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Comparative Nutrient Digestibility of Silages by Cattle and Sheep¹

New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, New Brunswick

Abstract

Two digestion trials evaluating eight different silages fed simultaneously to sheep and cattle in the same environment were conducted to compare the digestive powers of the two animal species. A significant difference was found between silages for dry matter, protein, N-free extract, ether extract, and energy. A paired t test indicated a difference in favor of sheep for digestion of dry matter, N-free extract, and fiber in large grain silages. Sheep were superior in digestion of protein for both large and small grain silages. The differences observed for energy digestibility were negligible between steers and wethers with all silages except large grain, in which the wethers were superior. High protein forages, such as legumes, were digested to the same extent by sheep and cattle, except for N-free extract which was higher in steers.

¹ Paper of the Journal Series, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers—the State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

² Present address: Whitmoyer Laboratories, Inc., Myerstown, Pennsylvania.