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Net Energy of Alfalfa and Orchardgrass Hays at Varying Stages of Maturity^{1, 2,}

New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, New Brunswick

Abstract

Utilizing the comparative slaughter technique, four metabolism trials were conducted studying the efficiency of utilization of energy from alfalfa and orchardgrass hays cut at different stages of maturity. Net energy for production expressed as kcal./gm. DM declined with advancing maturity in all trials as follows: trial I (alfalfa grass hay), stage 1-0.95, stage 2-0.92, stage 3-0.89; trial II (alfalfa hay), stage 1-0.88, stage 2-0.68, stage 3-0.67; trial III (orchardgrass hay), stage 1-0.99, stage 2-0.61, stage 3-0.57; trial IV, stage 1-0.70, stage 2-0.23, with stage 3 of such poor quality that no production was obtained due to low consumption. Digestible energy and metabolizable energy declined significantly (P<.01) with advancing maturity. Total voluntary intake of the forages decreased with advancing maturity. Low productivity produced by the hay in trial IV was accompanied by a low utilization of metabolizable energy.

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

² Supported in part by U.S.D.A. Regional Research Project NE-24.

³ Acknowledgment is made to Donald G. Gross, Ronald Thompson, Julia C. McNamara and Patricia Carter, without whose capable assistance this work could not have been accomplished. Acknowledgment is also made to Dr. Carroll Ramage for providing the orchardgrass hays used in the studies.

⁴ Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington.

⁵ Present address: Ballyhaisc Agricultural College, Ballyhaise, County Cavan, Ireland.