Prediction of degradability and digestibility parameters of protein supplements used in sheep nutrition from nutrient composition.

The objective of this study was the formation of prediction equations of the degradability and digestibility parameters of protein supplements used in sheep nutrition by the use of their chemical composition. Four trials were conducted (one in situ degradability trial, using 3 × 9 incomplete Latin square experimental design and three in vivo digestibility trials using 3 × 3, 4 × 4, 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design, respectively). The nine tested feeds were soybean meal (SBM), rapeseed meal (RSM), sunflower meal (SFM), lupin seeds (LS), faba bean seeds (FBS), Vetch seeds (VS), pea seeds (PS), chickpea seeds (CS) and flax seeds (FS).

Temporal variations of herbage production and nutritive value of three grasslands at different elevation zones regarding grazing needs and welfare of ruminants.

Interannual and monthly variations of herbage production and nutritive value regarding grazing ruminants' needs and welfare were evaluated in three grasslands (semi-mountainous, mountainous and sub-alpine) located at different altitudes (480-900, 901-1500 and 1501-2334 m, respectively) in northern Greece during 2015-2016. Herbage biomass was collected from 30 experimental cages (10 per grassland), weighed, dried at 65  C, milled and analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). The sub-alpine grassland was the most productive (1031 and 1231 kg DM ha ) with the highest mean annual herbage CP content (93 and 87 g kg dry matter; DM) for 2015 and 2016, respectively.