A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE NUTRITIVE-VALUE OF SHORT-CUTTING CYCLE, HIGHTEMPERATURE-DRIED ALFALFA AND TIMOTHY HAY FOR HORSES

The objective was to evaluate the nutritive value of short-cutting cyc le, high temperature-dried (SCCHTD) alfalfa compared to timothy hay. T his was achieved by carrying out 4 x 4 Latin Square digestibility tria l using 4 Thoroughbred (one three-quarter Thoroughbred) horses (mean l iveweight, 531 kg). The four dietary treatments were 0AA (timothy hay only), 33AA (0.33 alfalfa: 0.67 timothy hay), 67AA (0.67 alfalfa: 0.33 timothy hay) and 100AA (alfalfa only). Digestibility data were obtain ed by using acid-insoluble ash to estimate apparent digestibility coef ficients of nutrients. Rate of passage of the feedstuff was determined using chromiummordanted hay. Plasma triglyceride and cholesterol conc entrations were estimated. The digestibilities of organic matter (0.63 ), energy (0.57) and crude protein (0.74) of the alfalfa were signific antly (P < 0.001) higher than those for the hay (0.45, 0.43 and 0.36 r espectively). The fibre components of alfalfa and hay were digested to the same extent but the ether extract of alfalfa was less well digest ed. Alfalfa saponins had no consistently significant effects on plasma cholesterol and triglyceride values but may contribute to the negativ e digestibility of alfalfa ether extract. We conclude that SCCHTD alfa lfa is of much higher nutritive value than timothy hay when fed to Tho roughbred horses.