A note on the digestibility in lambs of whole, dry barley treated with ammonia

Abstract

Whole, dry barley treated with ammonia (A), whole, untreated barley (WU) or ground barley (G) were fed with hay and a little high protein concentrate to 7 to 11-month-old lambs. Most apparent digestibility coefficients were found to be 3 to 5 units higher in the diet with barley A than in diets with barley WU or G, the differences being significant. Calculation of the digestibility of barley by difference showed that the coefficients were 8 to 10 units higher in barley A than in barley WU or G as regards dry matter and organic matter. Digestion of crude fibre was better in both A and WU than in G. These differences were also significant. 0rskov, Fraser and McHattie (1974) found that early-weaned lambs digested barley, oats and maize slightly better in whole than ground form, while the reverse was observed with wheat.

Effect of ammoniation on the preservation and feeding value of barley grain for growing-finishing cattle

“…It has been hypothesized that any improved performance might result from a decreased rate of digestion and hence rumen escape of nitrogen and nonfiber components of the ammoniated barley, resulting in the improved efficiency (Robinson and Kennelly 1988a, b;1989 Laksesvela and Slagsvold (1980), Laksesvela (1981), Low and Kellaway (1983) and Mandell et al (1988) (Mathison et al 1991). A greater incidence of bloat was observed when whole rather than rolled grain was fed (23 vs. 4 cases) which confirms results of Mathison et al (1991).…”

“…Of particular interest are the observations that the disestibility of whole grain may be improved ivhen it is ammoniated (Laksesvela and Slagsvold 1980;Mowat et al 1981;Low and Kellawav 1983). …”

A note on the use of whole, moist barley treated with ammonia as a feed supplement for sheep

“…Whole grains do not, for instance, reduce the rate of cellulose digestion with a consequent decrease in roughage intake and digestibility, as may occur when excessively processed grains are given with roughage. Whole, dry barley treated with ammonia has been found to be superior to whole, dry, untreated barley or ground barley for lambs (Laksesvela and Slagsvold, 1980). This note reports experiments with young adult female sheep (gimmers) and young female sheep (lambs) given ammoniated, whole, moist barley.…”

Efficacy of Anhydrous Ammonia and Sulfur Dioxide as Preservatives for High-Moisture Grain and Their Effect on the Nutritive Value of Barley for Growing-Finishing Cattle

“…However, Laksesvela and Slagsvold (1980) reported that dry ammoniated-barley was more completely digested by lambs than either whole or ground barley. This result was later confirmed with moist ammoniated-barlev (Laksesvela 198 1).…”

“…Low and Kellaway (1983) noted that ammoniation increased the digestibility of whole wheat so it was equivalent to that of cracked wheat. Laksesvela and Slagsvold (1980) and Laksesvela (1981) Robinson and Kennelly (1988b) noted that as ammoniation levels were increased the rate of decline in pH in the rumen after feeding was reduced. Results from in situ and in vivo studies (Rode et al 1986;Mandell et al 1988) confirm that whole ammonia-treated barley is degraded more slowly and possibly less completely in the rumen than control grain.…”