COMPARATIVE DIGESTIBILITY OF FEEDSTUFFS BY SHEEP AND COWS

Comparative digestion trials (82), involving 26 maize silages, 24 grass silages, 18 grass hays and 14 other feedstuffs [barley, fodder rye, turnips, potatoes, dried beet pulp and grass seed straw], were carried out to investigate whether cows and sheep differed in their digestive capacity. On average, the crude fiber of maize silage, the ether extract of grass silage and the crude fiber, N-free extractives and organic matter of grass hay were significantly (P < 0.01) better digested by cows, while sheep had a significantly (P < 0.01) greater ability to digest the crude protein of grassland products. The mean net energy value, based on digestion coefficients of cows, was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than that of sheep for each of the 3 forages by .apprx. 3%. Sheep and cows did not differ systematically in digesting maize silages and grassland products, as both groups had an organic matter digestibility of .apprx. .gtoreq. 65%. Forages of lower quality were better digested by cows.