Variation among barley cultivars: Site and extent of digestion in beef steers and energy values for ruminants using sheep

eedlot and metabolism trials were conducted to identify causal factors for differences among barley cultivars in growth performance and nutrient utilization by cattle and sheep. In Exp. 1, 144 steers in a feedlot trial and four steers in a metabolism trial were fed six barley cultivars, Andre, Camelot, Clark, Cougbar, Harrington, and Steptoe. In the feedlot trial, nutrient utilization, diet DE, and performance of steers fed Cougbar were poorer than most varieties. In general, performance of steers and digestibility of diets containing Camelot, Clark and Harrington (two-row) were superior to other cultivars. In the metabolism trial, digestibility of NDF varied 15 percentage units among cultivars and barley DE was correlated to NDF digestibility (r =.78).;For Exp. 2, 144 steers in a feedlot trial and six steers in a metabolism trial were fed six barley cultivars, Boyer, Camelot, Clark, Harrington, Hesk, and Steptoe. Steers fed Hesk and Boyer (winter cultivars) had poorer feed to gain. Digestibility NDF was lower (P ;Camelot, Cougbar, and Steptoe harvested in 1990 and Boyer, Camelot, and Steptoe harvested in 1991 were evaluated in a metabolism trial using wethers. Methane production of lambs fed Boyer was greater and barley ME content was lower than in lambs fed spring cultivars. Nitrogen digestibility of Camelot from both years was superior to most varieties. Digestion of NDF polymeric monosaccharides was correlated with methane production (r =.52; P...