In an experiment of 3 x 3 Latin Square design, 3 heifers each fitted with rumen and simple T-piece duodenal cannulae were used to determine the effects of method of processing soyabean meal (SBM), and low (LRSM) and high (HRSM) glucosinolate rapeseed meals on rumen degradabilities (RD) and intestinal digestibilities of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N) and organic matter (0M) using a mobile nylon bag technique.

Heifers were given a basal diet of hay (0.55 of DM intake) and mineralized barley with LRSM (0.45 of DM intake) to provide a ME intake of > 2 x maintenance. The diet was offered twice a day and a period of four weeks was allowed before the experiment. Methods of processing were formaldehyde (FT, 0.8 HCH0/l6g N), heat (HT, 110°C for 2 h) and untreated (UT). After processing the feedstuffs were ground and 1g samples were placed in sealed nylon bags (3-5 x 5.5 cm). The bags were placed in a plastic mesh cylinder and incubated in the rumen for 0, 12, and 24 hours.