Evaluation of propionic acid-treated hay as a feed for growing sheep |
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| Authors: | M. H. DAVIES&dagger ,I. B. WARBOYS&Dagger |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Agriculture, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK |
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| Abstract: | Two experiments were carried out to evaluate propionic acid-treated hay as a feed for sheep in which eighteen ewes (experiment 1) and eighteen ewe lambs (experiment 2) were fed ad libitum on hay only. At feeding, the propionic acid-treated hays had higher D-values and water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations, but a lower dry matter concentration, than the untreated hays. The voluntary feed intake and liveweight gain of the sheep fed on two acid-treated hays and on an untreated hay in experiment 1 were similar. In the second experiment an acid-treated moist hay was eaten in greater amounts by the sheep and liveweight gains were greater than on the corresponding untreated hay, but were not significantly different from those of sheep fed on field-cured hay. |
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