Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ndmmz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-20T18:13:24.267Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Cereal processing and food utilization by sheep 1. The effect of processing on utilization of barley by early-weaned lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

C. Fraser
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
E. R. Ørskov
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
Get access

Summary

In Experiment 1, 24 early-weaned, male lambs were given ad libitum a diet based on either rolled or whole barley, both pelleted through a 7·4 mm die. Growth rates were 360 and 409 g/day, food conversion ratios 2·80 and 2·56 kg dry matter/kg gain, and organic-matter digestibilities 77·8 and 80·4% for the two diets respectively. In Experiment 2, 12 early-weaned, female lambs were given a diet based on either whole barley pelleted through a 7·4 mm die or unprocessed barley. When the diets were given in restricted quantities those containing unprocessed barley were slightly but significantly higher in digestibility. The feeding of unprocessed barley increased the firmness of subcutaneous fat and the contents of the rumen at slaughter, but decreased liver weight.

In Experiment 3,36 early-weaned, female lambs were given ad libitum diets based on either pelleted rolled barley, pelleted whole barley or unprocessed barley. Growth rates were 260, 270 and 264 g/day; food conversion ratios were 3·20, 3·20 and 3·00 kg dry matter/kg gain organic-matter digestibilities were 80·8, 79·3 and 81·0%, rumen pH values were 5·2, 5·2 and 6·1, and liver weights 728, 788 and 673 g, for the three diets respectively. As in Experiment 2, the subcutaneous fat on the cold carcass was firmer and more acceptable to the butcher when whole barley was given.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

American Society of Agricultural Engineers. 1967. Method of determining modulus of uniformity and modulus of fineness of ground feed. Yb. Am. Soc. agric. Engrs 1967, p. 301.Google Scholar
Andrews, R. P. and ørskov, E. R. 1970. The nutrition of the early-weaned lamb. 1. The influence of protein concentration and feeding level on rate of gain in body weight. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 75: 1118.Google Scholar
Davidson, I., Mathieson, J. and Boyne, A. W. 1970. The use of automation in determining nitrogen by the Kjeldahl method with final calculation by computer. Analyst, Lond. 95: 181193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hungate, R. E. 1966. The Rumen and its Microbes. Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
MacLeod, N. A., MacDearmid, A. and Kay, M. 1972. A note on the use of field beans (Viciafabia) for growing cattle. Anim. Prod. 14: 111113.Google Scholar
MacRae, J. C. and Armstrong, D. G. 1969. Studies on intestinal digestion in sheep. 2. Digestion of some carbohydrate constituents in hay, cereal and hay-cereal rations. Br.J.Nutr. 23: 377387.Google Scholar
Morrison, F. B. 1956. Feeds and Feeding, 22nd ed. The Morrison Publishing Company, Ithaca, New York.Google Scholar
Orskov, E. R. 1973. The effect of not processing barley on rumenitis in sheep. Res. vet. Sci. 14: 110112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. and Fraser, C. 1972. Effect on type of rumen fermentation and digestibility of feeding whole as opposed to processed barley to sheep. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 31: 101A102A (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Ørskov, E. R. and Fraser, C. 1973. The effect of processing on utilization of cereals by young lambs. Proc. Br. Soc. Anim. Prod. 2: 69 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Ørskov, E. R., Fraser, C., Gill, J. C. and Corse, E. L. 1971. The effect in an intensive production system of type of cereal and time of weaning on the performance of lambs. Anim. Prod. 13: 485492.Google Scholar
Tait, R. M. 1971. Effect of grain processing on performance of early weaned lambs. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 51: 820821.Google Scholar
Van Soest, P. J. 1963. Use of detergents in the analysis of fibrous feeds. II. A rapid method for the determination of fibre and lignin. J. Ass. off. agric. Chem. 46: 829835.Google Scholar