Retention of nitrogen from ground barley grain supplemented with lucerne or barley leaf juice in long-term balance experiments conducted with rats.

Abstract

AbstractThe biological value (BV) and true digestibility of lucerne and barley juice protein mixed with ground barley grain were estimated using the Thomas‐Mitchell balance method with rats. The BV with forage barley juice protein was similar to that of barley grain protein alone and was not improved by any of the applied treatments. The BV with lucerne juice protein was lower and was improved by separating the ‘brown juice’ after heat coagulation. Better results were obtained in a group fed diets with lowered levels of potassium and calcium which suggested an imbalance in the mineral content of lucerne juice; there was no difference in water consumption. The haemoglobin content of the blood of rats fed lucerne or barley juice alone was lower than that of animals fed plant juice/barley grain mixtures. No pathological lesions were observed in the guts, kidneys and livers of the rats.