Voluntary intake of low protein diets by sheep

Abstract

1. Sixteen foods, ranging in crude protein content from approximately 2·6 to 10·0%, were each offered ad lib. to four wether sheep. Dry-matter intake, N content and apparent digestibility of dry matter for each food were determined.2. Voluntary intake of food dry matter was closely related to N content.3. Slow fermentation in the reticulo-rumen and the associated slow rate of passage through the digestive tract may control the intake of low protein foods by sheep.4. There was evidence of adaptation of sheep to low protein diets as the trials progressed and significant differences occurred in voluntary food consumption between sheep.