Feed and faeces samples were incinerated at 550
8C for 5 h in a muffle oven to determine ash content.
Silage, hay and concentrate were analysed for CP by a
fully automated Kjeldahl procedure (Technicon,
Solna, Sweden). Silage, hay, concentrates and faecal
samples were analysed for NDF (alpha amylase used
for silage, hay and concentrates; alpha amylase and
sodium sulphite used for faecal samples) which is
expressed without residual ash according to Weizhong
and Ude´n (1998). Metabolizable energy (ME) in
silage and hay was calculated from in vitro digestibility
according to Lindgren (1979). All dried samples
were analysed for total P using plasma emission