In situ degradability of Iranian barley grain cultivars

Our objectives were to determine the extent of genetic variability in the rate and extent of ruminal digestion among 10 cultivars of barley. Barley samples (Hordeum vulgare L.) were ground through a 2 min screen, and bags containing I g of ground grains were incubated in the rumen of three ruminally cannulated rams for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 h. The rate and extent of ruminal digestion were estimated. The soluble DM fraction ranged from 37.5 to 43%, the degradable DM fraction ranged from 42.2 to 49%, and the rate of degradation of DM ranged from 25.6 to 31.5% h(-1). The small variability observed in the ruminal digestion characteristics of barley cultivars indicated that genetic selection does not hold promise as a means of enhancing the nutritional quality of barley for ruminants. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.