Relationship of physicochemical characteristics and hydrolyzed hydroxycinnamic acid profile of barley varieties and nutrient availability in ruminants

The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the relationship between physicochemical characteristics (mean/median particle sizes, physical hull content) and hydrolyzed hydroxycinnamic acid profile (ferulic acid (FA), para-coumaric acid (pCA), and their ratio) of barley varieties and in situ rumen degradability in dairy cattle; and (2) investigate rumen degradation kinetics of FA and pCA of CDC barley varieties grown in western Canada. Barley variety had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on rumen undegradable fraction of DM, FA, pCA, neutral (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) at 12 and/or 24 h of rumen incubation. FA in barley grain was more degradable than the pCA (P < 0.05). There were no differences (P > 0.05) in effective degradability of DM (EDDM) and EDFA, but significant differences in EDpCA (P < 0.05). Barley hull was strongly correlated to NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose (R > 0.78, P < 0.001) and correlated to FA (R = 0.57, P < 0.05) but not to pCA (R = 0.42, P > 0.05) in original samples. FA and pCA were highly and positively correlated to NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose, cellulose, mean/median particle sizes, and rumen indigestible DM, NDF and ADF at either 12 or 24 h (P < 0.05). Mean/median particle size of barley grain positively influenced the rumen indigestible DM, but not others (FA, pCA). The results implied that reduction of barley hull, FA and pCA contents could increase the degradability of barley grain in rumen. Multi-regression with best model variable selection analysis revealed that FA was the factor most inhibiting to DM degradability of barley in rumen, and was the most effective factor to predict DM degradability, while hull was the most effective factor to determine NDF degradability in rumen. Both hull and FA affected ADF degradability in the rumen. The results indicate that breeding or identifying barley varieties with lower hull and FA contents would result in higher degradability, higher energy density and higher quality barley and improve nutrient availability of barley.