Effect of barley silage particle sizes and levels of non-forage fiber on feed intake of nutrients, rumen characteristics and feeding behaviors in sheep

The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of two levels of barley silage particle sizes and two levels of non-forage fiber on feed intake, nutrients digestibility, rumen parameters and feeding behaviors in sheep. Whole-plant barley was harvested at 28% moisture in 8 and 16 mm theoretical chop lengths to prepare short and long silages. Four male sheep with the weight of 46±7 kg were used and experimental diets were: 1) coarse barley silage diet without beet pulp, 2) coarse barley silage diet with 20% beet pulp, 3) fine barley silage diet without beet pulp and 4) fine barley silage diet with 20% percent beet pulp. The NDF intake was affected by beet pulp levels (P=0.05) and the highest NDF intake was in sheep fed with fine barley silage diet with 20% beet pulp (P