The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) has a submodel that predicts rates of feedstuff degradation in the rumen, the passage of undegraded feed to the lower gut, and the amount of ME and protein that is available to the animal. In the CNCPS, structural carbohydrate (SC) and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) are estimated from sequential NDF analyses of the feed. Data from the literature are used to predict fractional rates of SC and NSC degradation. Crude protein is partitioned into five fractions. Fraction A is NPN, which is trichloroacetic (TCA) acid-soluble N. Unavailable or protein bound to cell wall (Fraction C) is derived from acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIP), and slowly degraded true protein (Fraction B3) is neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIP) minus Fraction C. Rapidly degraded true protein (Fraction B1) is TCA-precipitable protein from the buffer-soluble protein minus NPN. True protein with an intermediate degradation rate (Fraction B2) is the remaining N. Protein degradation rates are estimated by an in vitro procedure that uses Streptomyces griseus protease, and a curve-peeling technique is used to identify rates for each fraction. The amount of carbohydrate or N that is digested in the rumen is determined by the relative rates of degradation and passage. Ruminal passage rates are a function of DMI, particle size, bulk density, and the type of feed that is consumed (e.g., forage vs cereal grain).

A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets: II. Carbohydrate and protein availability.

Nitrogen Metabolism in the Rumen

A theoretically-based model for predicting total digestible nutrient values of forages and concentrates

Chemical factors involved in ruminal fiber digestion.

In situ and Other Methods to Estimate Ruminal Protein and Energy Digestibility: A Review

Rate and Extent of Neutral Detergent Fiber Degradation of Feedstuffs in Situ

Effects of Solids and Liquid Flows on Fermentation in Continuous Cultures. IV. pH and Dilution Rate

Four rumen fistulated wether and beef steers were used to evaluate differences in dry matter digestibility (DMD) between cattle and sheep. They were fed either perennial ryegrass or switchgrass hay at an ad libitum or restricted level for four experimental periods. Significant ruminant species X forage and ruminant species X level of intake (P less than .05) interactions were observed for digestible dry matter. The steers digested the switchgrass 7 percentage units greater than the wethers while ryegrass was digested equally. Digestibility differences between the steers and wethers were 6 percentage units at the ad libitum level of intake and 1 unit at the restricted level of intake. Crude protein digestibility tended to be greater (P less than .10) for sheep with a 7 unit difference for switchgrass and a 3 unit difference for ryegrass. The mean ruminal solids retention time of the digesta was approximately (P less than .01) 50% greater (26.0 vs 17.4 h) in cattle, with no difference in ruminal liquid dilution rate (LD) between animal species. Total ruminal volatile fatty acid concentration differed (P less than .01) with level of intake; however, no influence due to intake on the molar proportion of acetate (P greater than .10) or propionate (P greater than .10) was evident in spite of a difference (P less than .01) in LD. Rumen pH (P less than .05) and osmolality (P less than .01) were affected by both level of intake and forage, with the ryegrass and high level of intake decreasing pH and increasing osmolality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparative digestion, rumen fermentation and kinetics of forage diets by steers and wethers.

Effect of Low and High Fill Diets on Dry Matter Intake, Milk Production, and Reproductive Performance During Early Lactation

Buffer Requirements for Maintenance of pH during Fermentation of Individual Feeds in Continuous Cultures

G.A. Varga

Papers

Rate and Extent of Neutral Detergent Fiber Degradation of Feedstuffs in Situ

Effects of Solids and Liquid Flows on Fermentation in Continuous Cultures. IV. pH and Dilution Rate

Comparative digestion, rumen fermentation and kinetics of forage diets by steers and wethers.

Effect of Low and High Fill Diets on Dry Matter Intake, Milk Production, and Reproductive Performance During Early Lactation

Buffer Requirements for Maintenance of pH during Fermentation of Individual Feeds in Continuous Cultures