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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #62342
Title: CELLULASE, FORMIC ACID, AND INNOCULANT EFFECTS ON INTAKE, DIGESTIBILITY, AND DIGESTION KINETICS OF ORCHARDGRASS AND ALFALFA SILAGES

Author
item NADEAU, E - ISU
item Buxton, Dwayne
item RUSSELL, JAMES - ISU
item LINDGREN, E - SWEDISH UNIV AGRIC SCI
item LINGVALL, P - SWEDISH UNIV AGRIC SCI

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cellulase can decrease cell-wall concentration and subsequently increase the soluble and rapidly digestible portion of silage dry matter. This study determined the effects of cellulase alone or combined with bacterial inoculant or formic acid on intake and digestion of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silages. Intake and in vivo digestibilities were determined on lambs and in situ digestion kinetics were determined on cows. Cellulase and formic acid increased dry-matter intake by 13% compared with control silage when averaged across species. Because of extensive cell-wall degradation by cellulase during ensiling, cellulose intake and digestibility were lower for treated than for control silages. Additionally, extent of cellulose digestion was 37% lower in cellulase and formic acid treated silage than in the control.