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Table 6 Production, digestion, and metabolism of mid-lactation Holstein cows fed ground versus steam-rolled barley-based total mixed rations containing corn silage and alfalfa hay

From: Barley grain for ruminants: A global treasure or tragedy

Level of barley

26 % barley

32.5 % barley

Processing method

Ground

Rolled

Ground

Rolled

Dietary starch, %

18.0

18.0

26.8

26.8

Dietary neutral detergent fiber, %

38.0

38.0

34.3

34.3

Dietary acid detergent fiber, %

24.1

24.1

19.0

19.0

Dietary crude protein, %

16.1

16.1

18.9

18.9

Dry matter intake, kg/d

23.5

23.9

24.8

24.4

Fat corrected milk, kg/d

27.8

28.6

36.1

37.7

Milk fat yield, kg/d

1.07

1.07

1.29

1.37

Milk protein yield, kg/d

0.83

0.85

1.07

1.10

Rumen pH

6.7

6.6

5.7

5.7

Chewing time, min/d

-

-

820

803

Total tract dry matter digestibility %

69.0

69.0

-

-

  1. Nikkhah (2011); Sadri et al. (2007); Soltani et al. (2009) (18,37,39).