Digestibility of the Top and Bottom Portions of the Alfalfa Plant, as Estimated from Small, Randomly Collected Samples of Feces

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Abstract
Digestibility of the top and bottom portions of the alfalfa plant was estimated from the concentration of plant chromogen in samples of feces collected at various times during the day. Estimates derived from samples collected at 6 P.M. were significantly lower than A.M. digestion coefficients determined by the conventional method. Coefficients predicted from feces voided at 6 A.M., 12 noon, and 12 midnight did not differ significantly from those determined by the total collection method. The excretion of chromogen was more uniform for animals receiving the top portion of the plant than for those receiving the bottom portion. The digestibility of the bottom part of the plant decreased 0.6%/day and it was only 87% as digestible as the top part which did not change markedly in digestibility during the trial.