The Effect of Varying Levels of Protein and Cerelose on the Utilization of Mature Timothy Hay by Sheep

Abstract

A series of three metabolism trials was conducted with 18 wether lambs, weighing about 75 lb. each, in a 3 × 3 factorial design. Low quality timothy hay was supplemented with increasing amounts of soybean meal to raise the protein content of the ration to approximately 6.9, 10.9 and 13.6%. Cerelose was added in amounts of 0, 3.3 and 6.2% of the ration. The addition of soybean meal resulted in a highly significant increase in apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, protein, nitrogen-free extract and energy, and in a highly significant increase in nitrogen retention. The addition of cerelose produced a highly significant increase in digestibility of nitrogen-free extract but did not significantly affect the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude fiber or energy. The high level of cerelose additions decreased the digsetibility of protein at all levels of protein studied.