Influence of Type and Amount of Grain on Digestibility of Rations Containing Cottonseed Hulls

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Abstract
Rations (12) formulated from barley, corn, soybean mill feed or wheat and cottonseed hulls were fed to 3 sheep/ration to measure the influence of type and amount of grain on digestibility of the proximate constituents and cellulose. Each ration was fed at 2% body weight and with grain 20, 40 and 60% of dry matter. Net energy values for maintenance, gain and milk production were calculated from the digestion coefficients. Dry matter digestibility for rations containing barley, corn, soybean mill feed and wheat averaged over the 3% of grain were 63.1, 62.5, 60.0 and 61.5%, and 58.9, 61.6 and 64.0% for low, medium and high grain. Digestibility of dry matter for soybean-mill-feed rations was less than rations containing the other grains. Digestibility of crude fiber was lowest for wheat, followed by corn, barley and soybean mill feed in ascending order. Calculated net energy values usually increased linearly with increasing grain for each type of grain except wheat. Wheat was least acceptable for ruminants.