Abstract
Two lamb digestion experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.)] grown under varying levels of water deficiency (stress) on the rate of passage and digestibility of various fibrous components. Experiment 1 consisted of a randomized complete block design in which 12 Suffolk X Hampshire crossbred wethers averaging 40 kg were fed alfalfa hay grown at three (10, 15 or 20 cm water/ha) levels of water per harvest. Experiment 2 consisted of a switchback design in which four Hampshire wethers averaging 45 kg were fed alfalfa hay grown at two (5 or 20 cm/ha) levels of water per harvest. Forage yields ranged from 1,420 (10 cm/ha in Exp. 1) to 4,200 (20 cm/ha in Exp. 2) kg/ha. In both experiments, water stress reduced cell wall constituents (neutral detergent fiber), acid detergent fiber, lignin and cellulose content of the alfalfa hay. Organic matter digestibility was decreased when the percentage of leaves fell below 60% at the highest yield. Digestibility of N and the rate of NDF digestibility were not affected by water stress. The second experiment additionally included nutrient balance and rate of passage measurements. Greater (P less than .10) amounts of N and P were absorbed from water-stressed than nonstressed hay. Ruminal retention time of particulate markers tended (P less than .10) to increase with greater water stress. The results of this study are interpreted to indicate that while moderate water stress may have little effect on in vivo digestibility of alfalfa, severe stress may reduce digestibility of fibrous fractions and total organic matter.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Alfalfa forage yields ranged from 1,420 at 10 cm/ha to 4,200 kg/ha at 20 cm/ha.
- Taxon
- alfalfa
Medicago sativae1 - Outcome
- Forage yieldse0
- Value
- 1,420e0
- Qualifier
- 4,200 (20 cm/ha in Exp. 2) kg/hae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Forage yields ranged from 1,420 (10 cm/ha in Exp. 1) to 4,200 (20 cm/ha in Exp. 2) kg/ha.”
e1“alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.)]”
Claim · model-written summary
Water stress reduced neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and lignin in alfalfa hay.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- water stresse0
- Outcome
- cell wall constituents (neutral detergent fiber), acid detergent fiber, lignine0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Comparator
- three (10, 15 or 20 cm water/ha) levels of water per harveste1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“water stress reduced cell wall constituents (neutral detergent fiber), acid detergent fiber, lignin and cellulose content of the alfalfa hay.”
e1“fed alfalfa hay grown at three (10, 15 or 20 cm water/ha) levels of water per harvest.”
Claim · model-written summary
Water stress reduced cellulose content in alfalfa hay.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- water stresse0
- Outcome
- cellulose contente0
- Direction
- reducede0
- Comparator
- three (10, 15 or 20 cm water/ha) levels of water per harveste1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“water stress reduced cell wall constituents (neutral detergent fiber), acid detergent fiber, lignin and cellulose content of the alfalfa hay.”
e1“fed alfalfa hay grown at three (10, 15 or 20 cm water/ha) levels of water per harvest.”
Claim · model-written summary
Organic matter digestibility decreased when alfalfa leaves fell below 60% at the highest yield.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Organ / stage
- leavese0
- Outcome
- Organic matter digestibilitye0
- Direction
- decreasede0
- Value
- 60%e0
- Qualifier
- at the highest yielde0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Organic matter digestibility was decreased when the percentage of leaves fell below 60% at the highest yield.”
e1“alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.)]”
Claim · model-written summary
Water stress did not affect nitrogen digestibility.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- water stresse0
- Outcome
- Digestibility of Ne0
- Direction
- not affectede0
- Comparator
- nonstressed haye2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Digestibility of N and the rate of NDF digestibility were not affected by water stress.”
e1“alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.)]”
e2“nonstressed hay”
Claim · model-written summary
Water stress did not affect the rate of NDF digestibility.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- water stresse0
- Outcome
- rate of NDF digestibilitye0
- Direction
- not affectede0
- Comparator
- nonstressed haye2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Digestibility of N and the rate of NDF digestibility were not affected by water stress.”
e1“alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.)]”
e2“nonstressed hay”
Claim · model-written summary
Lambs absorbed more N from water-stressed than nonstressed alfalfa hay.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- water-stressede0
- Outcome
- amounts of Ne0
- Direction
- Greatere0
- Qualifier
- P less than .10e0
- Comparator
- nonstressed haye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Greater (P less than .10) amounts of N and P were absorbed from water-stressed than nonstressed hay.”
e1“alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.)]”
Claim · model-written summary
Lambs absorbed more P from water-stressed than nonstressed alfalfa hay.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- water-stressede0
- Outcome
- Pe0
- Direction
- Greatere0
- Qualifier
- P less than .10e0
- Comparator
- nonstressed haye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Greater (P less than .10) amounts of N and P were absorbed from water-stressed than nonstressed hay.”
e1“alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.)]”
Claim · model-written summary
Ruminal retention time of particulate markers tended to increase with alfalfa water stress.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- greater water stresse0
- Outcome
- Ruminal retention time of particulate markerse0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Qualifier
- tended (P less than .10)e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Ruminal retention time of particulate markers tended (P less than .10) to increase with greater water stress.”
e1“alfalfa [Medicago sativa (L.)]”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors interpreted moderate water stress as having little effect on in vivo alfalfa digestibility.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae0
- Treatment
- moderate water stresse0
- Outcome
- in vivo digestibility of alfalfae0
- Direction
- little effecte0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“moderate water stress may have little effect on in vivo digestibility of alfalfa”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors interpreted severe water stress as potentially reducing digestibility of fibrous fractions and total organic matter.
- Taxon
- alfalfaMedicago sativae1
- Treatment
- severe stresse0
- Outcome
- digestibility of fibrous fractions and total organic mattere0
- Direction
- reducee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“severe stress may reduce digestibility of fibrous fractions and total organic matter.”
e1“digestibility of alfalfa”
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See all 21 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.