Treatment of whole-crop cereals with alkali. 2. Voluntary intake and digestibility by sheep of rye, barley and wheat crops ensiled with sodium hydroxide

摘要: Abstract Whole crops of rye, barley and wheat were harvested when their dry-matter contents reached 372,597 666 g kg −1 , respectively, the rye being relatively immature, but stemmy at hard-dough stage grain development. Half was ensiled without additive on day cutting, remainder treated similarly, with addition sodium hydroxide (NaOH) prior to ensiling rates 51, 53 or 71 wheat, respectively. The immature mature silages stored anaerobically for 6 2 months, then given wether sheep ad libitum supplemented soya-bean meal urea. Fermentation not extensive in any silages, least high-dry-matter those NaOH. Ammonia content generally low. There a tendency untreated mould heat exposed air. consumed more than digestibility all feed components other nitrogen improved by alkali treatment. Conservation whole-crop cereals ≈600 DM 50–70 NaOH only increased intake sheep, also appeared enhance aerobic stability silage.