A note on the digestibility in lambs of whole, dry barley treated with ammonia

Abstract

Whole, dry barley treated with ammonia (A), whole, untreated barley (WU) or ground barley (G) were fed with hay and a little high protein concentrate to 7 to 11-month-old lambs. Most apparent digestibility coefficients were found to be 3 to 5 units higher in the diet with barley A than in diets with barley WU or G, the differences being significant. Calculation of the digestibility of barley by difference showed that the coefficients were 8 to 10 units higher in barley A than in barley WU or G as regards dry matter and organic matter. Digestion of crude fibre was better in both A and WU than in G. These differences were also significant.