| Barley |
| Introduction |
| Widely grown around the
world, with many feed by-products resulting. Barley is
usually grown for malting but also grown for animal feed.
Top quality products are used in the brewing and
distilling industry with lower quality sold for animal
feed. It is an angular grain with a fibrous outer coat. |
| Origin |
| Throughout the world, in
temperate countries, especially Europe. |
| Nutritional Information |
| Ideal as a ruminant and non-ruminant
feed, with a protein level varying between 6 and 14%, but
on average 11-12%. Ruminants benefit from it being high
in energy, in the form of starch, making it highly
fermentable, encouraging milk protein and fast growth. It
is also useful in pig and poultry diets, providing energy
from starch. It contains more fibre and less starch than
wheat and may be indigestible for young poultry.
Nutritional value will depend on the variety, protein
level and bushel weight (1000 grain weight). A small
proportion (approx 10%) of barley can bypass the rumen
unfermented but, as with all cereals, the protein is of
average quality being particularly deficient in lysine.
Barley is ideal to complement forages but needs careful
mineral/vitamin balancing, particularly treated grains.
It is especially low in Vitamin A, D, E and calcium.
Processing of moist grains with proprionic acid reduces
the Vitamin E content further. |
| Colour/Texture |
| Pale yellow elongated
grains. |
| Palatability |
| Less palatable than other
cereals. |
| Limits on Usage |
| Ruminants may suffer
acidosis (drop in rumen pH) and/or bloat if fed high
levels in a feed. Lambs may produce soft fat in their
carcass if dietary inclusion is excessive. The presence
of beta-glucans cause sticky droppings in poultry and a
suitable enzyme should be included (eg. Beta-glucanase).
Total feed intakes will reduce if fed finely ground. |
| Recommended Maximum
Inclusion Rates % |
| Calf |
50 |
Creep |
20 |
Chick |
25 |
| Dairy |
50 |
Weaner |
25 |
Broiler |
70 |
| Beef |
50 |
Grower |
30 |
Breeder |
55 |
| Lamb |
25 |
Finisher |
30 |
Layer |
55 |
| Ewe |
50 |
Sow |
25 |
|
|
|
| Handling/Storage |
| Stores well at moisture
below 13%. Normally processed by rolling, grinding,
flaking or micronisation which improves the digestibility.
Sheep can digest whole barley grain. High inclusion rates
will affect compound pellet quality and greater than 70%
barley will not pellet easily. It is often treated with
proprionic acid to preserve it, if high in moisture. |