Factors affecting degradation of barley straw in sacco and microbial activity in the rumen of cows fed fibre-rich diets: III. The amount of supplemental energy

• Published in: Animal feed science and technology Vol. 70; no. 3; pp. 225 - 238
• Main Authors: Stritzler, N.P, Jensen, B.B, Wolstrup, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal productions; BARLEY STRAW; Biological and medical sciences; COMPLEMENT ALIMENTAIRE; Cow; COWS; DEGRADACION; DEGRADATION; Energy; ENERGY VALUE; FARINE DE POISSON; FISH MEAL; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HARINA DE PESCADO; PAILLE D'ORGE; PAJA DE CEBADA; RUMEN; Straw degradation; SUPLEMENTOS; Supplementation; SUPPLEMENTS; Terrestrial animal productions; VACA; VACHE; VALEUR ENERGETIQUE; VALOR ENERGETICO; Vertebrates; Rumen; Cow; Supplementation; Energy; Straw degradation; Stomach; Barley; Energetic value; Farming animal; Bovine; Animal feeding; Ruminant animal; Digestive system; Microflora; Supplemented diet; Straw; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Female; Artiodactyla; Dietary fiber; Ungulata; Digestibility
• ISSN: 0377-8401; 1873-2216
• DOI: 10.1016/S0377-8401(97)00084-9

A basic diet composed of 76.2% untreated barley straw +23.8% grass hay was given to three non-lactating cows at 90% of ad libitum intake; the diet was supplemented with fishmeal to make the ration up to 12% protein on dry matter basis, a mineral–vitamin mixture and either 1.5 kg; 3.0 kg or 4.5 kg of rolled barley/cow×day in a Latin Square design. The inclusion of rolled barley affected the degradability of DM, OM and individual components of the cell wall of barley straw incubated in nylon bags for up to 72 h. The higher the energy level of supplementation, the lower the digestion of the cell wall components. The amount of starch influenced rumen pH, ammonia and VFAs concentrations, ATP and protozoal numbers, but no treatment effect could be detected upon the outflow rate of liquid or particulate phases. The ATP and DNA concentrations found inside the nylon bags suggest the presence of an inactive or less active population towards the substrate after 24 h of incubation.