Composition and in sacco Degradability of Cereal Plant Fractions

Abstract

Flachowsky, G., Schneider, A., Koch, H. and Zuber, S. 1993. Composition and in sacco degradability of cereal plant fractions. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 3: 1–10.

Whole cereal plants of 4 types (7 varieties) were harvested and fractionated into 11 fractions: roots, 8 × 5 cm fractions of stalks above the roots until a height of 40 cm, >40 cm of stalks until the ears and the ears. Cell wall constituents of selected fractions and in sacco degradability of dry matter (DMD) were determined using six rumen fistulated sheep. Proportion of ear (36.7 to 54.0% ofVM) to straw varied between types and varieties. The 5 cm-fractions of stalks varied between 2.4 and 5.5% of total plan! weight. The straws of spring cereals (barley: 63.2; oat: 61.4%) were more degradable than those of winter cereals (barley: 52.8; rye: 4 7.0; wheat: 54.3%). The DMD of total plant depended on relative proportion of straw and ear. The lower parts of stems contained more lignin (0–5 cm: 12.6; 15–20 cm: 10.5; 35–40 cm: 9.3% of DM) and were less degradable in the rumen than the higher ones (0–5 cm: 44.3; 20–25 cm; 53.2; 35- 40 cm height: 57.0%). A higher cut of cereal plant increased DMD of straw (0.5–1.5% per 5 cm), but the straw yield was considerably decreased (5–10% per 5 cm).

Key words:

• Cereal straw
• plant fractions
• cell wall content
• in sacco degradability
• sheep