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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 February 2018
Ruminants in many less developed countries may consume poor quality roughages such as straws, stovers and senescent native pasture as a major part of their diet, particularly during the dry season when high-quality forages are in short supply. The majority of these roughages are high in fibre, low in protein and the intake of digestible nutrients often is not enough to meet maintenance requirements. Intake and digestibility of poor-quality roughages may be increased by supplementation. The response to supplementation can be attributed to an increase in the supply of nitrogen and/or readily fermentable carbohydrate, resulting in an increase in rumen cellulolytic micro-organisms and therefore enhanced fibre degradation.