A COMPARISON OF TRITICALE AND BANDICOOT OATS AND THE INFLUENCE OF CRACKING BARLEY GRAIN ON DIGESTIBILITY IN CATTLE AND SHEEP

The in vivo dry matter digestibility (DMD) of whole and cracked barley grain in cattle and sheep was compared to validate laboratory estimates of grain DMD. Mean (&SD) DMD of cracked barley fed to sheep and cattle was not significantly different, (81.8 + 1.7 % v 82.2 + 2.3%), but DMD of whole grain fed to cattle (52.9 t 3.4%) was lower than when fed cracked to cattle (82.2 + 2.3%) and whole or cracked to sheep (83.1 f 2.5 % & 8 1.8 21.7%). The DMD of Bandicoot oats, a high fat content grain, and triticale, a low fat content grain was determined in vivo in cattle and sheep and estimated by laboratory analysis. Mean DMD of Bandicoot oats was found to be 81.5 + 5.0 % in sheep, 79.9 & 3.9 % in cattle and 87.2 % by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy using standard grain calibrations obtained by FEEDTEST from pepsin cellulase and in vivo investigations. The mean DMD of triticale was found to be 84.6 + 4.5 % in sheep, 78.4 & 3.0 % in cattle and 88.9 % by NIR. Bandicoot oats and triticale were also compared as the main component (67%) of a feedlot ration for steers. Growth rates, carcass weights and fat cover were similar; however the intake of steers fed triticale was restricted to the appetite of steers fed Bandicoot oats