| title: | Investigation of the nutritive value of leguminous grass developed in Estonia and its silage in feeding dairy cattle. |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF4985 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
4.4. Animal Husbandry (incl. Pisciculture) |
| status: | completed |
| institution: | Institute of Animal Husbandry at EAU |
| head of project: | Helgi Kaldmäe |
| duration: | 01.01.2002 - 31.12.2005 |
| description: | The objective of the project is to assess the nutritive value, digestibility and nutrient utilization of leguminous grass developed in Estonia and its silages. Suggestions for optimum preparation time of legume silage and its use in feed rations for high-producing cows will be made. The effect of species, cultivars and growth stage of leguminous grass on chemical composition, digesdibility and utilization of its silage will be found out. Experimental results on ruminal physiology provide the possibility to assess the kinetics and amount of rumen protein and carbohydrates degradability and to calculate metabolic nutrients more precisely, which guarantees more effective use of feed in cattle. Data on fibre fraction composition, digestibility and energy assimilation of feed make it possible to economically balance the feed ration, regarding the optimum energy : protein ratio, to guarantee high production and good health of cows. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Helgi Kaldmäe | Institute of Animal Science of the EAU | Head of Department, sen. reseacher | |
| 2. | Raul Kirsel | Inst. of Animal Science | researcher | |
| 3. | Meeli Vadi | Inst. of Animal Science | sen.researcher | |