The digestibility of a feed containing hull material prepared mechanically from Throws MS field bean (Viciafaba L) was determined in a 12-day balance trial with sheep. The pelleted feed contained 62 % hulls and 38 % of a concentrate mixture, and was given at a maintenance level. The mean digestibility coefficients of the feed were for dry matter, 66·3; organic matter, 68·2; nitrogen, 65·7; crude fibre, 59·4; and energy, 65·5%.

The coefficients for the bean hulls themselves, estimated by assuming coefficients for the concentrates, were dry matter, 59·6; organic matter, 61·0; nitrogen, 58·2; crude fibre, 60·3; and energy, 59·9%. By assuming a value of 2·515 Mcal/kg for the metabolizable energy of the concentrates, the metabolizable energy of the bean hulls was calculated to be between 2·00 and 2·10 Mcal/kg.

Digestibility coefficients for the bean hulls determined in vitro were found to agree with those determined in vivo.

A comparative study was made of the utilization of hay (Lasiurus sindicus) by Marwari and Russian Merino × Marwari male sheep. Intakes of dry matter and crude protein and digestibility of dry matter were similar for both groups but the digestibility of crude protein was higher for the purebred Marwari sheep. Within the purebred animals, digestibility of crude protein was higher in those that gave a consistently low fleece yield.

1. Forty British Friesian and 33 Ayrshire male calves were reared on one of three treatments differing in frequency and method of feedingwhole milk and milk substitute.

2. The calves were introduced to their treatments on arrival. The Ayrshire calves were offered whole milk for 24 days as two feeds of up to 1·42 litres warm milk each (2W), or one feed of up to 2·84 litres warm milk (1W) daily, or cold milk ad libitum (AC). Thereafter they received milk substitute on one of the following regimes which were applied to the Friesian calves from arrival. The regimes were 454 g milk-substitute powder reconstituted at the rate of 158 g per litre warm water (approximately blood temperature) given in two feeds of 227 g per day (2W) or one feed of 454 g per day (1W), and milk-substitute powder reconstituted with cold water at the rate of 100 g per litre offered ad libitum (AC).

3. Calves on treatment AC had higher live-weight gains and consumed more whole milk, milk substitute and less concentrates than those on other treatments. These differences were significant. There were differences in drinking behaviour on treatment AC between Friesian and Ayrshire calves which may have been due to differences in age at the start of the experiment. Solid food intake was affected by both level and pattern of liquid milk consumption. The practical and financial implications of treatment AC are discussed.