Influence of moisture content of forage diets on intake and digestion by sheep.

摘要: To determine the effect of forage moisture content on intake and digestion kinetics in sheep, a metabolism trial was conducted using 16 mature wethers (44 kg BW) completely randomized design. Forage harvested at two maturities early spring from naturalized pasture composed temperate grass legume species. Herbage either 8 (early) or cm (late) height fed after freezing (high-moisture) as dried hay. Intakes DM (grams/[kilogram BW.75.day]), NDF, ADF, CP (grams/day) (P < .05) coefficients for DM, ADF digestibilities were greater .01) hay than high-moisture forage. Mean particulate retention times (MRT) shorter (23.3 h) (30.7 diets. Early-harvested forages had MRT values (23.9 late-cut (30.1 h). Fractional passage rates 1-mm nylon particles specific gravity (SG) .90, 1.14, 1.32 through alimentary tract influenced by .10) faster frozen increased with an increase SG. Nitrogen In situ rates, determined four ruminally fistulated wethers, showed no differences = .67) among forages. The results this study indicate that between hays are most likely due to digesta rates.