D.J. Lyon and I.G. Rush
1993 J. Prod. Agric. 6: 395-398
Winter wheat (
Triticum aestivum L.) grain contaminated with jointed goatgrass (
Aegilops cylindrica Host.) Joints is often discounted and may be rejected by grain purchasers. Alternatively, the grain may be fed to cattle (
Bos taurus L.). The objective of this research was to determine if feed-mill processing of jointed goatgrass joints would reduce seed germination and emergence and prevent dissemination of this troublesome weed when fed to cattle. A roller mill and hammer mill were used to coarse- and fine-grind the joints. Germination and emergence were reduced, but not eliminated, by processing alone. Seed from jointed goatgrass joints fine-ground with a hammer mill and placed in the rumen of a fistualted steer for 24 h did not germinate. The hammer mill may be used to reduce the risk of disseminating jointed goatgrass when the milled jointed goatgrass-contaminated wheat is fed to cattle.