Effects of Feeding Different Levels of Sprouted Barley on Fermentation Characteristics, Bacterial Quantification, and Rumen Morphology of Growing Lambs

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of sprouted barley inclusion level on the growth performance, digestibility, volatile fatty acids, bacterial quantification, and rumen morphology of growing lambs. Five dietary treatments with sprouted barley (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) and nine replicates per dietary treatment were performed on forty-five Awassi lambs (90 days old). The average weight gain, intake, and digestibility of dry and organic matter were recorded. The pH, color, volatile fatty acids, bacterial quantification, and rumen histomorphometry were also determined. The results showed that the average dry and organic matter intake in T2 to T4 and the average weight gain in T4 decreased linearly. In contrast, the digestibility of dry and organic matter by sprouted barley (T2 to T4) was higher. The pH values and rumen color were not affected. Concentrations of formic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid were increased, while lactic acid and total volatile fatty acids were lower in all levels of sprouted barley. In addition, lambs fed T4 had a higher quantification of Anaerovibrio Lipolytica, Butyrivibrio Fibrisolvens, and Streptococcus Bovis quantification. Selenomonas Ruminantium was higher in T1, T2, and T4, whereas Megashpaera Elsdenii was lower in T1 to T3. The rumen histomorphometric was improved by sprouted barley (T2 and T3). Sprouted barley improved digestibility and rumen histomorphometry and increased the concentration of some volatile fatty acids and rumen bacteria but resulted in a decrease in average dry and organic matter intake, which negatively affected weight gain in lambs fed 100 % sprouted barley. Further studies are required to determine the potential effects on growing lambs fed sprouted barley.

Effect of Replacing Grass Silage with Hydroponic Maize Fodder on Nutrient Intake and Digestibility, Rumen Parameters and Blood Metabolites of Weaned Ongole x Brahman Calves

“…Hence, it is not in line with the majority of the previous studies where hydroponic fodder feeding increases nutrient digestibility compared with a control diet. Rather, the result of the present study was similar to those reported by Fazaeli et al (2021) and Alharthi et al (2023) that there were no significant effects of sprouted grains feeding on nutrient digestibility for dairy cows and lambs.…”

“…The ruminal concentration of TVFA as well as ammonia were increased with the substitution. Since rumen ammonia and VFA concentrations are products of rumen fermentation, their concentrations would indicate the rate and extent of rumen degradation of both carbohydrate and protein (Alharthi et al 2023). Therefore, rumen fermentation was possibly improved when grass silage was substituted with maize fodder, the DM and nutrient digestibility were expected to increase.…”