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The effects of method of processing on the intake and digestibility by lambs of dried perennial rye-grass and tall fescue

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. M. Tetlow  and
R. J. Wilkins
R. M. Tetlow
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire, SL6 5LR
R. J. Wilkins
Affiliation:
The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Berkshire, SL6 5LR
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Summary

Cobs and pellets which differed in particle size (modulus of fineness, MF) were prepared from dried perennial ryegrass and tall fescue and given to sheep. The MF values of the feeds were 2·45,1·09,0·81 and 0·74 for perennial ryegrass and 2·28,0·84,0·67 and 0·57 for tall fescue. Organic matter digestibility was similar for the two grass species when measured in vivo, but when measured in vitro values for perennial ryegrass were about 3 units higher than those for tall fescue. Voluntary intake and live-weight gain were higher for sheep given tall fescue, the difference in live-weight gain being just significant at P < 0·05. The response to change in particle size was similar for the two grass species. Intake was lowest and digestibility highest for the feeds with the highest MF, but differences between the three finely-ground forms of each species were not significant. There was a tendency for the intake of digestible organic matter to be lower for the feeds with lowest MF than for those with intermediate values for MF. The rate of passage of undigested particles was slower for cobs with the highest MF than for the other feeds, which did not differ significantly one from another.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , October 1974 , pp. 193 - 200
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1974

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References

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