Incubation times (h) SED T   F P T F 0 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 8 24 Leaf 0.0a 14.1b 23.1c 28.8cd 32.8de 36.2e 44.0f 69.2g 0.79 1.59 <0.001 <0.001 Stem 0.0a 1.8a 5.3b 9.1c 12.2cd 15.2d 29.0e 58.9f         T, effect of incubation time.F, effect of plant fragment. Duncan’s tests were performed between row means but not between column means; F x T interaction effects were not significant. Values within the same row with different superscripts were significantly different (P< 0.05). NS: not significant

Table 2: In vitro dry matter degradation (IVDMD) of leaf and stem fragments of perennial ryegrass incubated for up to 24 h with mixed rumen bacteria. Data is expressed as g DM lost from 100 g initial DM.