HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Brown, L. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Brown, L. D.

Influence of Intake on Feed Utilization¹

Dairy Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing

ABSTRACT

The effect of feeding level on apparent digestibility appeared to be quite variable from station to station, as well as between trials within stations. Where several trials have been conducted at any given station, at least some of the data appeared to be contradictory. How-ever, most of the data indicated some depression in apparent digestibility as level of intake increased. In all forage rations, the depression was more pronounced when forages were finely ground or finely ground and pelleted than when fed as long or chopped forage.

The depression in digestibility of mixed rations associated with increased level of feeding has been variable and appears to be influenced by factors other than just feeding level. Considerable data indicated that forage quality was a major determinant of the depression in digestibility associated with level of intake of all forage rations. Although similar data on mixed rations are limited, it is reasonable to expect a greater decrease in digestibility of a mixed ration containing poor-quality hay than one containing excellent-quality hay. However, additional data will be required to substantiate this point. A more exacting analysis of the less digestible constituents of the forage plant may be required to accurately evaluate the depressing effect of poor-quality forage. If forage quality is a factor in determining the depression in digestibility, the cell-wall constituents, as well as per cent of TDN as cell-wall constituents, may be important items to consider (56, 57). Kinds of forages (grasses vs. legumes), grain mixtures (particularly protein source and level), hay-grain ratios, plane of nutrition of the animal, and other environmental factors may also account for some of the variation in reported results.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article no. 3663.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. C. Olson, R. C. Cochran, E. C. Titgemeyer, C. P. Mathis, T. J. Jones, and J. S. Heldt Prediction of the energy content of tallgrass prairie hay J Anim Sci, June 1, 2008; 86(6): 1372 - 1381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. H. Clark, K. C. Olson, T. B. Schmidt, M. L. Linville, D. O. Alkire, D. L. Meyer, G. K. Rentfrow, C. C. Carr, and E. P. Berg Effects of dry matter intake restriction on diet digestion, energy partitioning, phosphorus retention, and ruminal fermentation by beef steers J Anim Sci, December 1, 2007; 85(12): 3383 - 3390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Gabel, B. Pieper, K. Friedel, M. Radke, A. Hagemann, J. Voigt, and S. Kuhla Influence of Nutrition Level on Digestibility in High Yielding Cows and Effects on Energy Evaluation Systems J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2003; 86(12): 3992 - 3998. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]