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Use of Various Quantities and Forms of Ryegrass Straw in Horse Diets^1,4,

Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331

Abstract

In experiment 1, 20 mature (500 kg) mares and geldings were divided into two groups of 10 fed 49% concentrates plus 51% either ryegrass straw (Diet 1) or fescue hay (Diet 2). Diets were pelleted, isonitrogenous and isocaloric containing 10.9% crude protein (CP) and 2.4 Mcal/kg digestible energy (DE). Apparent digestibilities, mean ± standard error (SE), were derived from chromic oxide indicator ratios. Dry matter (DM) digestibility was less (P<.05) for Diet 1 (56.0 ± 1.8) than for Diet 2 (66.0 ± 1.3). There were no significant differences (P<.05) between the two diets for acid detergent fiber (ADF) or cell wall constituents (CWC). Crude protein (CP) digestibility of Diet 1 (76.2 ± .8) was greater (P<.01) than Diet 2 (70.3 ± 1.0). During a 60-day maintenance trial, both groups of horses maintained body weight on 7.9 and 7.5 kg of feed/head/day for Diets 1 and 2, respectively. Considerable wood chewing was noted with most horses during the initial 3 weeks of the feeding trial. In experiment 2, four mature (500 kg) horses were assigned to a Latin square design to determine digestibility and acceptability of ryegrass straw fed alone in various physical forms; long stem (LS), pelleted (PS), cubed (CS) or briquetted (BS). Generally horses adapted satisfactorily to the compressed straws, but compactness and density of the cubed and briquetted forms required greater chewing and consumption time. Mean voluntary daily consumption of all densified forms of straw was greater (P<.01) than for long stem straw (5.5, 6.4, 6.0 and 5.9 kg for LS, PS, CS and BS, respectively). Considerable wood chewing was noted among all animals regardless of diet. There was no difference (P>.05) in apparent digestibility of CP or ash among various physical forms, but ADF, CWC and DM digestibilities were lower (P<.05) for pelleted straw than all other forms. Data indicate ryegrass straw may be incorporated into the diets of mature horses using various quantities and densified physical forms without adversely affecting intake, maintenance of weight or digestibility by the horse.

¹ Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 4689. Support from the Oregon Grass Seed Council is gratefully acknowledged.

⁴ Part of these data have been reported previously (J. Anim. Sci. 38:1330).

² Department of Animal Science.

³ Present address: Ralston Purina Company, Oklahoma City 73112.

⁵ Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.