NUTRITIVE-VALUE OF KOCHIA (KOCHIA-SCOPARIA) HAY OR SILAGE GROWN IN A BLACK SOIL ZONE IN NORTHEASTERN SASKATCHEWAN FOR SHEEP

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the voluntary intake and digestibility of kochia (Kochia scoparia) as hay or silage for sheep. In Trial 1, kochia (KOC) hay substituted for alfalfa hay (AA) at 0, 25, 50 or 75% of complete diets, or 50% AA or 50% KOC with barley (BAR) were fed to 24 mature wethers in a completely randomized design experiment. As the level of KOC in the diet increased, dry matter intake (DMI) of wethers decreased linearly. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in dry matter or fiber digestibilities among the four diets containing AA and KOC hay. Nitrogen and gross energy digestibilities increased linearly (P < 0.05) with decreasing levels of dietary KOC. In trial 2, KOC silage prepared from two ecotypes of KOC (southern and northern), cut at two different dates and fed in a 50:50 combination with AA silage were compared with a diet containing AA silage. DMI and nutrient digestibilities of the AA silage diet were higher (P < 0.05) than those for the diets containing KOC. Results indicate that KOC hay can be fed in high forage or concentrate diets at levels between 25 and 50% of the diet without adverse effects on intake or digestibility. Results also demonstrate that KOC can be preserved by ensiling and that KOC silage can be used in combination with AA silage in diets for sheep.