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The relative importance of the total cell wall and quantity of digested cell wall in the regulation of the voluntary intake of grass hays by sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

K. W. Moir ,
L. Laws  and
G. Blight
K. W. Moir
Affiliation:
Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly, Brisbane, Australia
L. Laws
Affiliation:
Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly, Brisbane, Australia
G. Blight
Affiliation:
Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly, Brisbane, Australia
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Summary

In 18 digestibility experiments with sheep, 9 diets consisting of single-grass hays and 9 diets each consisting of equal quantities of a good and poor quality hay were fed. Correlations between the voluntary intake of organic matter, digested organic matter, total cell wall and digested cell wall in all possible combinations were investigated. There were no significant differences among the simple correlation coefficients for hays fed singly or as mixtures, even though they were eaten in very different amounts. The simple pooled correlationswere significant (P < 0·01) among voluntary intake, digested organic matter and cell wall. The cell wall was significantly correlated with digested cell wall, but there was no simple correlation between voluntary intake and digested cell wall. However, when considered together in a multiple linear model they explained 58% of the variation in voluntary intake compared with 43% explained by the total cell wall alone. The additional variation accounted for by the digested cell wall was significant (P < 0·05).

The relative importance of the total cell wall and digested cell wall is discussed in relation to selection in grass breeding.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 85 , Issue 1 , August 1975 , pp. 39 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

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