Influence of Interval of Feeding Cottonseed Meal to Sheep on Ration Digestibility, Nitrogen Balance and Blood Constituents

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Feeding yearling wethers 1,362 gm. of supplemental cottonseed meal every 6 days as a supplement to 1,134 gm. daily of a mixture of cottonseed hulls (92%) and cane molasses (8%) did not significantly affect the digestibility of dry matter, protein, ether extract, fiber, or nitrogen-free extract compared to feeding 227 gm. of cottonseed meal daily. However, daily feeding of cottonseed meal resulted in significantly increased nitrogen retention. This difference was apparently too small to be reflected in weight gains of the wethers. The level of certain blood constituents was not significantly affected by interval of feeding supplemental protein. Propionic acid and butyric acid concentrations in rumen liquor samples collected 4 hr. after feeding were higher than in those collected just before feeding. Acetic acid and total VFA concentrations were not significantly different at the two sampling times. Concentration of total VFA was significantly greater when cottonseed meal was fed daily than when it was fed every 6 days. Copyright © 1967. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1967 by American Society of Animal Science

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: