40 and 0.54 in feed, rumen content, duodenal chyme, ileal chyme and faeces, respectively, indicating severe problems in obtaining representative ileal samples.

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