Seasonal differences in apparent digestibility and intake of tall fescue by horses

Three yearling and three 2-year-old Saddlebred horses were used to determine seasonal differences in apparent digestibility of Ky 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) pasture by horses. Three trials were conducted with collection periods beginning August 27, 1984; January 8, 1985; and June 3, 1985. Each 72 h collection period followed a 2 wk preliminary grazing period. The horses were given a pulse-dose of Yb impregnated fescue forage at 0 h, and fecal grab samples were taken at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60, and 72 h after dosing. Fecal output was estimated from Yb concentration in the feces. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter (DM), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP), and cellulose were estimated using indigestible NDF as an internal marker. Forage DM intake was calculated using the formula (fecal output/(100- % forage DM digestibility) x 100). Estimated DM intake and fecal DM were 4.5 and 1.7 kg/d for August; 7.5 and 2.7 kg/d for January; and 6.4 and 2.8 kg/d for June, respectively. Percent ADF and NDF were highest (P<.05) and apparent digestibilities of these components were lowest (P<.05) for the spring forage.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Science

Department dc:contributor.department

Animal Science

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1987

Author dc:creator

• Meacham, Vernon Beck

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/53143

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/53143