Intake and digestibility of alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw-alfalfa hay combinations fed to sheep

A 5 × 5 Latin square experiment utilizing mature wethers (78 kg) was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding combinations of alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw (AHP-WS) and alfalfa hay on intake and nutrient digestibility. Diets consisted of an 80:20 forage to concentrate ratio on a dry matter (DM) basis. Dietary designations were based on ratios of AHP-WS: alfalfa hay in the diet. Quadratic responses (P < 0.05) were noted for both DM intake (DMI) as a percentage of body weight and organic matter intake (OMI) expressed as g d−1. Greater DMI and OMI were noted when wethers were fed diets containing combinations of AHP-WS and alfalfa (40:40 and 20:60) than when fed those containing AHP-WS or alfalfa as the sole forage (80:0 or 0:80). No effects of diet on digestibilities of dietary components were observed, with digestibility of DM and OM averaging 67 and 69%, respectively, across diets. Wethers consumed greater amounts of digestible OM when fed combinations of the two forages than when ...

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