Effects of cereal grains on fibre digestion <i>in vitro</i>

Abstract

Cereal grains including wheat, barley, oats, maize and sorghum were incubated with strained rumen fluid in vitro with either ryegrass or lucerne in the ratios of 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 100:0 at 3g¦C for 24 h. Expected NDF digestibilities in mixtures of cereal grain and forage were calculated by interpolation between NDF digestibilities of each grain and of each forage. These were compared with measured NDF digestibilities to detect deviations due to synergism or inhibition. Wheat, barley and maize had inhibitory effects, whereas oats and sorghum had synergistic effects, on NDF digestibility with both forages.