Journal of Animal Science, Vol 71, Issue 6 1390-1394, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Effects of barley variety and restricted versus ad libitum intake on rate, site, and extent of digestion by wethers fed a high-energy diet

P. G. Hatfield, M. K. Petersen, C. K. Clark, H. A. Glimp, K. J. Hemenway and W. S. Ramsey
U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, ARS, USDA, Dubois, ID 83423.

Twelve ruminally cannulated wethers (four with duodenal cannulas) were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square to investigate effects of barley variety and restricted vs ad libitum intake on site, rate, and extent of digestion. Diets were based on Ottus (52.7% starch; O) or Steptoe (56.7% starch; S) barley fed at either 90% of prestudy ad libitum feed intake (R) or ad libitum consumption (A). Diets were formulated to be equal in starch content (38%). Periods consisted of 10 d for adaptation followed by 10 d in which fecal, duodenal, ruminal, and in situ collections were made. With the exception of ruminal starch digestion, barley variety did not interact with level of feed intake (P > .26). Intake of OM was 1,009, 996, 1,124, and 881 g.wether-1.d-1 for O, S, A, and R, respectively. Intake by R wethers of OM and starch was 78% (P < .01) of intake by A wethers. Duodenal flow of OM and ruminal pH were not affected (P > .28) by either intake restriction or barley variety. Although restricted intake did not affect ruminal (P = .84) and duodenal (P = .39) ammonia nitrogen, the O barley had higher (P = .01) ruminal and duodenal ammonia nitrogen than did S barley. Restricted intake had no effect (P > .30) on rate of ruminal barley digestion, ruminal and total tract starch digestion, or total tract OM digestion. This may be due to the rapid digestion rate of barley.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)