Estimation of In vitro Digestibility of Barley Straw by Using a Homogenized Rumen Fluid and Artificial Saliva Mixed with Nitrogen and Energy Sources

Abstract

A 2 × 2 × 4 factorial study was conducted to examine the possibility of improving estimates of in vitro digestibility, using untreated (UBS) and ammonia-treated (ABS) barley straw, through homogenization of rumen fluid (RF) and by additions of urea (U) and casein (C) as N sources and Xylose + Glucose (XG) as energy sources into artificial saliva. Digestibiltiy of ABS was significantly greater than that of UBS (p < 0.001). There was a significant decrease in digestibility when additions (U, UC, UCXG) were compared with the control (p < 0.001). A 2-way interaction between RF and straw type was significant (p < 0.05) for dry matter digestibility (DMD). Homogenization of RF increased DMD of ABS (p < 0.05) whereas it decreased DMD of UBS (p > 0.05). The study showed that addition of N alone or in combination with energy sources was not better than control, rather the reverse, digestion was inhibited by a combination of U and casein (UC). It was concluded that sufficient N and branched chain fatty acids were supplied in the inoculum from sheep fed high protein grass cubes to support the growth of cellulolytic microbes during in vitro incubation. Further studies are, however, required to explore the potential of homogenization in improving the in vitro method to estimate digestibility of cereal straws.