feed barley

Ideal as a 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. 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 propionic acid reduces Vit E content further.