Influence of NaOH-treated versus crushed wheat on the digestive processes in dairy cows

Fistulated cows were fed grass silage and wheat. The wheat was either crushed or treated with NaOH (sodagrain). The replacement of crused wheat by sodagrain resulted in an increase in fibre digestibiltiy (71,8 to 83,6 %) and a decrease in the degradation of starch and organic matter in the rumen (89 to 55 % resp. 47 to 36 %). PH-value in the rumen fluid remained more constant and NH3-concentration was higher with sodagrain. Net energy content (MJ NEL/kg dry matter) was 7,3 resp. 7,0 for the ration with crushed wheat resp. sodagrain