Use in vitro gas production technique for assessment of nutritional quality of diets by range steers

This study evaluated the seasonal changes in the in vitro gas production of diets consumed for grazing steers. The gas produced by the soluble fraction "a" and insoluble but slowly fermenting fraction "b", were highest in summer and fall (p<0.01). The constant gas production rate "c" was affected by season of the year (p<0.01). The organic matter digestibility (OMD) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) was affected by season of the year (p<0.05). The in vitro gas production is a good indicator of the nutritive quality diet consumed by grazing cattle.