Dry matter, crude protein and starch degradation characteristics of one corn (Pioneer 39P78) and four barley grain varieties (CDC Bold, CDC Dolly, Harrington and Valier) were evaluated in two in situ nylon bag trials. Trial 1 compared ground and rolled treatments of Harrington barley and Pioneer 39P78 corn, whereas Trial 2 evaluated ground and rolled treatments of the four barley varieties. Rumen degradability characteristics were compared with analytical results from thermal- and synchrotron-source FTIRM. Infrared absorbance spectra were collected from corn and four barley varieties using thermal-source FTIRM on the mid-IR beamline at the Canadian Light Source, Ltd. (Saskatoon, SK). Synchrotron-source FTIRM spectral data was collected for corn, Harrington barley and Valier barley on the U2B mid-IR beamline at NSLS-BNL (Upton, NY). CHO:Amide I peak area ratios were compared to the in situ rumen degradation results to determine if FTIRM spectral data could be related to the rate and extent of rumen degradation, and if thermal- and synchrotron-source FTIRM yielded different results. A grain x processing method interaction (P<0.01) was observed in both in situ trials where grinding produced a greater increase in the rate and extent of rumen degradation for Harrington barley than it did for corn (Trial 1) along with a greater increase in the rate and extent of rumen degradation for CDC Bold and CDC Dolly than for Harrington and Valier (Trial 2). Among barley varieties, increasing rate and extent of rumen degradation (CDC Bold>CDC Dolly>Harrington>Valier) corresponded to increasing starch:protein ratio as estimated by chemical analysis. This relationship was reversed for corn and Harrington barley where corn had a higher starch:protein ratio yet slower rumen degradation kinetics. For both thermal- and synchrotron-source FTIRM, CHO:amide I peak area ratios were greater (P<0.05) for corn than for Harrington barley. Comparison of CHO:amide I peak area ratios of barley varieties measured with thermal-source FTIR showed that varieties with higher (P<0.05) CHO:Amide I peak area ratios generally had higher rate and extent of rumen degradation. This indicates that starch:protein ratio estimated with FTIRM may be an indicator of rumen degradability characteristics when comparing varieties of the same grain, but not for different species of grains.

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of various cereal grain types on the production performance of dairy cattle and the colonization of <i>Clostridium perfringens</i> in the intestinal tract of cattle. The first experiment investigated the effect of feeding two different cultivars of barley (cv. Harrington and Valier) and two different cultivars oat (cv. Derby and AC Assiniboia) grain on feed intake, milk yield and milk constituents. It was found that barley or oat may both be successfully incorporated into the concentrate portion of western Canadian dairy rations. NRC Dairy 2001 predictions for both oat and barley diets very closely predicted dry matter intake and milk production. AC Assiniboia oat fed cows produced the lowest percentage of fat (P<0.05) compared to the other dietary treatments. Oat fed cows produced milk with lower total solids (P<0.05) than barley fed cows. Experiment two investigated the effect of replacing barley with corn in the concentrate of a dairy ration on performance parameters as well as fecal shedding of <i>C. perfringens</i>. Corn can successfully replace a portion of the cereal grain in a typical western Canadian dairy ration without adverse effects on milk production, feed intake and feed efficiency. Corn fed cows produced significantly higher milk protein than barley fed cows (P<0.05). Dairy NRC 2001 milk production predictions were similar to observed milk yields. Mean (±SEM) level of colonization (log cfu/g) of <i>C. perfringens</i> in the feces was lower (P<0.05) in barley-fed (1.30±0.27) compared with corn-fed (2.47±0.27) cows. Experiment three was a survey to determine the level of shedding of <i>C. perfringens</i> in feces of dairy cattle at different ages and stages of lactation and in feedlot cattle through the backgrounding and finishing phases. No relationship was found between heifer age and level of shedding or between days in lactation and level of shedding. Sixteen percent of the sampled cows exhibited high levels of shedding (3.02±.46) log cfu/g feces) through all stages of lactation without exhibiting adverse effects on health. No relationship was found between age of heifer and level of <i>C. perfringens</i> shedding in the feces. Steers shed significantly higher (P<0.05) levels of <i>C. perfringens</i> during the last phase of finishing compared with other feeding phases. Further research investigating <i>C. perfringens</i> colonization in cattle is required.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate effects of feeding barley/canola meal pellets on feedlot performance, subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), and feeding behaviour in feedlot steers. In trial 1, 350 beef steers (285 ± 22 kg) were backgrounded and finished on pelleted barley and canola meal (PB) or rolled barley and canola meal (RB) diets. Backgrounding DMI was lower (P < 0.05) for PB steers but ADG did not differ (P > 0.05) and feed efficiency (FE) tended (P < 0.1) to be improved. During finishing and the total trial DMI and ADG were lower (P < 0.05) but FE was improved (P < 0.05) for the PB treatment. Steers fed PB were on feed longer (P < 0.05). Steers fed PB showed more variation in DMI (P < 0.05) than steers fed RB. Carcass composition and quality were similar between the treatments.<p>Trial 2 utilized 4 ruminally fistulated beef steers in a 4 x 4 latin square, 2 x 2 factorial trial. Factors were processing (pelleted vs. rolled) and grain type (barley vs. corn). All treatments included canola meal. Each 23 d period consisted of a 19 d adaptation period followed by a 24 h rumen fluid collection period, and a 24 h eating behaviour study. There were no grain type x processing interactions (P > 0.05) or effect of grain type (P > 0.05) on any of the variables. Eating behaviour did not differ (P < 0.05) between treatments. Processing had no effect (P > 0.05) on rumen ammonia or volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration, proportion of acetate or butyrate, or rumen osmolality. Steers fed pelleted grain had lower (P < 0.05) rumen pH measurements, a greater (P < 0.05) molar proportion of propionate, and decreased (P < 0.05) acetate:propionate ratio. To reflect the feedlot trial corn was removed from the model. Rumen VFA concentration was higher (P < 0.05) and pH lower (P < 0.05) for the PB steers. Results show performance during backgrounding was improved but finishing performance depressed in PB steers. Further research is necessary to reduce the risk of SARA when feeding PB during finishing.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of titrated levels of wheat-based dried distillers grains on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics and rumen fermentation parameters of cattle fed wheat-based dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). In trial 1, a barley grain-based diet (0% DDGS) was used as a control. It was formulated to 12% CP and 1.52 and 0.93 Mcal kg-1 net energy of maintenance (NEm ) and net energy of gain( NEg) respectively, during the backgrounding period and to 13% crude protein (CP) and 1.90 and 1.26 Mcal kg-1 NEm and NEg respectively, during finishing. Wheat-based DDGS replaced on a dry matter basis (DM) barley grain at levels of 8, 16, 24 and 32% during backgrounding and 6, 12, 18 and 23% during finishing. During backgrounding dry matter intake (P = 0.02), ADG (P = 0.04), and ultrasounded (US) longissimus. dorsi gain (P = 0.02) exhibited a cubic response to DDGS inclusion level with theoretical minima at 6.9, 8.1 and 6.9% DDGS respectively, and theoretical maxima responses at 27.2, 30.8 and 23.9% DDGS, respectively. Feed efficiency exhibited a quadratic response (P = 0.02) to DDGS inclusion level with a theoretical poorest response at 13.1% DDGS. Similar responses were noted during the first 56 d of the finishing period, however over the course of the finishing period no effect of DDGS inclusion level was noted on average daily gain (ADG), DMI, feed efficiency (FE), ultrasound measurements or on any carcass traits. <p>Trial 2 examined the effects of graded levels of wheat-based DDGS (0, 7, 14, 21% DM basis) on rumen fermentation characteristics using rumen cannulated heifers. Rumen pH measurements indicated that the pH mean at or below 5.8 and 5.5 decreased as DDGS inclusion level increased to 14% DM. The highest values (P<0.05) for pH area between the benchmarks of 5.5 and 5.2, pH area below 5.2 and time below pH 5.2 were found at the 14% DDGS inclusion level, pointing to rumen fermentation characteristics associated with severe rumen acidosis. Ammonia nitrogen levels, percent acetate, percent butyrate and the acetate: propionate ratio increased linearly (P < 0.0001) with DDGS. Propionate concentration decreased linearly (P = 0.006) as the level of DDGS increased. In situ rumen degradation kinetics showed that the DM and CP soluble fraction of DDGS to be significantly higher than that of rolled barley, however effective degradability of dry matter (EDDM) and effective degradability of crude protein (EDCP) were greater for barley. The results of this trial indicate that wheat-based DDGS has an energy value at least equal to that of barley grain with no adverse effects on cattle performance or carcass quality. Furthermore, since all treatments showed equal susceptibility to sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) and therefore, wheat-based DDGS as a dietary ingredient is unable to mitigate rumen fermentation conditions associated with SARA.

Nickel contaminated wastewater from plating industries is a major environmental concern. Current treatment methods are often expensive and can also create additional problems. Biosorption is an alternative treatment method that uses inexpensive biomaterials to sequester metals from aqueous solutions. In this study, acid washed barley straw (AWBS) was used for adsorbing nickel ions (Ni2+) from simulated nickel plating wastewater. The adsorption process was rapid and the equilibrium was reached in about an hour. An increase in the initial nickel concentration increased the equilibrium nickel uptake, and the maximum uptake was found to be 8.45 mg/g of AWBS when the initial nickel concentration was1000 mg/L at pH 5. Nickel adsorption was favorable at room temperature than 5oC and 40oC, better adsorption rate and equilibrium uptake was observed at 23oC. Increasing the pH from 3 to 7 increased the equilibrium nickel uptake and the maximum uptake was observed at pH 7, whilst the initial nickel ion concentration was 100 mg/L. The Freundlich isotherm model exhibited better fit with the equilibrium data than the Langmuir equation. Nickel was desorbed using hydrochloric acid solution at pH 2 and the desorption efficiency was 86%. FT-IR studies indicated the participation of hydroxyl, carboxyl and amide groups from cellulose, hemi-cellulose, protein and lignin of barley straw.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Glasgow, 2007. / Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedical and Life Sciences (IBLS), University of Glasgow, 2007. Includes bibliographical references. Print version also available.

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