Consumption and Digestibility of Lespedeza Sericea Hay and Alfalfa Hay Plus Gallotannin

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Abstract
Generally, consumption and digestibility of Lespedeza, cuniata (sericea), a forage with a relatively high tannin content, is lower than that of our best forages containing low concentrations of tannin. In a 10-day feeding period in which young dairy animals were the experimental subjects, the intakes of ground alfalfa hay and of ground alfalfa hay plus 5% powdered gallotannin were similar but significantly greater than the intake of sericea hay containing approximately 4.1% tannin. Coefficients of apparent digestibility of dry matter and of crude protein in the ground alfalfa hay with and without added tannin were similar and significantly greater than those of sericea hay. Results of this study suggest that the level of tannin in sericea is not the primary factor involved in the relatively low palat-ability and digestibility of this forage.