Untreated Barley Research Articles

Effect of Heat Treatments on Microbial Load and Associated Changes to β‐Glucan Physicochemical Properties in Whole Grain Barley

Health claims for barley β‐glucan (BG) have prompted the development of food products containing barley; however, some new products (such as milled grain used without a cook step, as in a smoothie) do not use any form of heat treatment during processing or prior to consumption, which could affect microbial safety and potential health benefits. The aims of this research were to evaluate current commercial barley products for microbial counts and BG characteristics and to determine the effects of different heat treatments on these attributes in whole grain barley samples. Three heat treatments (micronization, roasting, and conditioning) were performed on three cultivars of barley (CDC Rattan, CDC McGwire, and CDC Fibar). The microbial quality was measured with standard plate count (SPC), mold and yeast count (MYC), and coliforms or Escherichia coli. Only four of the 17 commercial barley products tested met acceptable microbial limits used in this study. All three heat treatments applied to the barley samples in this study reduced SPC, MYC, and coliforms to an acceptable level. BG was extracted with an in vitro digestion method to determine its viscosity, molecular weight (MW), and solubility. All three heat treatments produced BG extracts with high viscosity and MW compared with untreated barley. Overall, heat treatments improved both the safety and the potential health benefits from soluble BG in whole grain barley.

Effect of biological Treatment of Barley Straw with Baker’s Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on some productive performance of growing lambs.

ABSTRACTThis study was conducted at the farm of Ruminants Research Station, Office of AgriculturalResearch, Ministry of Agriculture, Abu Ghraib – Baghdad. The experiment continued for 56 days,in addition to 14 days as preliminary period from 11/10/2015 until 06/12/2016 to study the effect oftreating barley straw with baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on some productiveperformance of growing lambs. Ten Awassi lambs used in this experiment with average initial weightof 38±0.50 kg and age 8-9 months. Lambs divided randomly into two equal groups and kept inseparate individual pens. Lambs fed individually on a unified concentrate diet (2.5% of body weight),while, roughages offered ad libitum. Each group fed on roughages (barley straw), as follows:1. The first group fed untreated barley straw plus concentrate mixture and operated as control2. The second group fed barley straw treated with baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at rate0.5% (5 kg / tones).Animals weighed every two weeks before morning feeding. The digestibility experimentperformed in the seventh week. Rumen liquor collected at fifth week of the experiment at three times(before feeding, after three and six hours from feeding). Results showed different effects amongtreatments. The yeast not significantly affected the feed intake, average daily gain (15 – 28 d), invivo digestibility, and rumen fermentation (pH and NH3-N). Moreover, there was significant decrease(P <0.05) in daily weight gain during 29 - 42 d with baker’s yeast compared with control (107.14and 160.71g/d, respectively), while a significant increase (P <0.05) found in daily weight gain in the(1 – 14 d and 43 – 56 d) with baker’s yeast (103.57 and 178.57 g/d, respectively) compared withcontrol (48.33 and 142.86 g/d, respectively). We conclude that treatment with baker’s yeast notimproved feed conversion ratio, feed intake, intake of different nutrients, weight gains, digestibilityand rumen fermentation (pH and NH3-N concentration).

Effect of Biological Treatment of Barley Straw with Baker's Yeast (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) on Some Productive Performance of Growing Lambs

ABSTRACTThis study was conducted at the farm of Ruminants Research Station, Office of AgriculturalResearch, Ministry of Agriculture, Abu Ghraib – Baghdad. The experiment continued for 56 days,in addition to 14 days as preliminary period from 11/10/2015 until 06/12/2016 to study the effect oftreating barley straw with baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on some productiveperformance of growing lambs. Ten Awassi lambs used in this experiment with average initial weightof 38±0.50 kg and age 8-9 months. Lambs divided randomly into two equal groups and kept inseparate individual pens. Lambs fed individually on a unified concentrate diet (2.5% of body weight),while, roughages offered ad libitum. Each group fed on roughages (barley straw), as follows:1. The first group fed untreated barley straw plus concentrate mixture and operated as control2. The second group fed barley straw treated with baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) at rate0.5% (5 kg / tones).Animals weighed every two weeks before morning feeding. The digestibility experimentperformed in the seventh week. Rumen liquor collected at fifth week of the experiment at three times(before feeding, after three and six hours from feeding). Results showed different effects amongtreatments. The yeast not significantly affected the feed intake, average daily gain (15 – 28 d), invivo digestibility, and rumen fermentation (pH and NH3-N). Moreover, there was significant decrease(P <0.05) in daily weight gain during 29 - 42 d with baker’s yeast compared with control (107.14and 160.71g/d, respectively), while a significant increase (P <0.05) found in daily weight gain in the(1 – 14 d and 43 – 56 d) with baker’s yeast (103.57 and 178.57 g/d, respectively) compared withcontrol (48.33 and 142.86 g/d, respectively). We conclude that treatment with baker’s yeast notimproved feed conversion ratio, feed intake, intake of different nutrients, weight gains, digestibilityand rumen fermentation (pH and NH3-N concentration).

Fermentation of Ammonia Fiber Expansion Treated and Untreated Barley Straw in a Rumen Simulation Technique Using Rumen Inoculum from Cattle with Slow versus Fast Rate of Fiber Disappearance.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of rumen inoculum from heifers with fast vs. slow rate of in situ fiber digestion on the fermentation of complex versus easily digested fiber sources in the forms of untreated and Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX) treated barley straw, respectively, using an artificial rumen simulation technique (Rusitec). In situ fiber digestion was measured in a previous study by incubating untreated barley straw in the rumen of 16 heifers fed a diet consisting of 700 g/kg barley straw and 300 g/kg concentrate. The two heifers with fastest rate of digestion (Fast ≥ 4.18% h-1) and the two heifers with the slowest rate of digestion (Slow ≤ 3.17% h-1) were chosen as inoculum donors for this study. Two Rusitec apparatuses each equipped with eight fermenters were used in a completely randomized block design with two blocks (apparatus) and four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (Fast or Slow rumen inoculum and untreated or AFEX treated straw). Fast rumen inoculum and AFEX straw both increased (P < 0.05) disappearance of dry matter (DMD), organic matter, true DMD, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and nitrogen (N) with an interactive effect between the two (P < 0.05). Fast rumen inoculum increased (P > 0.05) methane production per gram of digested material for both untreated and AFEX straw, and reduced (interaction, P < 0.05) acetate: propionate ratio for untreated straw. Greater relative populations of Ruminococcus albus (P < 0.05) and increased microbial N production (P = 0.045) were observed in Fast rumen inoculum. AFEX straw in Fast inoculum had greater total bacterial populations than Slow, but for untreated straw this result was reversed (interaction, P = 0.013). These findings indicate that differences in microbial populations in rumen fluid contribute to differences in the capacity of rumen inoculum to digest fiber.

Effects of Supplementation with Different Forms of Barley on Feed Intake, Digestibility, Live Weight Change and Carcass Characteristics of Hararghe Highland Sheep Fed Natural Pasture

This study was conducted using 24 yearling intact male Hararghe highland sheep with initial body weight (BW) of 15.7 ± 2.3 kg (Mean ± SD), to determine effects of supplementing different forms of barley grain to natural pasture hay basal diet on feed intake, digestibility, average daily BW gain (ADG) and carcass parameters. Animals were grouped into 6 blocks of 4 animals based on initial BW and were randomly assigned to the four treatments. Treatments were feeding hay ad libitum alone (T1) or supplemented with 300 g dry matter (DM) of raw barley (RB, T2), malted barley (MB, T3) or cracked barley (CB, T4). All animals received 50 g DM supplemental noug seed cake (NSC) and had a free access to water and mineral block. The experiment consisted 90 days of feeding and 7 days digestibility trials and carcass evaluation at the end. The crude protein (CP) content of hay, NSC, RB, MB and CB were 6.6, 35.7, 11.7, 12.5 and 11.6%, respectively. Hay DM intake was higher for T1 (523 g/day) than other treatments (360- 425 g/day). Total DM intake (573, 710, 723 and 775 g/day (SEM = 29.5)) and CP intake (52, 77, 77 and 83 g/day (SEM = 2.0) for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively) was lower for T1 than supplemented groups, with no difference (P > 0.05) among the supplemented treatments. Digestibility of CP (55.8, 71.1, 69.0 and 70.0% for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively (SEM = 1.93)) were higher (P < 0.05) in supplemented sheep than T1. ADG of 13, 73, 87 and 83 g/day for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively (SEM = 6.0), was also greater (P < 0.05) for the supplemented groups than T1. Barley supplementation resulted in a higher (P < 0.05) hot carcass weight than T1 (6.0, 10.0, 10.7 and 10.5 kg for T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively (SEM = 0.56). The results of this study highlighted that treatment of barley as in malting and cracking do not alter the performance of sheep as compared to the untreated barley. Thus, supplementation with raw barley is recommended. In general, supplementing animals with energy dense diet has proven to improve animal performance and profitability.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA as a method to screen metal-tolerant barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes

Differentially responding genotypes are comparatively used to understand mechanisms of metal tolerance in higher plants. The feasibility of the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was evaluated to screen for metal tolerance within plants as an alternative to physiological growth parameters. Eight hydroponically grown barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes were exposed to different concentrations (75, 150, and 225 μM) of cadmium and copper for 7 days and subsequently harvested for determining metal tolerance indices by comparing dry biomass to genomic template stabilities based on their RAPD profiles. Dose- and genotype-dependent reductions in dry weights of shoot and root tissues were detected for both metal treatments. The tolerance indices showed that Aydanhanim/Bulbul-89 and Basgul/Tarm-92 were the most tolerant/sensitive barley genotypes to cadmium and copper, respectively. For untreated barley genotypes, the amplified RAPD bands were genotype-dependent and estimated genetic similarity coefficients ranged from 0.56 to 0.82. Metal exposure caused appearance and/or disappearance of RAPD bands in comparison to the control RAPD profiles. The alterations in RAPD profiles were dose- and genotype-dependent for the cadmium and copper treatment groups. Consequently, genomic template stability (GTS, %) of all barley genotypes was reduced with metal exposure. Based on GTS values, the most tolerant/sensitive barley genotypes to cadmium and copper were Aydanhanim/Tarm-92 and Avci-2002/Orza-96, respectively. The growth and RAPD results clearly indicated that Aydanhanim, Avci-2002, and Basgul were more tolerant, while Bulbul-89, Orza-96, and Tarm-92 were more sensitive barley genotypes to both metals. The RAPD technique could be used to screen metal-tolerant plant genotypes as an alternative method.

Disintegration in the biogas sector – Technologies and effects

Pretreatment of organic material prior to anaerobic digestion is seen as an option to increase the overall efficiency of the process. An overview of physical, chemical, and biological disintegration (DT) of substrates in the biogas sector is given. The energy demands DT were surveyed. The technologies were evaluated by reference to the Technology Readiness Assessment Guide of the U.S. Department of Energy. The evaluation focuses on ligno-cellulosic substrates like straw. Data of a survey among biogas plant operators were analyzed regarding the prevalence of disintegration technology classes in Germany. Furthermore, biochemical methane potential tests were conducted in laboratory scale to determine the specific methane yields of un-/treated barley straw (thermal pressure hydrolysis (TPH)). A methane potential of 228mlCH4/gVS was measured for untreated barley straw; and of 251mlCH4/gVS for TPH-straw (190°C, 30min). The reaction rates in BMP were calculated between 0.0976 and 0.1443d−1.

COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT IONIC LIQUIDS PRETREATMENT FOR CORN STOVER ENZYMATIC SACCHARIFICATION

Recently, application of ionic liquids (ILs) has received much attention due to their special solvency properties as a promising method of pretreatment for lignocellulosic biomass. Easy recovery of ionic liquids, chemical stability, temperature stability, nonflammability, low vapor pressure, and wide liquidus range are among those unique properties. These solvents are also known as green solvents due to their low vapor pressure. The present study was set to compare the effect of five different ILs, namely, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][Ac]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]), 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium diethyl phosphate ([EMIM][DEP]), 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([AMIM][Cl]), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium-hydrogen sulfate ([EMIM][HSO4]), on corn stover in a bioethanol production process. The performance of ILs was evaluated based on the change observed in chemical structure, crystallinity index, cellulose digestibility, and glucose release. Overall, [EMIM][Ac]-pretreated corn stover led to significantly higher saccharification, with cellulose digestibility reaching 69% after 72 hr, whereas digestibility of untreated barley straw was measured at only 21%.

Maximum Production of Fermentable Sugars from Barley Straw Using Optimized Soaking in Aqueous Ammonia (SAA) Pretreatment

Soaking in aqueous ammonia (SAA) pretreatment was investigated to improve enzymatic digestibility and consequently to increase total fermentable sugar production from barley straw. Various effects of pretreatment process parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time, solid:liquid ratio, and ammonia concentration, were evaluated, and the optimum conditions for two of the most important factors, reaction temperature and time were determined using response surface methodology. Optimized reaction conditions were 77.6 °C treatment temperature, 12.1 h. treatment time, 15 wt.% ammonia concentration, and 1:8 solid-to-liquid ratio, which gave a sugar recovery yield of 71.5 % (percent of theoretical sugar recovered from the untreated barley straw) with enzyme loading of 15 FPU/g-glucan. In the optimization of the SAA pretreatment process, ammonia concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time were determined to be the most significant factors correlated to subsequent enzyme digestibility. Based on tested conditions exhibiting high sugar recovery yields of >60 %, it appeared that reaction temperature affected total fermentable sugar production more significantly than reaction time.

Enzymatic hydrolysis from carbohydrates of barley straw pretreated by ionic liquids

AbstractBACKGROUND: Lignocellulosic biomass offers many potential advantages in comparison with the traditionally used sugars or starchy biomass since it is very widely available and does not compete with food and feed production. The abundance and high carbohydrates content of barley straw make it a good candidate for bioethanol production in Europe. Since biomass must be pretreated before enzymatic hydrolysis to improve the digestibility of both the cellulose and the hemicellulose biomass, the use of ionic liquids (IL) has been proposed as an environment‐friendly pretreatment of biomass.RESULTS: Different pretreatment conditions were investigated to determine the effects of the experimental conditions (temperature and time) on the enzymatic digestibility of pretreated material. The pretreatment of barley straw with 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium acetate treatment resulted in up to a 9‐fold increase in the cellulose conversion and a 13‐fold increase in the xylan conversion when compared with the untreated barley straw.CONCLUSION: Ionic liquid pretreatment of barley straw at 110°C for 30 min, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis, leads to a sugar yield of 53.5 g per 100 g raw material. It is then ready available for conversion into ethanol and is equivalent to more than 86% from potential sugars. The increase in saccharification was possible due to rupture of the lignin–hemicellulose linkages by treatment with 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium acetate. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Characterization of the newly isolated Geobacillus sp. T1, the efficient cellulase-producer on untreated barley and wheat straws

A thermophile cellulase-producing bacterium was isolated and identified as closely related to Geobacillus subterraneus. The strain, named Geobacillus sp. T1, was able to grow and produce cellulase on cellobiose, microcrystalline cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), barley straw, wheat straw and Whatman No. 1 filter paper. However, barley and wheat straws were significantly better substrates for cellulase production. When Geobacillus sp. T1 was cultivated in the presence of 0.5% barley straw, 0.1% Tween 80 and pH 6.5 at 50°C, the maximum level of free cellulase up to 143.50U/mL was produced after 24h. This cellulase (∼54kDa) was most active at pH 6.5 and 70°C. The enzyme in citrate phosphate buffer (10mM) was stable at 60°C for at least 1h. Geobacillus sp. T1 with efficient growth and cellulase production on straws seems a potential candidate for conversion of agricultural biomass to fuels.

Control of barley yellow dwarf virus in minimum-till and conventional-till autumn-sown cereals by insecticide seed and foliar spray treatments

SUMMARYThe control of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and its aphid vectors in minimum tillage (MT) and conventionally tilled (CT) winter barley by insecticide seed and foliar spray treatments was investigated in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Similar investigations were undertaken on winter wheat in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Aphids numbers in autumn and BYDV in spring on barley and wheat were significantly lower on MT relative to CT crops, in two of the six seasons. An insecticide spray at Zadoks growth stage (GS) 25 significantly reduced aphids and virus in both MT and CT crops in three of the six seasons of the study. An additional spray at GS 22 provided no benefit. Aphids were significantly fewer in three of the six seasons on crops grown from insecticide treated seeds, relative to untreated seeds. Both MT and CT barley sprayed at GS 25 had significantly fewer aphids than the seed treatment in one of the three seasons. Seed-treated MT and CT barley had significantly less BYDV than controls but significantly more than crops sprayed at GS 25. CT wheat grown from insecticide-treated seed had significantly less BYDV than controls. Overall, CT barley grown from insecticide-treated seed had 6-fold more BYDV than the sprayed crop, while untreated barley had 22-fold more than the spray treatment. In MT barley, the comparable values were 3- and 10-fold respectively. BYDV was almost exclusively the MAV strain. The grain yield for insecticide-sprayed CT barley was significantly greater in two of three seasons than that for untreated plots. In general, MT and CT barley receiving an insecticide spray had greater grain yield than barley grown from insecticide-treated seed, with differences being significant in one of three seasons. It is concluded that BYDV in MT and CT cereals is better controlled by applying a pyrethroid insecticide spray between GS 23 and 25, in autumn, than by treating the seed with a nitroguanidine-type insecticide. In MT crops, a single spray between GS 23 and 25 will give effective control of MAV-type BYDV.

Effect of Carbonyl Sulphide (COS), Ethyl Formate (EF) and Carbon Disulphide (CS2) on the Malting Quality of Barley and the Flavour Profile of Beer

New fumigants are needed to control grain insects because methyl bromide is being phased out as an ozone-depleting substance under the Montreal Protocol and because resistance to phosphine is increasing. Alternative fumigants also provide one strategy to manage resistance. To assess the effect of candidate fumigants on barley quality, malting and brewing trials were conducted with malting barley (Schooner), 9.4% moisture content, fumigated with carbonyl sulphide (COS), ethyl formate (EF) and carbon disulphide (CS2) at concentrations of 20, 90 and 36 mg/L respectively for 7 days at 20°C in riveted steel silos containing 33 t of barley. The appropriate industry body, the Malting and Brewing Industry Barley Technical Committee (MBIBTC) set the quality parameters to be evaluated and allocated work to the appropriate quality laboratories. Germination of fumigated barley was not affected by the fumigants. Residues of COS, EF and CS2 in outloading barley samples were 0.085 ± 0.0052, 0.4 ± 0.1 and 2.22 ± 0.07 mg/kg respectively, which were below the experimental permits of maximum residue levels (MRL). Residues of COS, EF and CS2 in malt, wort and beer were indistinguishable from those in unfumigated (or non-fumigated) barley. Ethyl formate and CS2 affected wort in increasing the apparent attenuation limit (AAL) and CS2 affected barley colour. Sulphur volatiles in the trial beer made from EF and CS2 (unlike COS) fumigated barley decreased significantly. Beer from COS, EF and CS2 fumigated barley had a somewhat higher 24-hour chill haze level (0.62–0.84) than beer from the untreated barley (0.53). The total alcohols and isoamyl acetate increased in beer made from EF fumigated barley. Carbonyl sulphide, EF and CS2, however, had no effect on beer flavour or quality.

Fusarium mycotoxins in various barley cultivars and their transfer into malt

Fusarium toxins, secondary metabolites of toxinogenic Fusarium species, are found in a range of cereal grains. In this study the occurrence of the most commonest Fusarium toxins, namely nivalenol (NIV), deoxynivalenol (DON), deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, fusarenon-X, 3- and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, HT-2 and T-2 toxins and zearalenone, in various barley cultivars harvested in 2005-2008 was monitored. The impact of weather, locality, fungicide treatment and barley cultivar (hulless or covered) on contamination was evaluated. The transfer of these mycotoxins into malt was assessed. The most prevalent toxin was DON, which was found in 83% of samples (maximum level 180 µg kg(-1)), while HT-2 was detected in 62% of samples (maximum level 716 µg kg(-1)). Using analysis of covariance, weather was found to be the key factor in all years (P < 0.001). A relationship between cultivar and contamination was confirmed only for HT-2 (P < 0.001) and T-2 (P = 0.037), with higher levels of these toxins being observed in hulless cultivars. With the exception of NIV (P = 0.008), no significant relationship was found between fungicide treatment and contamination. No distinct trend regarding DON levels in malt was found, with both decreases and increases occurring. The results show an inter-annual variation in mycotoxin occurrence in barley cultivars as well as differences in contamination of malt produced from fungicide-treated and untreated barley.

EFFECT OF USING CHEMICALLY TREATED BARLEY ON MILK PRODUCTION &amp; COMPOSITION AND SOME BIO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN CROSS BRED FRESIAN CATTLE

This study has been achieved in the field of the agricultural college in Salah-Aldeen University, to investigate the effect of using barley treated with formaldehyde (9 liter/ ton) with Soya bean meal or urea in feeding hybrid dairy cows (fresian x karadi) with barley straw ad libtum on milk production and composition . 4 cows were used with 4 experimental rations and 4 periods (3 weeks each) using (4 × 4) latin square design. The 1st ration contained untreated barley with Soya bean meal (UB + SBM), the 2nd formaldehyde treated barley with Soya bean meal (TB+SBM), the 3rd ration (UB + urea) and the 4th ration (TB + urea). Cows consumed similar quantities of dry matter. There were no significant differences in average daily milk production which was 9.62, 9.79, 9.31, 8.76 kg/day for the 4 treatments respectively. There was a significant decrease in milk fat content when treated barley was fed with either Soya bean meal or urea as compared with untreated barley (3.75, 3.60, 3.52, and 3.40% respectively). There was a significant decrease in milk fat % in the treatments that contained urea compared with those containing soya bean meal, also significant increase in the average milk fat yield 14% with the both treatments that contained soya bean meal compared with those containing urea. Treating barley with formaldehyde resulted in a significant increase in milk protein % with either soya bean meal or urea 4.00 & 3.46% respectively. Also milk protein % significantly increased with rations containing Soya bean meal as compared with rations containing urea. As a result there was a significant increase in daily milk protein yield 24% in treatments containing soya bean meal compared with those containing urea. Finally a significant increase in lactose yield was registered with the treatment (TB + SBM) compared with the treatment (TB + Urea).

Objective Bayesian vs. least squares estimation for by-products degradability with different rumen fluids

The degradation kinetic curves of different by-products have been obtained. The considered by-products were lemon and several types of treated and untreated barley straw, and they were degraded by in vitro incubation with rumen fluid extracted from two herds of Murciano-Granadina goats, one of them fed alfalfa hay and the other one fed barley straw. The feeds were incubated at 39ºC for 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours with each rumen fluid. The resulting fitted exponential-type degradation curves obtained with a frequentist statistical analysis were compared with those resulting from an objective Bayesian statistical analysis. The use of the objective Bayesian analysis smoothed the estimates of the frequentist fit using least squares, which did not suitably process the involved restrictions and avoided biologically unacceptable results. On the other hand, the rumen fluid from goats fed alfalfa hay fomented the greatest effective degradability and the degradabilities of the different by-products were also compared, with the result that the lemon by-product was the best degraded one under both statistical analyses. Key words: In vitro fermentation, by-product, degradation curve

Degradability Characteristics of Treated and Untreated Barley Grain Using In situ Technique

This study was carried out to determine of degradability characteristics of untreated barely grain (UBG) and treated barley grain with autoclaving at 120°C, 5´ (TBG1) and 20' (TBG2), treated barley grain at 100°C, 5´ (TBG3) and 20' (TBG4), using in situ technique in Ghizel sheep’s. The sheep fed diet content 40% alfalfa: 60% concentrate containing 2.9 Mcal kg−1 DM and 14% CP. The incubation times were 0, 4, 8, 16, 24, 36 and 48 h and rumen degradation of cp and DM was measured. The equation of p = a+b (1-e−ct) was used for fitting of dry matter and crude protein disappearance data. The dry matter disappearance of TBG1 and TBG2 at 24 and 48 h were lower than the other treatments (p<0.05). The crude protein disappearance of 24 and 48 h of UBG was more than the other treatment (p<0.05). Treating of barley grain of 120°C (5' and 20') can be decreased ruminal crude protein degradability of barley grain resulting high escaped crude protein into lower digestive tract.

Effects of microwave irradiation on ruminal dry matter, protein and starch degradation characteristics of barley grain

This study evaluated effects of microwave irradiation (800 W) for 3, 5 and 7 min on dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and starch degradation characteristics of barley grain and to monitor the fate of its proteins in the rumen. Duplicate in situ bags of untreated or irradiated barley grain were incubated in the rumen of four non-lactating Holstein cows for up to 48 h. Proteins of untreated and irradiated bag residues were fractionated by gel electrophoresis. Irradiation for 3 min had no effect, but for 5 and 7 min decreased (P<0.05) the effective DM degradability. The washout fraction, and the degradation rate of CP, decreased (P<0.05) and the potentially degradable CP fraction increased (P<0.05) as irradiation period increased. Effective CP degradability of barley irradiated for 3, 5 and 7 min decreased (P<0.05) by 6%, 10% and 13%, respectively. Microwave irradiation increased (P<0.05) the washout fraction and decreased (P<0.05) the potentially degradable fraction and degradation rate of starch. Irradiation for 5 min had no effect on effective starch degradability, but for 3 and 7 min increased, and decreased it (P<0.05), respectively. From electrophoretic analyses, three major hordein fractions (B-, C- and D-hordein) occurred. In untreated barley grain, most hordein fractions had disappeared after 6 h of incubation, but in microwave irradiated barley, C- and D-hordein were not degraded until 12 h of incubation in the rumen. Microwave irradiation of barley grain for 3 min increased its starch degradability and, over 5 min, decreased the rate and extent of CP and starch degradation.

The effects of timing of control of weeds on the yield of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus), in the context of the potential commercialization of herbicide-tolerant winter rape

Three experiments have investigated the effect of the timing of control of infestations of volunteer barley (Hordeum vulgare), Stellaria media and Galium aparine on the growth and yield of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Although the experiments used conventional herbicides to achieve the different timings of control, the work was done in the context of the commercialization of herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape, where treatments could be applied at any time from autumn to spring. In the three seasons studied, oilseed rape growth was particularly vigorous in the autumn and, as a consequence, the competitive impact of the weeds was lower than anticipated. Untreated volunteer barley and G. aparine reduced yields in one and two experiments, respectively. However, in all experiments volunteer barley reduced crop growth in winter and spring severely, even though January treatments prevented yield loss in these vigorous crops. Delayed control of this weed would not be advisable if the weed was particularly dense or the crop less vigorous. In contrast, the G. aparine had no effect on crop growth and was only really apparent in the crop in late summer, so delaying treatment until even March would not put yields at risk. In one year, S. media markedly reduced crop growth in late winter but in the second experiment this did not occur. Consequently, as with the G. aparine, delayed autumn control would be unlikely to jeopardize yields. Thus, if herbicide-tolerant crops are commercialized in Europe, there will be flexibility in timing of application of herbicides to control broad-leaved weeds in winter rape but there would be a risk of yield loss from delayed control of volunteer cereals.

In situ digestibility of starch in barley grain ( Hordeum vulgare) and peas ( Pisum sativum L.) in dairy cows: influence of heat treatment and glucose addition

The effect of treatment temperature, treatment time and glucose addition on digestibility of starch of barley grain and pea grain were studied in situ in non-lactating dairy cows, and the relationship between rumen degradation of starch (RDS) and protein was also determined. Ground barley and peas were heat-treated at 100, 125 and 150 °C for 5, 15 and 30 min with and without addition of glucose. Samples were incubated in the rumen for 4, 8 and 16 h using the in situ method, and rumen degradation of starch was measured. The total tract indigestible starch fraction (ISF) was measured on the 16 h rumen residues using the mobile nylon bag method. Heat treatment at 100 and 125 °C significantly decreased RDS of both barley and peas, and the RDS was higher after treatment at 150 °C than at 125 °C. Treatment time had a significant effect on RDS, but only at 100 °C in both feeds. The lowest RDS of barley after 8 h rumen incubation occurred at 125 °C and treatment for 30 min, which decreased RDS 34% units compared to untreated barley. For peas, the lowest RDS after 8 h rumen incubation was observed after treatment at 125 °C for 5 min, causing a reduction of 21% units compared to untreated peas. The ISF was significantly higher in untreated peas than in untreated barley (9% versus 0.1%). Heat treatment had no effect on the ISF in barley, while in peas the ISF was significantly increased after treatment at 100 and 125 °C, but decreased at 150 °C. Addition of glucose before treatment reduced RDS significantly in both feeds at two of three incubation times. Correlation evaluation showed that in both feeds RDS mimicked rumen degradation of protein after treatment at 100 and 125 °C, but not after treatment at 150 °C. Glucose addition increased the relationship between RDS and RDP in both feeds.