The effect in sheep of physical form on the sites of digestion of a dried lucerne diet

Abstract

I . The effect of altering the physical form of a regrowth crop of dried lucerne (Medicago sativa L. Tar. Chartainvilliers) on the site of nitrogen digestion was studied with sheep fitted with a rumen cannula and re-entrant cannulas at the proximal duodenum and the terminal ileum. Chopped, cobbed, and ground and pelleted diets were prepared by processing the same high-temperature dried crop and given twice daily to sheep at a level of intake of 910 g dry matter/z+ h.