Acid insoluble ash, as natural indicator to determine digetibility coefficients of tropical grass hay fed to cattle

Abstract

Six crossbred young bulls were used in a digestibility trial during 23 days being the last 7 days for feed and feces sample collections. Cynodon dactylon grass hay was the sole ration. Nutrient digestibility coefficients were calculated by total collection method and by HCl 2N and concentrated HCl, acid insoluble ash methods which were statistically different among them for dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, crude energy and nitrogen-free extract when calculated by SCHNEIDER & FLATT (1975) or LUCAS (1952) formulas. By use of total feces collection, digestibility coefficients were not statistically different. These results show the validity of acid insoluble ash methods to determine digestibility of nutrients for tropical grass hay.