Nutrient intake and digestion as influenced by wash water solids as a protein source for lambs fed orchardgrass hay

J Anim Sci. 1990 Nov;68(11):3886-96. doi: 10.2527/1990.68113886x.

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted with sheep fed orchardgrass hay plus one of four supplements to evaluate use of a cheese processing wash water solid (WWS) material as a protein supplement. In both trials, lambs were fed either a cornstarch control (0% WWS-N) or a protein supplement containing 25, 50 or 75% N from WWS (25, 50 or 75% WWS-N, respectively). The majority of the remaining protein was supplied by soybean meal (SBM). Trial 1 was a replicated 4 x 4 extra-period Latin square. Protein supplementation increased total tract NDF and N digestibilities (P less than .10) 13% and 29%, respectively, compared with the cornstarch control. Total tract N digestibility was depressed (P less than .10) when 75% WWS-N (71.5%) vs 25 or 50% WWS-N (75.9 and 75.9%, respectively) was fed. Total VFA were depressed (P less than .10) 6 and 9 h postfeeding in sheep fed 75% WWS-N compared with the control (78.3 and 74.6 mM vs 98.8 and 94.6 mM for 6 and 9 h, respectively). Two hours postfeeding, lambs fed control had lower (P less than .10) ruminal pH compared with lambs fed 25, 50 and 75% WWS-N (6.2 vs 6.4, 6.5 and 6.5, respectively). Ruminal ammonia concentrations were 5 to 10 mg/dl lower (P less than .10) at all times in control lambs. In Trial 2, a metabolism study, feeding 75% WWS-N resulted in lower N digestibility (P less than .10) than did feeding 25% and 50% WWS-N (47.2 vs 56.4 and 55.2%, respectively). Data suggest that up to 50% of the SBM-N in a protein supplement for wethers may be replaced by WWS-N without adversely altering nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation or N metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed*
  • Animals
  • Cheese
  • Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fiber / metabolism
  • Dietary Proteins / metabolism*
  • Digestion*
  • Drinking
  • Eating
  • Fermentation
  • Food Handling
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Male
  • Nutritive Value
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Poaceae
  • Rumen / chemistry
  • Rumen / metabolism*
  • Sheep / metabolism*

Substances

  • Dietary Fiber
  • Dietary Proteins