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

University of Missouri, Columbia 65211

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) leaves (A), leaves plus stems (B) and stems (C) were fed to sheep, and relationships among dietary cell wall content, voluntary intake, nutrient digestibility, rate of passage and ruminal measurements were determined. Cell wall contents of diets A, B and C were 48, 56 and 64%, respectively; with increasing cell wall content, there were decreases in dry matter intake (75, 60 and 51 mg/kg BW-⁷⁵/day), dry matter digestibility (60, 55 and 43%), cell wall digestibility (46, 44 and 39%) and energy digestibility (57, 53 and 45%). Mean retention times were 28.9, 29.9 and 37.6 hr and maximum excretion rates were 2.73, 2.48 and 1.95%/hr for sheep fed diets A, B and C, respectively. Increased dietary cell wall content and decreased extent of cell wall digestion resulted in increased indigestible cell wall load in the gut. Rumen volume and cell wall of ruminal contents did not increase sufficiently to accommodate indigestible cell wall; sheep fed the diet with highest cell wall content (diet C) did not appear to consume enough digestible energy to meet maintenance needs. Extent, and possibly rate, of cell wall digestion appeared to be closely related to passage; intake limitations appeared to be incidental to these two factors. Dry matter intakes were similar to those previously reported for orchardgrass. Digestible cell wall, rumen volume, cell wall of ruminal contents and excretion rate were lower, while indigestible cell wall and passage rate were greater for alfalfa than for orchardgrass, indicating that differences between forage species affected digestion measurements.

¹ Contribution from the Missouri Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Ser. No. 7923. Approved by the Director.

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

³ Dept. of Dairy Science.