THE TOTAL AND DIGESTIBLE YIELD OF NUTRIENTS IN BARLEY CULTIVARS GROWN IN THE PEACE RIVER AREA OF ALBERTA FED TO GROWING SWINE

Abstract

Seven barrows (Yorkshire × Lacombe) weighing 40 kg at the beginning and 95 kg at the end of the experiment were used in a latin square design experiment to determine the apparent digestibility of selected nutrients in barley cultivars. Seven barley cultivars, representing both six-rowed (Gateway, Klondike, Bonanza and Galt) and two-rowed (Klages, Fairfield and Betzes) varieties, grown on demonstration plots in the Peace River area of Alberta, were tested. Apparent dry matter digestibilities ranged from 82.9% for Galt to 85.7% for Klages (P < 0.05). Protein digestibility ranged from 65.2% for Galt to 69.4% for Betzes. Coefficients of digestion for gross energy ranged from 81.2% for Galt to 84.2% for Klages (P < 0.05). Lysine digestibility ranged from 48.1% for Galt to 61.7% for Bonanza (P < 0.05). Based on long-term average yields, gross and digestible energy yield per hectare were highest from Galt, followed by Klondike, Klages, Fairfield, Bonanza, Betzes and Gateway. Total and digestible yield of protein was highest for Galt and lowest for Klages. However, in terms of total and available yield of lysine, Bonanza ranked the highest. Fairfield had the highest yield of grain, gross energy and digestible energy, based on actual plot yields, followed by Klondike, Bonanza, Gateway, Klages, Betzes and Galt. Yields of total and available protein and lysine from actual plot data were highest for Bonanza and lowest for Galt. Key words: Digestibility, barley, composition, cultivar, swine