The response of store lambs to protein supplementation of alkali treated straw based diets

Abstract

Factors affecting voluntary food intake (VFI) in ruminants are well documented and suggest that both physical and chemical factors are involved. An understanding of VFI controls is important for the formulation of economical diets to achieve maximum levels of production.The effect of protein supply on VFI is unclear. While the need for rumen degradable protein (RDP) to maximise microbial activity and consequently VFI is clearly established ARC (1960), the effect of undegraded dietary protein (UDP) on VFI is equivocal.