Estimation of Fiber Fragility and Digestibility of Corn Silages and Cool Season Pastures

Francine B. Facco, Richander G. Heller, Vitória Santos, Julio Viégas, Caio S. Takiya, Jefferson R. Gandra and Tiago A. Del Valle ()
Additional contact information
Francine B. Facco: Department of Animal Science, Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97.105-900, Brazil
Richander G. Heller: Department of Animal Science, Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97.105-900, Brazil
Vitória Santos: Department of Animal Science, Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97.105-900, Brazil
Julio Viégas: Department of Animal Science, Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97.105-900, Brazil
Caio S. Takiya: Academic Department of Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Technology—Paraná, Via do Conhecimento, km 1, Pato Branco 85.503-390, Brazil
Jefferson R. Gandra: Faculdade de Agronomia, Instituto de Estudo em Desenvolvimento Agrário e Regional, Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Para, Marabá 68.507-590, Brazil
Tiago A. Del Valle: Department of Animal Science, Rural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Roraima Avenue 1000, Santa Maria 97.105-900, Brazil

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-8

Abstract: Fiber fragility is defined as the particle size reduction rate during chewing and can help to explain the effects on feed intake and animal performance of different fiber sources. This study aimed to estimate the fiber fragility of corn silage and cool-season pasture based on their chemical composition. Between June and December 2022, 25 samples of corn silage and 25 samples of cool-season pasture were collected from dairy farms in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The samples were analyzed for particle size distribution, chemical composition, and fiber fragility. Contents of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and fiber fragility were greater in corn silages compared to cool-season pasture. However, the ADF–NDF ratio was similar in forages. Crude protein (CP) content and the in situ degradation of DM and NDF were greater in cool-season pasture than corn silage. Dry matter and NDF in situ degradation were negatively correlated with increased contents of ADF, NDF, and ADL and the ADF–NDF ratio in forages. Fiber fragility was negatively correlated with DM degradation and positively correlated with contents of ADF, NDF, ADL, and DM. Fiber fragility decreased as CP content increased. Thus, greater fiber fragility may jeopardize nutrient degradation, and levels of fiber fragility are directly associated with fiber content.

Keywords: neutral detergent fiber; particle size; ruminant; ryegrass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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