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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2021
Baker et al. (1994) and Park et al. (1996) have demonstrated the potential of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for the prediction of organic matter digestibility (OMD) of grass silages. Equally, Steen et al. (1995) and Park et al. (1996) have shown a similar potential in the use of NIRS to predict intake potential. However these workers have all used NIRS with dried silage samples, a practice which increases analytical costs and results in differential losses of volatile components. The present study was designed to explore the potential of NIRS with undried silage for the prediction of OMD and intake potential.
One hundred and thirty six grass silages, produced commercially on farms across Northern Ireland, were selected and their ad libitum intake and OMD determined through cattle and sheep respectively (Steen et al., 1995).