The value of pepsin dry matter solubility for estimating the voluntary intake and digestibility of six Panicum varieties

Abstract

The dry matter solubility in acid pepsin (P) was determined on 57 cuts of six Panicum varieties on which the voluntary intake (I), dry matter digestibility (D), and voluntary intake of digestible dry matter (ID) had been determined. I, D, and ID were each significantly (P<0.01) correlated with P (r = 0.67, 0.81, and 0.78). The residual standard deviation for I and ID was large due to the existence of different relations both within and between species of Panicum. The cause and the statistical implications of these biases are discussed and it was concluded that for practical purposes the method is of limited value.