Barley: starch and energy in livestock rations
Barley is a cereal grain that supplies starch-rich energy in livestock rations. Its average crude protein content is 11.8 per cent of dry matter, and starch averages 59.7 per cent of dry matter. Use your grain analysis when planning the ration.
How does barley supply energy in a ration?
Barley's high starch content makes it an energy feed. Starch averages 59.7 per cent of dry matter, while crude protein averages 11.8 per cent of dry matter and ranges from 8.5 to 16.1 per cent across samples. Plan the grain allowance together with the forage in the ration, rather than adding barley without adjusting the mix. Use a separate analysis for each batch to match the ration to your grain.
Questions from the farm
Is barley the same as wheat?
Barley and wheat are different grains, with different protein and starch contents. Use each grain's own analysis when calculating how much to include in a ration.
How HerdMobile helps
Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.
Enter your barley analysis in HerdMobile and calculate rations using its dry matter, crude protein and starch values, so the mix reflects the grain you are feeding.
