Digestibility of lucerne hay with special reference to experimental technique in digestion trials

Abstract

Five steers were used to determine the digestion coefficients of the Dry Matter, Crude Protein, and Crude Fibre of lucerne hay during five separate periods. The analysis of the resultant data shows that period has no influence on the coefficients of Crude Protein, but there is some evidence of a period influence on the coefficients of digestion of Dry Matter and Crude Fibre. In consequence it is concluded that the Latin Square or Randomized Block Technique of Fisher should be adhered to wherever possible, but since period effects tend to be very small, an alternative technique is suggested in the interests of simplicity.