Pelleting facilitates the storage and handling of forages but induces significant decreases in forage digestibility; the latter are partially compensated by reductions in urinary and methane energy losses, leading to an improvement in the efficiency of metabolisable energy utilisation, especially for fattening. Overall, the net energy content of forages is either unaltered or slightly improved, but net energy intake significantly increases. The present data address the interactions between pelleted forages and concentrate feeds on the utilisation of metabolisable energy in lambs.
Ninety-six crossbred male lambs, in four batches of 24 animals each, were fed eight diets at two feeding levels. The study was planned according to a 2 × 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with three factors: physical form of forage (chopped, CH, or ground and pelleted, P, cocksfoot hay), percentage of concentrate feed (0, 20, 55, 85), and feeding level (above maintenance and 90% of ad libitum). Each lamb was given one diet (physical form of forage × percentage of concentrate feed) at both feeding levels. Animals were fed individually throughout the experiment. DM digestibility was measured over 10 days, with the individual animal as the experimental unit (n = 12/dietary treatment). Organic matter and energy digestibility (over 10 days) and N balance (over 6 days), as well as gas exchanges (over 4 days), were measured by groups of three lambs such that for those measurements, the experimental unit is the group (n = 4). Data on digestibility, N balance, and gas exchanges are available. DM intake averaged 63.86 ± 18.69 (SD) g per kg BW0.75 across all treatments. Energy and N digestibility averaged 66.54 ± 7.94% and 66.17 ± 5.53%, respectively. Metabolisability and net energy values of diets, as well as digestive interactions, can be derived from the data.
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