EFFECT OF FORAGE TO CONCENTRATE RATIO ON COMPARATIVE DIGESTION IN SHEEP, GOATS AND FALLOW DEER

Three ewes, three female goats and three male fallow deer, aged betwee n 7 and 12 months and weighing 24.0 to 32.2 kg, were used in this expe riment to outline the main differences in digestion among the three sp ecies. Dietary feeding levels (45 and 90 g/kg M(0.75) per day). The th ree diets were given to the three animals of each species in a Latin-s quare design; the two levels of feeding were compared within diet in e ach period of the Latin square. The diet selected, apparent digestibil ity, and rumen retention time of Cr-mordanted neutral-detergent fibre were significantly different among species and dietary treatments. Int eractions between species and dietary treatments were also significant for all the above variables. Sheep showed the highest intakes and app arent digestibilities of the forage-rich diets, and the longest rumen mean retention times. Goats tended to select diet components, despite allowance of diets being limited, and had lower food intakes than shee p. Apparent digestibility of forage-rich diet was also lower. Rumen me an retention times were shorter and less influenced by dietary treatme nts. Fallow deer had an apparent digestibility of forage-rich diets wh ich was even lower than that of goats. Food intake teas similar to tha t of sheep, with no evidence of selection. Rumen mean retention time w as shorter than that of goats.