The dry matter degradability of wheat straw Fractions

Abstract

The degradation characteristics of the straw of two varieties of wheat (Hourani and Sham3) as 
referred to production year and sowing dates were measured by incubation in nylon bags in the 
rumen of four fistulated sheep. The nutritive value of stem, leaf and chaff fractions of the wheat 
straw, and the effect of incubation periods on the degradability were studied using a Randomized 
Complete Block Design. The results showed that dry matter degradability increased as the 
incubation period advances for all treatments and straw fractions. The maximum dry matter 
degradability obtained was 57.4% at 72 hours of incubation for stem fraction. However, the dry 
matter degradability for leaf fraction was 73.0% and for chaff fraction was 77.9%.