The Lactation Response as Limited by Feeds Produced Under Two Systems of Soil Fertilization

Abstract

Differences in the nutritive values of lespedeza hay, soybean hay, and wheat grain were carefully appraised through the lactation responses of rabbits. The use of doe litter mates and the paired feeding technique made such an evaluation possible. Data are reported for 17 pairs of pair-fed, mated, doe rabbits whose rations were made up of feeds produced on a single soil type; and for 8 pairs of litters produced by these does, to an age of 46 days from conception. One ration was made up of feeds grown on PK-fertilized soil; the other consisted of feeds grwon on a similar soil fertilized with PK + Ca. The PK + Carations were found to be superior to the PK rations in the following respects: Differences in the percentages of carcass nitrogen and ash were not significant.