Variations among Cattle and Sheep in Digestive Power Measured by Microdigestion Techniques

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Abstract
Eighteen ruminal fistulated steers and wethers provided inocula for individual microdigestion estimates in three range grazing trials and one drylot feeding trial. Artificial rumen and nylon bag cellulose digestion (PCD) and nylon bag dry matter digestion (PDMD) data were obtained. Each animal provided microdigestion estimates for Solka-floc and an alfalfa sample (standards) and for forages consumed by esophageal fistulated animals grazing on the same range. Between-class and within-class of stock differences were analyzed. When averaged over all procedures, there were no significant differences in digestive power between cattle and sheep. Differences among animals within a species were less in drylot. The range of within-class differences depended upon herbage availability for cattle, type of sample for standards but not grazed forages, and technique. Animals appeared to maintain their relative ranks better for microdigestion of grazed forages than for standard samples. *Averaged over all techniques and samples, there were 12 highly significant differences among 18 animals. There were more differences in digestive power among steers than among sheep. Copyright © 1964. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1964 by American Society of Animal Science