Influence of Fistulation on the Digestibility of Feeds by Steers

Eighteen single digestion trials were conducted with three intact and three rumen-fistulated steers fed three rations: (1) all hay, (2) all concentrate and (3) hay plus concentrate. Two simultaneous 3×3 Latin squares were employed. The differences between digestion coefficients obtained with intact and fistulated steers were not significant at the P=0.05 level. Non-additive digestibility was not apparent; the digestion coefficients of the mixed ration (3) were in good agreement with those computed for this ration from the single-feed rations (1) and (2).