Prediction of ADF and NDICP in Tropical Forages by Regression Equations

Eight cultivated grasses and eight leguminous forages were analyzed in the laboratory for Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) and Neutral Detergent Insoluble Crude Protein (NDICP). The feedstuffs were further evaluated for ADF and NDICP based on regression equations. The average ADF (% DM) and NDICP (% CP) values of grasses by laboratory analysis (39.5 ± 0.97 and 37.5 ± 2.7) are highly correlated with the values obtained by regression equations (39.1 ± 0.88, r² =0.62 and 38.6 ±3.7, r² =0.77), respectively. The average ADF (% DM) and NDICP (% CP) values of leguminous forages by laboratory analysis (37.5 ±0.86 and 19.7 ± 1.17) are correlated with the values obtained by regression equations (37.7 ± 0.85, r²=0.84 and 17.8 ± 1.50, r² =0.77), respectively. Based on the results, it is evident that the regression equations may be used as a rapid method for predicting ADF and NDICP contents of tropical forages, thereby saving time and cost of routine analysis without sacrificing accuracy.