THE VALUE OF THE FIBROUS RESIDUE FROM LEAF PROTEIN EXTRACTION AS A FEEDING‐STUFF FOR RUMINANTS

Abstract

The production of a fibrous material as a residue from the process of extracting a protein concentrate from fresh crops is described and the value of this material as a coarse feed for ruminants has been studied in five digestibility experiments with sheep. In these the digestibilities of the residues have been compared with the digestibilities of the corresponding fresh crops. The fibre residues, both fresh and artificially dried, were readily consumed by sheep.The average digestibilities of the dry matter and organic matter in the fibre residues were respectively 6.4 units and 5.6 units lower than in the corresponding fresh crops. The organic matter content of the fibre residues was higher than that of the fresh crops. Because of this the residues contained 94% as much digestible organic matter per lb. of feed dry matter as did the unprocessed crops. The dry matter of the fibre residues contained from 52%–60% of digestible organic matter and from 1.32% to 2.2% of digestible nitrogen. In respect to the former they are equivalent to medium grade hay, but are superior to this in digestible nitrogen content.The fibre residues can be readily dried but artificial drying would be unlikely to be economic in commercial practice. Residues have been successfully ensiled, using either molasses or mineral acids as additives but the silage has been found to be quite unpalatable to all classes of ruminants. It is suggested that the fibre residues would best be utilized by feeding directly to stock in yards adjacent to the protein extraction machinery.