A Comparison of Three Methods of Estimating Digestibility for Determining Intake of Grazing Cattle

Abstract

In vitro plus pepsin digest (IVP), lignin ratio (LR), and in vitro plus neutral detergent digest (IVND) were of about equal value in estimating digestibility of spring forage grazed by steers, provided the limitations of each were considered. However, when these methods of estimating digestibility were used to estimate intake, only the IVP and LR methods gave realistic results. The IVND results were lower than the expected physical capacity of the animals, and indicated further study of this method is needed.