Determination of Processing Effect on Nutritional Value of Barley Grain and Comparison of Digestive Coefficients of Diets Contented of Processed Grain and Different Nitrogen Sources in Mehraban Sheep

This study was conducted to determine the effect of dry rolling on nutritional value of barley grain and comparison of digestive coefficients of diets contented of processed grain associated with two nitrogen sources (urea and soybean meal) in Mehraban sheep. In this study, six head of Mehraban ram were used as change-over design. Experimental rations according to dry matter basis included: ration 1 (stem of alfalfa and barley grain), ration 2 (stem of alfalfa and dry rolled barley grain), ration 3 (stem of alfalfa and barley grain with urea), ration 4 (stem of alfalfa and dry rolled barley grain with urea), ration 5 (stem of alfalfa, barley grain and soybean meal) and ration 6 (stem of alfalfa and dry rolled barley grain and soybean meal). The crude fat digestibility had significant difference between first and second rations (P<0.05) and digestibility of other nutrients had not significant differences (P>0.05). Also calculated digestibility coefficients of whole barley grain and dry rolled barley grain had not significant difference except of crude fat (P>0.05) and dry rolling didn’t change dramatically on digestibility of barley grain. Comparison of six experimental rations was showed which digestibility of nutrients especially crude protein and crude fat influenced by rations significantly (P<0.05) and NFE digestive coefficient of dietaries lacked significant difference (P>0.05). In general can be concluded that, rolling process was not effective on nutrients digestibility and nutritional value of barley grain in sheep but use of protein nitrogen sources and non protein nitrogen sources can affect nutrients digestibility of total dietary.