[Investigation of the feed value of straw]

Two groups of four pigs each were fed ad libitum with rations containing 70.7% barley, 7.7% fish meal, 0.7% Sussopan, 0.9% mixed minerals and 20% straw meal. Group 1 received partly hydrolysed straw meal, group 2 untreated straw meal. When those rations were given, weight increase performances of 767 g per animal and day in group 1 and 537 g per animal and day in group 2 were achieved in a preliminary 30-day feeding period. On the basis ofthe weight of the feed remnants, a consumption of 19.7% dry matter of the straw meal (group 1) resp. 18,5% (group 2) of the total intake of dry matter could be ascertained. At an average live weight of 93 kg (group 1) resp. 87.5 kg (group 2) the digestibility of both rations was examined. A significant difference was only found for the crude protein fraction with an apparent digestibility of 74.6% in group 1 and of 79.1% in group 2. Those pigs which received partly hydrolysed straw meal consumed 71.4 g N per animal and day, of which 25,4% were excreted in feces and 32.4% in urine. Those animals which were fed with untreated straw meal consumed 62.9 g N per animals and day of which 20.8% were excreted in feces and 49.7% in urine. The higher N-excretion in feces could also be proved for most amino acids the feeding with partly hydrolysed straw meal. For arginine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, isoleucine and Leucine these differences were significant. Differences concerning N-retention could not be found between the groups. 25% of the organic matter of the partly hydrolysed straw meal, 9.4% of the crude fibre and 44.2% of the N-free extractives were digestible. Of the untreated straw, 12.9% of the organic matter, 5.5% ofthe crude fibres and 21.7% of the N-free extractives were digestible. 193 EFpig were calculated for partly hydrolysed and 105 EFpig for untreated straw meal per kg dry matter. The result of substracting the CaCl2 of the partly hydrolysed straw meal is 205 EFpig per kg dry matter of the straw.