AN ASSESSMENT OF BULK WEIGHT AND OTHER SIMPLE CRITERIA FOR PREDICTING THE DIGESTIBLE ENERGY VALUES OF FEED GRAINS

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oats (Avena sativa L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) typical of the ranges in bulk weight (density) and quality found in the commercial grain trade of Canada were analyzed for protein, gross energy, ether extract, crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, ash, cell wall content and lignin, and also measured for kernel plumpness. Effects of admixtures of wild oats (Avena fatua L.) and wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus L.) were studied. Samples were fed to mice to obtain digestibility coefficients. Statistical correlations between analyzed traits and digestible energy (DE) contents of the grains and admixtures were obtained. Various published equations for predicting DE were tested. There was too little variation in the DE values of wheat to warrant distinction on this basis. Bulk weight was useful for differentiating oats on a DE basis. For barley, both gross energy and crude fiber determinations were needed to permit a reliable estimation of DE.