EFFECT OF BARLEY SUPPLEMENT TO THE RATION OF DONOR ANIMALS USED IN IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY DETERMINATION

Abstract

Rumen fluid from two sheep was used to determine in vitro dry matter digestibilities of 25 samples each from alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa L.) and barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.). The sheep were fed either a good quality hay ad libitum and 1 kg rolled barley per day, or only the hay ad libitum, in a switchback design. The in vitro dry matter digestibilities of both alfalfa hay and barley were lower (P < 0.01) when the donor animal was fed hay and barley than when fed only hay.