Effect of fertiliser and supplementary phosphorus on the intake and digestibility of the legume Desmodium introtum |
T. R. Evans, J. C. P. Severo, D. J. Minson, J. H. Ternouth |
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Abstract |
The application of fertilizer P to Desmodium intortum at 40, 60 and 100 kg/ha resulted in the P content of the legume regrowth being 0.10, 0.13 and 0.16% on a dry matter basis. When the forages were fed alone to sheep in metabolism pens the corresponding voluntary intakes by sheep of the three forages were 27.3, 42.7 and 54.3 g/Wkg0.75, respectively. Provision of additional P by rapid infusion into the rumen each morning before any fresh food was offered depressed the voluntary intake of all three feeds. It is suggested that the adverse effect of supplementary P was probably caused by an induced deficiency of either Ca or Mg and led to a reduction in microbial activity in the rumen. |
Keywords:
Phosphorus; Voluntary Intake; Digestibility; Desmodium intortum |
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