Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) of ration for estimation of rumen degradability of fiber in sheep. In experiment 1, to determine feed iNDF, four ruminal fistulated Zel ewes were used. Three grams of alfalfa hay, corn silage, barley grain, wheat bran, ration 1 (including alfalfa hay and concentrate), and ration 2 (including ...

Prairie hay meadows are important reservoirs of grassland biodiversity in the tallgrass prairie regions of the central United States and are the object of increasing attention for conservation and restoration. In addition, there is growing interest in the potential use of such low-input, high-diversity (LIHD) native grasslands for biofuel production. The uplands of eastern Kansas, USA, which pr...

OBJECTIVE To examine metabolic responses of chronically starved horses to refeeding with 3 isoenergetic diets. DESIGN Uncontrolled clinical trial. ANIMALS 22 mature mixed-breed horses that were emaciated but otherwise clinically normal. PROCEDURE Horses were fed 1 of 3 diets: alfalfa hay, oat hay, or a combination diet of half oat hay and half commercially prepared ration. Digestible ener...

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to determine molecular structures related to carbohydrates and lipid in alfalfa hay cut at early bud, late bud and early flower and in the afternoon and next morning using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT/IR) and to determine their relationship with alfalfa hay nutrient profile and availability in ruminants. METHODS Chemical composition analysis, ...

Weaned V-line rabbits aged 6 weeks (n: 84), were randomly distributed into 7 experimental groups to evaluate barley, corn-cob meal (CCM), Alfalfa hay, berseem hay (Egyptian clover) and dried Faba bean straw (DFBS). The evaluation included chemical analysis and effects of substituting 30% CCM instate of barley as an energy source with Alfalfa hay, berseem hay, or DFBS each at 25% as a fiber sour...

The duration of shedding of Escherichia coli O157 isolates by hay-fed and grain-fed steers experimentally inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 was compared, as well as the acid resistance of the bacteria. The hay-fed animals shed E. coli O157 longer than the grain-fed animals, and irrespective of diet, these bacteria were equally acid resistant. Feeding cattle hay may increase human infections with ...

This paper presents the business model and supply chain issues of Timothy hay business in Southern Alberta. Production, processing, marketing and distribution aspects of the business are described. Research was conducted using case-based field studies involving Timothy farmers, hay plant operators and forage research scientists. It is recommended that further research in raising yield of hay pr...