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Forage Evaluation. III. Comparison of Several Methods of Evaluating Two Alfalfa Hays Fed to Lactating Cows^{1, 2,}

Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

ABSTRACT

Early-cut and late-cut alfalfa hays were fed as the only sources of energy to two groups of Holstein heifers throughout their first lactations. Various formulas based upon crude protein and fiber contents of the hays were applied to estimate total digestible nutrients (TDN). Estimated net energy (ENE) values were derived from TDN values. Intakes of energy based on these different values were compared to energy requirements from Morrison's ENE and the National Research Council TDN standards. There is evidence to suggest that low condition of animals consuming late-cut hay caused an over-estimation of maintenance requirements which, in turn, caused relative deviations to be different from those seen in the groups consuming early-cut hay. Considering all facts, the formulas of Meyer and Lofgreen (16) to estimate TDN and the formula of Moore et al. (18) for converting TDN values to ENE values yielded estimates of energy contents of the hays which gave the best concurrence between energy intakes and energy requirements. The ENE system was favored over the TDN system.

¹ Scientific Journal Series, Paper no. 6154. Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

² Supported in part by Public Health Service Grant no. 1-T1-GM-1401-01.

³ Data presented are based in part on a thesis by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Science degree.

⁴ Present address: Department of Dairy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.