sizeable quantities of grounds or coffee meal.
Coffee grounds have protein, fat, fiber and
nitrogen-free extract; they could serve as a
source of nutrients for cattle.
In a previous study (Campbell et aL, 1976)
Holstein steers were used to compare rations in
which coffee grounds replaced grain at rates of
0, 5, I0, or 20%. Digestibility coefficients for
dry matter, crude protein, and energy decreased
and ether extract increased progressively as con-
centrations of coffee grounds in the ration were
increased. Nitrogen retention and utilization de-
creased significantly when the rations contained
10 or 20% coffee grounds. Coffee grounds de-
pressed feed intake and weight gain. However,
Mather and Apgar (1956), who studied the use
of dried coffee grounds as a feed ingredient for
dairy cattle, reported that grounds did not af-
fect milk production but did reduce significant-
ly body weight of cows and growth rates of
calves on starter rations.
A purpose of this study was to obtain more
information on the feeding of coffee grounds to
lactating dairy cows and cattle fed high-concen-
trate, low-roughage rations. Also, the effect of
coffee grounds on rumen microbial activity and
rate of removal of dry matter from the rumen
was determined.