VOLUNTARY INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF SLOUGH HAY AND DEHYDRATED ALFALFA PELLETS BY RAMS AND STEERS

Abstract

Dehydrated alfalfa pellets (dehy) and slough hay (Carex and Calamagrostis spp.) were fed to growing steers and rams. Both steers and rams consumed dehy (5.80 kg/day and 1.75 kg/day, respectively) at a significantly higher rate (P < 0.05) than the slough hay (4.22 kg/day and 0.81 kg/day, respectively). Forage energy digestibility did not differ for steers (dehy 51.1% and slough hay 49.9%) but did for rams (P < 0.05) (dehy 59.5% and slough hay 51.6%). Both species showed greater digestibility of protein and nitrogen-free extract for dehy and greater fiber digestibility for slough hay (P < 0.05).