Who can be fed with feed barley?
Everyone knows what barley is. When “forage” is added to this word, the phrase takes on a different meaning. In the article you will learn all the most important things about feed barley: its properties, types, benefits, harms and applications. We will tell you whether it is possible to feed barley to ducks, whether it is possible to feed goats with barley and much more.
Feed barley - what is it?
Forage is processed parts of plants (stems, leaves, etc.) that are used to feed livestock, horses and birds. when added to daily meals. Feed barley is the processed parts of this grain crop.
Characteristic
Forage is used exclusively for agricultural purposes. It should not harm the health of livestock and birds. Any feed contains impurities, small pests and low-quality grain, so there is a GOST with standards and characteristics for feed barley. For more details, see the table.
| Index | Norm and characteristics |
| Smell | Similar to healthy barley. Malty, musty, putrid mold smell is not allowed |
| Color | Similar to whole grain barley |
| State | Only not heating state |
| Humidity | No more than 15.5% |
| Presence of contamination | Mite infestation is possible no higher than the second degree, otherwise healthy grain |
| Content of mineral impurities | No more than 1% |
| The presence of spoiled grains among the impurities | No more than 1% |
| Content of harmful impurities | No more than 0.2% |
| Harmful admixture of seeds of multi-colored kibble, creeping bittersweet, smut and ergot | No more than 0.2%. The presence of trichodesma gray and heliotrope pubescent fruit seeds in the mixture is not allowed |
| Presence of cockle in the weed mixture | No more than 0.5% |
| Other grain admixture: wheat, corn, oats, etc. | No more than 15% |
| Content of fusarium (fungus-affected), infected grains | No more than 1% |
The benefits of feed barley
During the production of fodder, the beneficial properties of barley are partially lost. It is not used as a separate “product” in agriculture. It is useful as part of mixed feed, helps improve the health of livestock, and normalizes its vital functions.
Animals and birds can more easily endure the winter cold and being in a stall and are less likely to get sick. Egg production improves in birds, the quality of meat and lard improves in pigs, cows give more milk, horses become more resilient.
Harm from feed barley
Feed barley is used as an additive to the permanent diet of livestock in purified and processed form. Animals and birds can die if they consume whole grains. You should not feed barley that is infested with pests, rotten, rotted, or pickled with fertilizers.
When buying grain, study its external parameters, GOST requirements in quality certificates. The forage is not suitable for the food industry. Humans should not eat it because it causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
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Simple recipes for barley moonshine
Chemical composition and properties
Barley contains:
- amino acids - lysine, methionine, cystine, valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine;
- cellulose;
- proteins;
- vitamins D, E, group B and carotene;
- sugar and starch;
- calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, sulfur, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine.
The composition of feed barley due to its properties is suitable for feeding farm animals and birds as part of compound feed.
How feed barley grows
Six-row barley is grown for fodder production.. On each ledge of the ear shaft there are three grains; on the sides they are small and curved. Grain yield depends on the type and fertility of the soil and on external factors: light, temperature, moisture.
Non-acidic chernozem soil is suitable for growing this crop.. Nutrients and moisture should easily penetrate into the soil. Feed barley grows better in the south of the country, where daylight hours are longer. The optimal average temperature for good germination and full maturity is +20…+22°C.
Feed barley requires moisture during the periods of germination and main growth.. The application of mineral and organic fertilizers helps retain moisture. Grain does not like to grow for three years in the same place. The best predecessors of barley are winter rye, potatoes and legumes (chickpeas, lentils, peas).
Attention! The Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories are leaders in all of the above parameters for growing feed barley.
Types of forage
Forage is divided into two groups:
- concentrated – grains and cereals. They are rich in microelements, nutritious and are added to the daily feed;
- coarse – hay, straw, silage, grass. This is a stand-alone feed for horses and cattle.
How is fodder used on the farm?
The only role of feed barley is as an additive to the usual feed for livestock and poultry.. But not so long ago, bakery products containing feed grain appeared in stores.
No it has no nutritional value for humans and is added to make bread cheaper. It contains a lot of gluten, so feed barley flour is viscous and difficult to bake. The finished bread will crumble and crumble a lot.
There is an opinion that low-quality barley grain is also used in the brewing industry, but this is a myth. Feed barley does not have the properties necessary for malt. Brewers will spend their time and money, but they will not produce quality beer.
Use of forage as feed for poultry and livestock
To provide animals and poultry with adequate nutrition with forage, comply with the conditions:
When buying barley, make sure there are no darkened grains. You cannot feed rotten grain to livestock and poultry.- Feed barley is an unrefined grain; its kernels are in a rough shell. Animals or birds may scratch the throat or esophagus. Feed barley must be ground or sprouted before use.
- Grain fodder should not be given as a separate feed. It contains a lot of carbohydrates, which cause weight gain. Obese birds will have reduced egg production, and pigs will have difficulty conceiving and producing offspring.
Feeding livestock and poultry must be balanced by the ratio of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. This is the only way their body will function normally, and the gastrointestinal tract will work like a clock.
Is it possible to feed ducks
Do ducks eat feed barley? Certainly, It can be given to ducks of all ages. Young shoots need to be fed with turd - crushed grain without a shell. The daily diet should consist of forage 20-40% of the total feed. It is not recommended to give more, since the fiber contained in its shell burdens the gastrointestinal tract and the ducklings die.
Adult ducks can be given unsifted grain, with shells. Sprouted or soaked is allowed.
Attention! Soak the grain in water for at least 10 hours.
Is it possible to give it to geese
Geese do not like barley because of its specific taste.. They need to be accustomed to this grain from chick age.
Food for young animals (goslings up to 20 days) - an egg mixed with crushed, peeled barley or other grain. If you do not remove the film, it will stick to the esophagus, clog it, and the goslings will die. Daily ration – 40% of total feed.
Adult birds eat this grain whole or ground into flour.. Barley stimulates feather growth, but due to lack of protein it is not suitable as a daily feed. In the diet of an adult goose it should be no more than 30-40% of the total feed. With this feeding, a sufficient amount of meat will be formed. This is necessary if the bird is being prepared for slaughter. Sprouted barley grains are also suitable for geese.
How to properly germinate grain for poultry feed
Sprouted grain is grown in 3-4 days and give to birds all year round:
- Boxes 4 cm deep are made of metal (without rust), plywood or wood.
- Grain is poured into them, not reaching the side 1 cm.
- Fill with water and place the boxes on top of each other in a dark place.
- As soon as the shoots appear, the boxes are transferred to the light.
- When the greens reach 8-10 cm in height, the top part is cut off.
- The remaining grain is watered, and after 3 days new shoots appear.
- Three crops are harvested from each box, then the grain is thrown away.
Greens are cut just before feedingso that it does not wither.
About other forage crops:
Do goats eat
Feed barley It is recommended to give to young animals to gain quality mass and to lactating animals to increase lactation.
Goats like ruminants are better fed with concentrated feed. Compound feed is suitable for their nutrition. The basis of the diet is barley, as it contains a large amount of fiber, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Its consumption per day in a goat is 300-400 g - up to 70% of the total food.
They produce grain cleared of films by crushing, grinding or flattening. This improves its absorption in the digestive tract.
Reference. Flaking is the grinding of grain into flakes. Their maximum thickness is 1.8 mm. Grains with a moisture content of at least 35% are subjected to flattening.
Can it be given to pigs?
The pig is an unpretentious animal in terms of nutrition.. Her diet is formed and feed barley is introduced depending on her age and feeding goals. The average content of feed barley in pig feed is 70%.
For piglets and young animals, this grain is suitable as a growth stimulant.. During puberty of pigs, its quantity is reduced or replaced with another crop. Its use reduces reproductive function and prevents active reproduction. Due to the high carbohydrate content, the growing pig gains weight and develops obesity. Barley reduces desire in females and reduces sexual activity in males.
In preparation for breeding Due to feeding with feed barley, the quality of sperm decreases, as the number of active sperm decreases. If the animals "walked" and the female became pregnant, there may be a difficult birth and fewer fetuses. During this period, barley is removed from the diet and switched to another grain.
During lactation, forage feeding is resumed. The pig's body quickly recovers, digestion improves, and the milk becomes fatty and nutritious. All this has a beneficial effect on the offspring.
If the ultimate goal is to raise animals for fat, then barley, containing a large amount of protein, is the optimal feed for pigs. It promotes the growth of fat cells, so the lard will have a thick meat layer.
Feeding sprouted barley to pigs develops the digestive system, reduces morbidity and mortality, reduces the dose of concentrated feed.
Results
Now you know the value and usefulness of feed barley when feeding farm animals and birds. The price for this grain in Russia is low, but do not go after cheapness: always ask for quality certificates before purchasing.
Use forage correctly when feeding animals, and don’t be lazy about germinating it. Remember that any feed grain is a food additive to your usual food. Only with balanced feeding of animals and birds will you get the desired result.