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Studies on Ruminal Gas Formation and on Consumption of Alfalfa Pasture by Cattle

Division of Animal Husbandry, University of California, Davis

ABSTRACT

In an average of four trials, 4.7 cubic feet of gas were produced when cows consumed 47.6 lb. of green Sudan tops fed ad libitum over a 4-hour period as compared to 4.3 cubic feet when cows consumed an average of 15.5 lb. of green alfalfa tops over a similar period.

The amount of gas formed following drenching with glucose or starch was determined both by feeding cows 20 hours before the experimental period or feeding them with alfalfa tops ad libitum 4 hours preceding drenching. In the former instance, glucose caused a more prompt increase in gas formation, whereas the effect of starch was more prolonged. When cows were fed immediately preceding drenching, on the other hand, no difference between glucose and starch as regards gas formation was discernible.

Studies on the consumption of alfalfa pasture indicate that alfalfa becomes more palatable as it matures up to the early bloom stage, but the results were inconclusive.