Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Grass hay as a supplement for grazing cattle. II. Ruminal digesta kinetics
Author
Villalobos, G.
Klopfenstein, T. J.
Adams, D. C.
Shain, D.
Long, T. E.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1997-07-01
Body

This study evaluated the effects of supplementing a diet of range hay (5.7% crude protein, 68% NDF) with grass hay from subirrigated meadows (16.5% crude protein, 53.5% NDF), or with a 70% soybean meal:30% wheat grain supplement (40% crude protein) on intake and ruminal digesta kinetics. Twelve ruminally fistulated steers were assigned to 3 treatments (4 steers/treatment) at 2 levels of intake. Treatments were: control, range hay; range hay supplemented with meadow hay (meadow hay was 20% of intake); and range hay supplemented with soybean meal:wheat supplement (supplement was 8% of intake). Intake levels were: ad libitum and equal intake (1.5% of body weight). Range hay was Yb-labeled, and meadow hay and soybean meal:wheat supplements were Er-labeled to measure passage. Intake and digestibility of range hay was not affected by supplementation (P > 0.05). During ad libitum intake, total intake (range hay + supplement) was greater (P > 0.05) for supplement treatments than for the control. No supplement treatment X level of intake interactions were detected (P > 0.05). Total digestibility (range hay + supplement) was greater (P < 0.01) for the soybean meal:wheat treatment than for the control or meadow hay treatments. Total digestibility was similar (P > 0.05) for control and meadow hay treatments. Ruminal passage rate (% hour-1), total tract mean retention time, and intestinal transit time of range hay did not differ among treatments (P > 0.05), but ruminal passage rate, total tract mean retention time, and intestinal transit time were greater (P < 0.01) with ad libitum than equal intake. We conclude that a meadow hay supplement produced similar effects on ruminal kinetics and intake of range hay as a soybean meal:wheat supplement. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/4003299
Additional Information
Villalobos, G., Klopfenstein, T. J., Adams, D. C., Shain, D., & Long, T. E. (1997). Grass hay as a supplement for grazing cattle. II. Ruminal digesta kinetics. Journal of Range Management, 50(4), 357-360.
IISN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/644107
Journal Volume
50
Journal Number
4
Journal Pages
357-360
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
chemical composition
hay
digestibility
crude protein
digesta
kinetics
cattle
protein supplements
rumen fermentation
grasses
feed intake