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Response of Sheep to Wafered Hay Having Different Physical Characteristics^{1, 2, 3,}

University of Delaware, Newark, and U. S. Department of Agriculture

Abstract

Wafers from flail chopped hay, wafers from coarsely ground hay, wafers from finely ground hay, and conventionally chopped alfalfa hay were studied over a 2-year period with sheep. The composition of wafered hay differed from non-wafered hay only in a decreased carotene content. Fines had a higher crude fiber and lower crude protein content than their accompanying wafers. Wafers were preferred over chopped hay and both were preferred over fines when offered to the sheep at a three-way simultaneous choice. Wafers made from flail chopped hay were slightly less digestible than chopped hay, even on an equal intake basis. Wafers made from ground hay were slightly less digestible than wafers made from flail chopped hay; the difference increased with increasing fineness. Crude fiber digestion was depressed most, while nitrogen-free extract was depressed least by the smaller particle size. Unit density, modulus of fineness and modulus of uniformity were significantly related to digestion coefficients while size of grind was not. Increased density and smaller particle size of hay ration were related to higher level of voluntary consumption. Level of intake appeared to have a greater negative effect on digestibility than the physical characteristics of the rations per se. Increased levels of intake were accompanied by higher water content of feces. Changing the physical characteristics of the rations without obvious changes in their chemical composition was responsible for an improvement (23%) in their nutritive value.

¹ Published as miscellaneous paper No. 482 with the approval of the Director, Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station.

² Supported in part by a grant-in-aid from Massey-Ferguson Ltd., Toronto, Canada, to the senior author.

³ Assistance of the following is gratefully acknowledged: C. W. Woodmansee, Y. M. Yoon, C. D. Passmore, Mrs. E. R. Haenlein, C. Zeitler, R. M. Somers, R. Higham and J. Zikakis.

⁴ Department of Animal Science and Agricultural Biochemistry, Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station.

⁵ Agricultural Engineering Research Division, ARS, U.S.D.A., Beltsville, Maryland.