Protein-extracted herbage for sheep feeding

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Abstract
Wairau lucerne (Medicago sativa L) and ‘Grasslands Tama’ Westerwolds ryegrass (Lolium multiflorun Lam.) grown on fertile Wakanui silt loam at Lincoln were processed tor protem extractIOn by standard methods. The reSIdual protem-extracted herbage was fed to sheep dried, wet from the belt press, or as silage made by vacuum-pack process with sulphuric acid and molasses added. In conventional short-term digestibility experiments, daily voluntary intakes of dried and of wet protein-extracted herbage were 71-86 g DM/kg LW0 – 73, and apparent digestibility of organic matter was 64-74%. Voluntary intake of silage was 98 g DM/kg LW0 –.73 and apparent digestibility of organic matter was 65%. Mineral intake from these foods would be sufficient for the requirements of dry stock. In one experiment sheep that were fed. protein-extracted lucerne herbage ad libitum lor a month gamed 5.7 kg LW compared wIth 4.0 kg for those fed good quality lucerne hay. In another experiment sheep fed protein-extracted Tama ryegrass gained 7.6 kg LW compared with 8.9 kg for those fed good quality lucerne hay.

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