HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Robles, A. Y. Articles by Maus, R. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Robles, A. Y. Articles by Maus, R. W.

Intake, Digestibility, Ruminal Characteristics and Rate of Passage of Orchardgrass Diets Fed to Sheep¹

University of Missouri, Columbia 65211

Abstract

Four orchardgrass diets ranging in cell wall content from 60 to 78% were fed to sheep, and relationships among intake, digestion, passage and ruminal measurements were determined. As cell wall concentration increased, dry matter intake, digestible energy intake, dry matter digestibility and excretion rate decreased, while cell wall intake, rumen volume, rumen cell wall and retention time increased. Indigestible cell wall intake was similar with each diet. It appeared that as digestible energy intake decreased, the sheep attempted to adapt by increasing ruminal ingesta volume, increasing ruminal ingesta cell wall and decreasing rate of passage; as cell wall concentration increased, indigestible cell wall limitation was manifested in decreased levels of feed and energy intake. Rate and extent of digestion appeared to be related to indigestible cell wall and appeared to be key factors in the control of cell wall turnover and feed intake.

¹ Contribution from the Missouri Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Ser. No. 7929. Approved by the Director.

² Present address: Dairy Training and Research Institute, UPLB, Philippines.

³ Dept. of Dairy Sci.