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The Digestibility of Coarsely Ground and Finely Ground Alfalfa for Dairy Heifers¹

University of Missouri

Abstract

The rumination and digestibility of alfalfa hay by dairy cattle (Holstein heifers) has been compared when it was chopped, ground, and finely ground. The average coefficients of digestibility of the dry matter with four Holstein heifers were 57.28±1.31, 56.09±.02, and 56.97±.60 percent respectively for chopped, ground, and finely ground hay. Consistent differences in digestibility of the constituents of the hay were not correlated with the degree of fineness. Normal rumination occurred on the chopped hay, but rumination ceased during the finely ground feeding trial. Since no significant differences in digestibility of the alfalfa hay could be attributed to the fineness of grinding, it was concluded that rumination is not essential for normal digestibility of ground alfalfa hay.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Dairy Husbandry, Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. 1299.

² Present address, Dairying Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee.