Digestion of Nitrogen by Lambs Fed Alfalfa Conserved as Baled Hay or as Low Moisture Silage

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Abstract
Four lambs fitted with a rumen cannula and T-cannulae in the proximal duodenum and terminal ileum were utilized to determine the effect of preserving alfalfa as baled hay or as low moisture silage (LMS, 47% dry matter) on the ruminal and intestinal digestion of organic matter (OM), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and nitrogenous compounds. The extent of digestion of OM was decreased in the rumen and increased in the small intestine when hay was fed, although digestibility of OM in the total tract was equal for the two forages. Digestibility coefficients for ADF were also equal, but 98% of the ADF digestion occurred in the rumen when LMS was fed compared with 85% for hay. Intakes of N were lower when lambs consumed hay and the nature of dietary N was somewhat different for the two forages, but duodenal flow of nonammonia N (NAN), bacterial protein synthesis in the rumen and the amount of NAN disappearing in the intestine were unaffected by diet. Substantial losses of N occurred in the rumen with both forages and the apparent degradabilities of dietary N in the rumen were 75 and 77% for hay and LMS, respectively. The amino acid contents of the feeds were different in both quantity and quality, but the amount and profile of amino acids reaching both the duodenum and ileum were nearly identical, suggesting little difference in the supply of amino acids disappearing in the intestine. Copyright © 1983. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1983 by American Society of Animal Science.

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