The development of thermogravinetric tools for assessing herbage quality of perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne L.)

• Main Author: Mellon, R. M.
• Published: Queen's University Belfast 2013
• Subjects: 584.9
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.579753

The aim of this study was to evaluate herbage quality of perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne using thermogravimetry. Both Dynamic and isothermal thermal analyses were investigated over a range of heating rates to first establish any association between thermal profiles and dry matter digestibility values. The results suggested thermal methods could be used to predict dry matter digestibility (in vitro DMD) and identified the best experimental protocols for further study. Further investigations were carried out to predict DMD values using discrete and continuous TG weight loss data streams by multivariate analysis. This approach enabled the successful modelling and prediction of DMD. Further studies were undertaken to investigate the application of the technique to predict digestible organic matter in the dry matter (in vivo DOMD) and Metabolisable energy values (ME). The results were again positive and indicated potential for the application of thermal methods and for further investigation. Thermal combustion and pyrolysis techniques were employed to study the key fibre fractions associated with neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and lignin to establish their relationship with thermal profiles. The results indicated that there was potential to further develop the method to predict the fibre fractions.