Effects of growth stage on nutritional value of barley and triticale forages for goats

Abstract

The nutritional composition and in vitro gas production of barley and triticale forages at tillering, stem elongation, and ear emergence stages were studied. The mean crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content was higher in barley than triticale. The supplementation of wheat grain in in vitro incubation had no effect on the gas production of barley and triticale forage. The nutritive value of barley and triticale forages is highly influenced by growth stage and is high during the early stage of growth during tillering and stem elongation. Barley and triticale forages have potential as feed for dairy goats and although barley had a higher CP content, both have adequate ME and CP levels to meet the nutritional requirements of adult goats with 50 kg body weight in early lactation.