In situ ruminal digestion kinetics of different forages in buffalo calves

Dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestabilities and rate and extent of legumes, viz. berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum), lucerne(Medic ago sativa), cowpea(Vigna sinensis) and non-legumes such as maize(Zea mays) , miller (Panicum miliaceum), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) in ruminally fistul ated male buffalo calves were determined. Nylon bags measuring 13 cm x 21 c m, with an average pore size of 50 mm, were used. Sample (10 g) was weighed into each bag and exposed to the ruminal fermentation for 0, 1, 2, 6, 10, 16, 24, 36, 48 and 96 hr. DM and NDF degradability was measured at 48 hr. E xtent of DM and NDF disappearance was determined at each time point. Rates of disappearance of DM and NDF were determined by regressing the natural lo garithm of the percentage of original DM and NDF remaining in the bags betw een 1 and 96 hr. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) of the legume forages when incubated in the rumen of male buffalo calves was greater (P < 0.05) than t hat of grasses. Extent of digestion followed similar pattern as DMD. Rate o f DMD was higher in legumes than grasses. The NDF degradability (NDFD) of l egumes and grasses did not differ. The legumes had higher (P < 0.05) rates and lower extents of NDF digestion compared to grasses.