Aspen Bibliography

Evaluation of pelleted aspen foliage as a ruminant feedstuff

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Animal Science

Volume

61

Issue

5

First Page

1030

Last Page

1036

Publication Date

1985

Abstract

Growth and digestion trials were conducted to determine the nutritive value of pelleted aspen foliage as a dietary ingredient for sheep. Lambs offered diets that contained 0, 25, 50 and 75% aspen leaves, with alfalfa as the other dietary ingredient, consumed less feed and gained less weight as the proportion of aspen leaves in the diet increased (P<.05). Digestibility coefficients for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, gross energy, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose and cellulose decreased linearly (P<.01) as the percentage of aspen foliage consumed increased. Calculated digestibility of individual aspen leaf components gave values as low as 16.6 and 13% for crude protein and cellulose, respectively. Coefficients of determination for the linear regressions indicated no associative effects between alfalfa and aspen leaves. Due to the depressed value for crude protein digestibility, the amount of acid detergent fiber-insoluble N was determined. Over 50% of the total N in aspen foliage was bound to the acid detergent fiber fraction, reflecting the presence of heat-damaged protein and(or) tannin-protein complexes that are unavailable for digestion by the animal. After adjustment for unavailable N, the crude protein digestibility of aspen foliage was 61.5%. Balances of 10 minerals were determined during the digestion trial. Negative mineral balances for the 75% aspen leaf diet suggest that the animals were in a nutrient deficient condition when fed this diet. Further information concerning protein availability and tannin-protein complex formation in aspen foliage is necessary before aspen leaves are used as a feedstuff for ruminants.

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