PS13-15. Evaluation of ANKOM F57 and F58 Filter Bags for In-Vitro Digestibility Across Different Incubation Timepoints.

Abstract The use of filter bags is a critical component of in-vitro forage digestibility procedures, with two filter bag types (F57 and F58) currently available for use. To date, most published evaluations using these filter bags in an ANKOM Daisy Incubator focus on cool-season forages, with limited research addressing warm-season forages and grass-legume mixtures typical of the southern United States. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare in-vitro digestibility of three forage sources (alfalfa, bermudagrass, and an alfalfa-bermudagrass mixture) at three different digestibility timepoints (0, 24, and 48 hours) using two different filter bags (F57 and F58). Data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 in a randomized complete block design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement. Results indicated differences between filter bag type among forage types across incubation timepoints (p < 0.01). However, digestibility values for treatments containing bermudagrass did not differ between F57 and F58 filter bags at the 48-hour timepoint (p > 0.05). These preliminary findings suggest that filter bag type may not influence in-vitro digestibility estimates for bermudagrass-containing samples under the conditions evaluated. Additional research is warranted utilizing a broader range of warm-season forages and mixtures.