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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #363899
Research Project: Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency and Mitigating Nutrient and Pathogen Losses from Dairy Production Systems

Location: Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research

Title: Effect of supplementing different proportions of lablab purpureus with alfalfa silage on intake and digestibility in gestating sheep

Author
item NIYIGENA, V. - University Of Arkansas
item COFFEY, K. - University Of Arkansas
item Coblentz, Wayne
item PHILIPP, D. - University Of Arkansas
item SAVIN, M. - University Of Arkansas
item ZHAO, J. - University Of Arkansas
item DIAZ, J. - University Of Arkansas
item PARK, S. - University Of Arkansas
item RHEIN, R. - University Of Arkansas
item PRUDEN, M. - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2019
Publication Date: 5/21/2019
Citation: Niyigena, V., Coffey, K.P., Coblentz, W.K., Philipp, D., Savin, M.C., Zhao, J., Diaz, J., Park, S.P., Rhein, R.T., Pruden, M.C. 2019. Effect of supplementing different proportions of lablab purpureus with alfalfa silage on intake and digestibility in gestating sheep. Page 21 in Proceedings of 2019 Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference. May 21-23, 2019. Roanoke, VA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The manipulations of diet by including forages containing moderate to high concentrations of polyphenolic compounds can change nutrient-use efficiency by ruminants. This study was conducted to investigate effects of adding different proportions of Lablab purpureus hay (LP) to alfalfa silage on the subsequent voluntary intake and digestibility by gestating sheep. Alfalfa was harvested in October 2018 at 75% bloom, chopped, and then packed at 55% moisture into plastic-lined bins, where it was allowed to ensile for 3 months. Alfalfa silage was either offered alone (Control; C, or mixed with 9 (low; L), 18 (Medium; M), or 27% high (H) LP on a DM basis. These diets were assigned randomly and offered for ad-libitum consumption by 16 ewes (108.2 ± 10.17 lbs. BW) in a randomized complete block design experiment with 2 periods to provide 4 observations per treatment per experimental period. Each period consisted of a 14-d dietary adaptation period followed by 7 d of total fecal and urine collection. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS and tested orthogonally for linear and quadratic trends. Dry matter intake (% BW) increased quadratically (P = 0.04; 2.9, 3.1, 2.9, and 2.6 % for C, L, M, H, respectively) and organic matter intake (% BW) increased quadratically (P = 0.03; 2.6, 2.8, 2.7, and 2.3 % for C, L, M, H, respectively) by adding more LP in the diet. Digestible DMI (% BW) tended to increase quadratically (P = 0.08; 1.7, 1.9, 1.8, and 1.5% for C, L, M, H, respectively) by increasing proportion of LP in diet. Digestible OMI (% BW) tended to increase linearly and quadratically (P = 0.10; 1.7, 1.8, 1.7, and 1.4 % for C, L, M, H, respectively) with increasing amounts of lablab in the diet. Digestibility of DM and OM were not affected by adding LP to the diet. In this study, supplementation with 9 % LP as a source of phenolic-compounds improved forage DM and OM intake but did not affect DM and OM digestibilities. Therefore, adding a forage with moderate concentrations of polyphenols can improve forage utilization by ruminants.