Anthocyanin Stability and Silage Fermentation Quality of Colored Barley

This study was conducted to observe the fermentative quality and anthocyanin content in whole crop colored barley silage during storage periods and anthocyanin stability in in vitro ruminal fluid. Silages of colored barley cultivar "Boanchalbori" and normal barley cultivar "Yuyeonbori" were stored during 0, 2, 4, 6, and 12 months. The in vitro ruminal fluid was fermented for 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hrs. For the feed value, crude protein of colored barley silage was slightly increased in the silage compared to that of normal barley silage, and being increased up to 2 months after ensiling and thereafter maintained at the similar level. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of both the barley significantly increased by prolonged storage of 2 months (p less than 0.05), but they were maintained at the constant level after 2 months of storing silage. Whereas TDN (total digestible nutrients) contents of them were decreased by the prolonged storage of 2 months (p less than 0.05), then maintained at the constant levels. The fermentative quality and pH values in both the barley silages were slightly decreased during the storage time. Lactic acid and acetic acid contents were increased during prolonged storage period, but not significantly different among treatments. Butyric acid was not detected. In the colored barley silage, pH value showed slightly lower compared to that of the normal barley silage but not significant, and lactic acid content was significantly higher than the normal barley silage (p less than 0.05). The total anthocyanin content in the whole crop colored barley silage decreased to 42% after 2 months of ensilage, however maintained at the constant level until 12 months of ensilage. In the case of anthocyanin stability on in vitro ruminal fluid digestion, the pH value of the ruminal fluid was slightly lower at 6, 12, 24, 48h incubation time and the content of anthocyanin was at similar levels. These results indicated that the colored barley showed higher fermentation quality, and total anthocyanin content was maintained stable at 42% level of the first value in storing silage. As the anthocyanin had higher stability in the ruminal fluid, the colored barley has a potential as functional feeds for Ruminants.