Author : Y. van der Honing
Publisher : Bernan Press(PA)
Page : 180 pages
File Size : 45,15 MB
Release : 1975
Category : Animals
ISBN :
A survey of the literature showed that forage processing, that is grinding and pelleting, increased feed intake of ruminants. This increase, due to reduction in particle size distribution of the forage, depends mainly on forage quality, proportion of concentrates in the diet and nutrient requirement of the cow. Pellets could replace part of the concentrates; complete substitution for long forage caused digestive disorders and reduced fat content of the milk. Eating rate, microbial breakdown and production of volatile fatty acids often increased too. Processed forages offered to sheep and beef cattle depressed digestibility, which was compensated by slightly lower losses of methane and less heat production.