What is feed wheat and where is it used?

The development of the livestock industry increases the need for livestock feed. According to statistics, approximately half of the annual grain harvest is spent on these needs. Wheat accounts for about 20 million tons. Feed grain is used exclusively for feeding livestock.

What is feed wheat

Feed wheat is low quality wheat intended for feeding livestock. This is grain that did not pass quality control, which is why it did not reach the food market. This wheat is suitable for use in the agricultural industry.

Differences from food

Feed grain is obtained from all types of cereal crops. General sign: it cannot be used for human nutrition. But the chemical composition of the forage is suitable for animals. It contains a reduced amount of proteins and fiber, and more carbohydrates than food.

Wheat is divided into 6 classes. Feed grain includes grain of classes 5 and 6. This is what is used to feed livestock. Classes 1-4 are used for human nutrition.

Purpose

Feed grains are used to feed sheep, pigs, cows, rabbits, chickens, geese, ducks and other animals and birds.

Feed and fodder wheat – are they the same thing or not?

Feed – wheat grades 5 and 6. These are non-food types that are used only as animal feed.

That is feed and feed wheat are essentially the same thing.

Description and characteristics

Feed wheat has less fat, protein and fiber when compared to food wheat. But it has a high concentration of carbohydrates.

Standards that cereals must meet:

• maximum humidity level – 12%;
• amount of grain impurities – up to 15%;
• presence of vitamins B and E;
• protein content – ​​10-16%.

Due to the relatively high cellulose content, durum feed wheat is fed to horses and cattle. Other varieties are used for poultry, pigs, and fish.

Peculiarities

Feed wheat is also used for the production of combined feed. A sufficient concentration of lysine in high-quality feed ensures complete absorption of feed by animals. This is due to the equal ratio of phosphorus and amino acids.

By using combined feeds based on wheat of the 5th and 6th classes, farmers achieve rapid weight gain in young animals and improve the taste of meat.

But if feed wheat is used as the sole source of nutrition, it can harm animals. Causes:

• excess carbohydrates – with insufficient amounts of fiber and protein this leads to obesity;
• high starch content - because of this, livestock have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

To compensate for deficiencies, it is recommended to feed animals corn, barley, vegetables, hay, millet, oats, and fresh grass along with wheat.

Requirements for feed wheat according to GOST

The requirements are regulated by GOST R 54078-2010. It stipulates that feed grain should not be contaminated with bacteria and fungi that are dangerous to human and animal health, and should not have foreign odors. Standards determine appearance, transparency, gloss, shape, color.

Basic requirements of GOST:

• weed impurity – up to 5%;
• mineral impurities – up to 1%;
• grain impurities – up to 15%;
• normal color characteristic of wheat and healthy condition;
• fresh smell - there should be no shades of mold, mustiness, malt or rot;
• the content of grain affected by fusarium is no more than 1%;
• amount of dry matter – from 87%;
• damage by smut fungus – up to 8%.

According to GOST, grain husks, stems and leaves, stones, pieces of soil, weed seeds, other grains and legumes, spoiled grain, and weeds are considered to be impurities.

Norms for grain impurities are also prescribed. Such an impurity is grain:

• pressed;
• broken and corroded, maximum share of the total mass - 50%;
• sprouted;
• wrinkled;
• deformed;
• immature.

Grain classification

When determining the quality of grain, the first thing to pay attention to is its condition - the amount of crude fiber, crude protein, dry matter, carbohydrates, etc. Classification is also carried out based on moisture content, protein content, gluten, the amount of impurities and the degree of pest damage.

Wheat classification:

• 1st and 2nd grade – the highest quality grain, which is used for preparing products and improving the quality of lower grades during baking;
• 3rd grade is also highly valued; when used in the food industry, they do not resort to improvement;
• 4th grade used for making pasta and baking bread, but after improvement by class 1 or 2;
• 5th and 6th grades – feed wheat.

Features of cultivation

No special feed wheat growbecause it is not suitable for sowing.

Feed grain is taken from what is not of suitable quality for use in the food industry.

Harvest storage

The main factor determining the length of grain storage is the level of humidity. Wheat is placed in storage where humidity does not exceed 12%.

If this indicator is observed, biochemical processes stop, and the fodder does not spoil for 5-7 years. At humidity above 12% they actively reproduce pests and heat is released.

Attention! The maximum storage temperature is +10°C.

How to choose the right one

Documents are requested for each shipment delivered. For large volumes (for example, on farms), samples taken from several random bags are sent for laboratory testing.

Quality certificates indicate the test results, which indicate the presence/absence of dangerous microorganisms. Everything must comply with GOST. If there are any violations, the batch is returned to the supplier.

The cost of production is formed from the following indicators:

• varietal group;
• market filling – depends on the amount of the last harvest;
• type of grain;
• demand for a product in a particular region.

Advantages and disadvantages of feed wheat

Disadvantages of feed grain:

• increased amount of starch;
• lack of protein, fiber and fat;
• high carbohydrate content.

Excessive amounts of carbohydrates lead to imbalance and create a risk of obesity. And due to the lack of fiber, the food is poorly absorbed by the body. Therefore, feed wheat is not used as the only type of feed.

But this grain is suitable as an additive to combined feeds. In combination with other crops, forage allows young animals to quickly gain weight. Lysine is included in the feed to stabilize amino acid metabolism.

Conclusion

Feed wheat is a feed grain, the basis of animal nutrition.During the purchase, its quality is controlled - it is checked for compliance with standards so as not to harm the livestock. To obtain maximum benefits, wheat is combined with other types of feed.