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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2021
Ensilage of grass exposes the nitrogenous fractions to extensive degradation resulting in an increase in the rate and extent of release of nitrogen (N) in the rumen. Conversely a large proportion of the fermentable organic matter content of grass silage is cell wall material which undergoes a much slower rate of degradation in the rumen. This results in an asynchrony between N and energy release. Formulation of diets that are synchronous for their hourly N and energy release in the rumen has been shown to increase the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis (Sinclair et al., 1995) and increase the growth rate of lambs (Witt et al., 1997). The objectives of the current experiment were to investigate the effects of altering the synchrony of N and energy release in the rumen in diets based on grass silage on intake and performance of lactating ewes.