Influence of type and amount of grain on digestibility of rations containing cottonseed hulls

Twelve rations formulated from barley, corn, soy bean mill feed, or wheat and cottonseed hulls were fed to three sheep per ration to measure the influence of type and amount of grain on digestibility of the proximate constituents and cellulose. Each ration was fed at 2% body weight and with grain 20, 40, and 60% of dry matter. Net energy values for maintenance, gain, and milk production were calculated from the digestion coefficients. Dry matter digestibility for rations containing barley, corn, soybean mill feed, and wheat averaged over the three percents of grain were 63.1, 62.5, 60.0, and 61.5%, and 58.9, 61.6, and 64.0% for low, medium, and high grain. Digestibility of dry matter for soy bean-mill-feed rations was less than rations containing the other grains. Digestibility of crude fiber was lowest for wheat, followed by corn, barley, and soy bean mill feed in ascending order. Calculated net energy values usually increased lineraly with increasing grain for each type of grain with the exception of wheat. Wheat was least acceptable for ruminants.