In this study, the in vitro fermentation parameters of whole crop barley (WCBS-TMR) and Italian ryegrass (IRGS-TMR) silage total mixed rations were compared. A rice straw based diet (RSBD), which was a mixture of rice straw and concentrate (60:40), was used as the control. The feeds were incubated in buffered rumen fluid for 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours at 39°C. At the end of each incubation period the following parameters were determined, total gas, pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), volatile fatty acids (VFA) and then the acetate to propionate ratio (A/P) was calculated. The dietary treatments did not affect (p>0.05) the overall production of NH3-N, gas, total VFA and all the individual VFA, with the exception of n-butyrate (p<0.001). The treatment diets significantly affected the A/P ratio (p<0.01). The control diet resulted in the lowest A/P ratios, followed by WCBS-TMR and lastly IRGS-TMR had the highest ratios. Gas production was not different between treatments, suggesting a probable similar level of digestibility when treatments are fed to animals. It can therefore be concluded from the present study that WCBS and IRGS are of almost an equivalent nutritional value when incubated in a TMR form. WCBS-TMR however resulted in lower A/P ratios than IRGS-TMR, which is indicative of a more energy efficient diet.

• David Tinotenda Mbiriri(Department of Animal Science, Chonbuk National University)
• Seong Jin Oh(Department of Animal Science, Chonbuk National University)
• Nag-Jin Choi(Department of Animal Science, Chonbuk National University) Corresponding author