EFFECTS OF CEREAL-GRAINS ON FIBER DIGESTION IN-VITRO

Cereal grains including wheat, barley, oats, maize and sorghum were in cubated with strained rumen fluid in vitro with either ryegrass or luc erne in the ratios of 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0 at 39 degre es C for 24 h. Expected NDF digestibilities in mixtures of cereal grai n and forage were calculated by interpolation between NDF digestibilit ies of each grain and of each forage. These were compared with measure d NDF digestibilities to detect deviations due to synergism or inhibit ion. Wheat, barley and maize had inhibitory effects, whereas oats and sorghum had synergistic effects, on NDF digestibility with both forage s.