Estimating Intake and Digestibility of Native Flint Hills Hay

Abstract

In vivo and in vitro studies were conducted on native hay from the Flint Hills harvested at three stages of maturity from an area annually burned in late spring. Intake and digestibility declined with stage of maturity. In vivo organic matter intake and digestibility was satisfactorily estimated using fecal nitrogen and fecal organic matter output data as independent variables. A somewhat less reliable estimate of digestibility was provided by in vitro fermentation.