Evaluation of the content of neutral detergent fiber and acid through different procedures applied to forage plants

This study aimed to evaluate the content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid (FDA) of Marandu, Humidicula; Massai; Mombaça grass obtained by three different procedures with the conventional method (CON), the Filter Bag Technique Ankom® (FBT) and adapted by EMBRAPA (EMB). The forage plants were obtained in the Southwest region of Mato Grosso in the September; the samples were collected from pastures planted the three years. There were three batteries (runs) for each procedure (method) for the determination of NDF and ADF of different forages. There were realised three batteries (runs) for each procedure (method) for the determination of NDF and ADF of different forages. We used a completely randomized design with three replications for each methodology. Statistical analysis of the variables studied was performed by analysis of variance and the differences obtained were analyzed by Tukey test, considering 5% significance level. It was observed that the different procedures (CON, FBT and EMB) to determine the content NDF did not differ between them for different forages plants, with average values of 78.61% and 74.96% for the Marandu and Humidicula grass, respectively and 76.78% and 73.08% for Massai and Mombaça grass, respectively. The ADF content obtained by different procedures (CON, FBT and EMB) showed no difference between them, with average values of 50.95% and 44.86% for Marandu and Humidicula grass, respectively and 52.21% and 51.56% for Massai and Mombaça grass, respectively. Thus, it is concluded that the content of neutral detergent fiber and acid Marandu, Humidicula; Massai and Mombaça grass can be determined by the procedure adapted by EMBRAPA, since this was not different compared to conventional methodology and the Filter Bag Technique Ankom®, besides having a lower waste of reagents and consequently lower cost.