Abstract
This paper is the first of series in which the results of studies on the methods of evaluation of forage quality by hamsters will be presented. One of the initial problems was to clarify the hamster's growth response to forages. We tried a few experiments with respect to the growth response in weaned hamsters to hay and fresh legumes. When the level of hay in the diet was below about 50% hamsters gained weight ; and existed on a 75% hay diet. Hamsters survived and gained weight when fed on only legumes, without being supplemented with water and other nutrients. Growth response of hamsters to fresh alfalfa was far better than to fresh red clover. Dry matter intake of legumes by hamsters was about 10% of body weight. A considerable amount of dry matter, energy, cell wall constituents and crude protein of fresh legume were digested by hamsters.
