The Effect of the Corn-Alfalfa Hay Ratio on the Digestibility of the Different Nutrients by Sheep

Abstract

In a study of the utilization of corn-alfalfa hay rations, four yearling wethers were each fed each of three mixtures in which corn, provided 25%, 50% and 75% of the mixture. Apparent digestion coefficients for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber and nitrogen-free-extracts were determined, as well as metabolizable energy. As the percentage of corn in the ration was increased, the apparent digestibility of the complete ration increased for all the nutrients except crude protein in one instance and crude fiber in another. On the basis of the results of this trial it appears that high concentrate rations are the more efficiently utilized by sheep.