EFFECTS OF DIETARY PROTEIN AND CELLULOSE CONTENT OF SEMIPURIFIED DIETS ON VOLUNTARY FEED INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY BY SHEEP

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Abstract
Semipurified diets varying in dietary protein (5, 10, 15, and 20%) and cellulose (7, 14, 21, and 28%) content were fed to sheep to determine the influence of these dietary variables on voluntary feed intake (VFI) and digestibility of nutrients. Dietary protein content did not affect digestibility of dry matter (DM) or energy. Apparent digestibility of protein and nitrogen retention, but not true digestibility of protein, were directly related to protein content of the ration. VFI of the low protein diet was less than that of the 15% protein diet (P < 0.05). DM and energy digestibilities were lower (P < 0.01) for the two higher cellulose diets but there was a trend for increased VFI so that digestible energy intakes were similar. The results suggest that reduced VFI of low quality feedstuffs is related to protein content of the ration but not to dietary cellulose content per se.