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Consumption and Digestibility of Lespedeza Sericea Hay and Alfalfa Hay Plus Gallotannin¹

Department of Dairy Husbandry, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn

ABSTRACT

Sericea contained more tannin and lignin and less crude protein than alfalfa hay. The tannins in these two hays were of a different class. Powdered gallotannin added to alfalfa hay did not affect significantly the consumption of dry matter and water or the gains in body weight of 6-month-old dairy calves. Also, the apparent digestibility of dry matter and of crude protein in alfalfa hay was not affected significantly by the tannin content of the diets. The young dairy animals consumed more of the alfalfa hay with gallotannin added than of the sericea hay, which contained a similar quantity of a different class of tannin. In addition, the digestibility of dry matter and of crude protein of sericea was less than that of alfalfa hay with gallotannin added.

The results of this study suggest that the lignin content and the low coefficient of apparent digestibility of crude protein in lespedeza sericea account for the relatively low digestibility of the dry matter of this forage.

¹ This study was conducted as part of a cooperative project with the Tennessee Valley Authority and was supported in part by funds supplied by T.V.A.