Studies on digestibility and physical characteristics of particles in feces of cattle given hays of several species
1997
Sekine, J. (Tottori Univ. (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | Sudo, T. | Hai, J. | Oura, R.
To study physical characteristics of feces of cattle as an effective factor affecting changes in digestibility of forage, 8 Japanese Black cows were given alfalfa hay, Italian regress hay, perennial ryegrass hay, timothy hay, bermudagrass hay, sudangrass hay, oats hay and rice straw. The feces collected under each forage feeding was analyzed for particle distribution, dry bulk density (DBD) at different pressures, apparent density of particle (AD) and density of the solid fraction (SFD). DBD, AD and SFD of forage were also determined. The digestibility of nutrients was determined by an index method with acid detergent fiber (ADL) as a marker. A significant influence of ADL content on digestion of neutral detergent fiber was found and inferred to related the rigidity and brittleness of forage fiber fraction. The quantity of nutrients excreted in feces is correlated with their digestibility. Among physical characteristics of forage and feces, only DBD appeared to have negative influence on the digestion of fibrous fractions. The AD of forage and feces may affect the digestion of fibrous fractions of the forage
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