50 Intake, digestibility, and nitrogen balance in horses fed rhizoma peanut hay

Rhizoma peanut hay has the potential to meet horses’ crude protein requirements with reduced nitrogen excretion. This study aimed to evaluate nutrient intake, apparent digestibility, and nitrogen balance of rhizoma peanut (RP, Arachis glabrata cv Florigraze) hay compared with alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L. cv Legendary XHD) and bermudagrass (CB, Cynodon dactylon L. cv Coastal) hays when fed to maintenance horses at 2% BW/d on a dry-matter (DM) basis. Six mature Quarter Horse geldings (593 ± 40 kg; mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to one of the hays in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square with 21-d periods. A 14-d adaptation phase was followed by a 3-d total fecal and urine collection. Intake of nutrients is reported on a DM basis. Both legumes (ALF = 1.99% BW and RP = 1.97% BW) provided DM intake greater (P