with ruminal cannula were used to study the degradations of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), cellular contents (CC), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and purine (P, as yeast RNA-equivalent) in alfalfa hays, respectively. Ruminal degradation (RD) of N and NDF were higher in alfalfa than oats and timothy hay. There was no significant difference on RD of CC among these three hays (P>0.05). The RD of DM was affected by those of N and NDF rather than the degradation of CC in the present study.Degradation kinetics of P were varied among hays, and RD of P were 92.7, 88.0 and 96.0% in oats, timothy and alfalfa hays, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the disappearance of P and CC in the rumen in these three hays (r2=0.756, P<0.05). The and alfalfa hays, respectively. These quantities were estimated to contribute 1.8, 2.1 and 1.4% of microbial P in the small intestine for alfalfa, timothy and oats hays, respectively. Anim. Sci. Technol. (Jpn.) 66 (11):927-935, 1995

To determine whether the feeding of different species of hay affects the dry-matter intake and the serum cortisol level of sheep, 6 non-pregnant, non-lactating ewes were offered alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay (Al), oats (Avena sativa) hay (Ot) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) hay (Pr) under 6 kinds of treatment including 1) change from Al to Ot, 2) Al to Pr, 3) Ot to Al, 4) Ot to Pr, 5) Pr to Al, and 6) Pr to Ot. The experimental design was a 6×6 Latin square with a 14 day period of which 9 days were a preliminary period and 5 days as a digestion trial period. The change in hay feeding was done abruptly on the first day of each period without an adaptation period. The blood from the jugular vein was collected on the first, third and the last day of each period through a sterile catheter for the analysis of cortisol. The dry-matter intake was recorded daily throughout the period. The mean daily intake of dry matter (DM, g/kg live weight) was significantly different among the 3 species of hay (Al>Ot>Pr; p<0.05). The digestibility of DM for Al and Ot was the same, but that for Pr was significantly lower than Al and Ot (p<0.05). The mean serum cortisol levels were significantly different among the hays (p<0.05). The level for Pr was the highest and that for Al was the lowest. The abrupt change of hay feeding of 6 treatments produced a significant change in the serum cortisol levels. The DM intake was inversely related to the change of the cortisol level. It is suggested that the animal's intake response to different species of hay may be partly motivated by the psychological feelings toward the hay offered.

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Four kinds of hay (Italian ryegrass, IR; bermudagrass, BG; Sudangrass, SG and alfalfa, AL) were given ad libitum to wethers in a Latin square design in order to determine the effects of diet on the degradability (dg) of hay protein.

No abstract