A REVIEW OF FIFTEEN YEARS ANNUAL STATISTIC OF FORAGES SAMPLE RECEIVED AT ANIMAL FEED LABORATORY, IVM

NORLINDAWATI, A. P.1*, SHARIFF, S.2, NOORMAH MIW, A.2, SABARIAH, B.1, OMAR, R.1, SAMIJAH, A.1, AND SUFI, J.1

NORLINDAWATI, A. P.1*, SHARIFF, S.2, NOORMAH MIW, A.2, SABARIAH, B.1, OMAR, R.1, SAMIJAH, A.1, AND SUFI, J.1

The Animal Feed Laboratory, Institut Veterinar Malaysia (IVM) of the Department Of Veterinary Services is responsible for feeding stuffs analysis in the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia. During the last 15 years, forage analysis has become a routine activity of the laboratory because of increased awareness and technology application in the ruminant industries. IVM laboratory refers forages as plants or plant parts other than grains fed to or grazed by domestic animals. Forage may be fresh, dry or ensiled (e.g. pasture, green chop, hay and silage) and forage quality refers to the ability of forage to support desired levels of animal performance (e.g. daily gain or milk production). IVM laboratory have evaluate forage by using proximate analysis (dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash and crude fibre) and from the analysis, the proximate system estimate nitrogen free extract and total digestible energy.