Effect of forage type on the digestion of whole barley grain by breeding ewes

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe proportion of whole grain consumed that was voided intact in the faeces of ewes in late pregnancy and early lactation was measured for diets based on a range of forages in two experiments. The proportions of grain voided intact varied widely between ewes and was to some extent a characteristic of the individual ewe. During late pregnancy on hay-based diets the mean proportion of grain recovered was 0·053 with a range from 0·042 to 0·063 while on silage-based diets 0·135 (range 0·082 to 0·209) was recovered. On silage-based diets after lambing 0·196 and 0·235 of grain was voided intact in the faeces. The proportion of intact grain voided was affected by forage intake. The estimated increase in the proportion of grain voided intact was 0·012 measured over a range of forages before lambing and 0·021 on silage after lambing per 100 g increase in dry matter intake. However, when the total digestibility was measured, there were no differences between feeding of whole and processed grain where proportionately 0·06 of whole grain consumed was voided intact.