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The rumen degradability of crimped wheat in comparison with conventionally treated grain assessed in vitro

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

F.L. Mould
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 237, Reading, RG6 6AR, U.K.
K. Cave
Affiliation:
Kelvin Cave Ltd, Roe Deer Farm, Drayton, Langport, Somerset, TA10 0LP
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Extract

Despite little published research data (Ekström et al., 1966) the use of crimped cereal grain in the rations of high producing dairy cows has gained considerable acceptance. This is partly due to an earlier harvesting date permitting replanting up to three weeks earlier and to reduced storage costs. However, the main attraction is that high levels of crimped grain are readily consumed without apparently adversely affecting rumen fermentation. Although this appears to be in direct contradiction with the belief that crimped grain is fermented faster due the ensiling process, this information was probably obtained using the in sacco technique which tends to over-estimate processed cereal degradation due of fine particulate losses (e.g. starch granules). This study was therefore undertaken to characterise the degradation profile of crimped wheat grain relative to that of conventionally harvested material.

Type
Poster Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2002

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References

Ekström, N, Thomle, S. and Schmekel, J. 1966. Utfodring av spannmålsensilage [Feeding ensiled grain]. Swedish Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Report no. 316, Uppsala, Sweden.Google Scholar
Mauricio, R.M., Mould, F.L., Dhanoa, M.S., Owen, E., Channa, K.S. and Theodorou, M.K. 1999. A semi-automated in vitro gas production technique for ruminant feedstuff evaluation. Animal Feed Science and Technology 79: 312330.Google Scholar