TY  - JOUR
T1  - Barley Grain for Postmodern Ruminants: A Treasure or a Tragedy
AU - Nikkhah, Akbar 
JO  - Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances
VL  - 15
IS  - 3
SP  - 10
EP  - 18
PY  - 2016
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1680-5593
DO  - javaa.2016.10.18
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=javaa.2016.10.18
KW  - Barley
KW  -cereal
KW  -starch
KW  -ruminant
KW  -corn
KW  -cattle
KW  -rumen
AB  - Barley grain (BG, Hordeum vulgare L.) is
characterized by its fibrous coat, β-glucans and simplyarranged
and less concentrated starch granules. With
about 150 million metric tones world annual BG yield,
European Union, Canada, US and Australia are among
major BG producers and exporters. World production of
BG is about 30% of that of Corn Grain (CG). The average
BG is the third most readily degradable of cereals
subsequent to oats and wheat. The average starch content
in BG and CG are respectively 570 g kg<sup>&#150;1</sup> and 720 g kg<sup>&#150;1</sup>
with crude protein of 115 g vs. 88 g kg<sup>&#150;1</sup> of DM. Besides
greater protein, BG is more concentrated in methionine,
lysine, cysteine and tryptophan compared to CG. Due to
its greater rumen starch fermentation relative to ground
CG (e.g., 850 vs. 500 g kg<sup>&#150;1</sup>), BG provides more rapidly
synchronous energy and nitrogen release than CG which
may improve substrate incorporation efficiency into
microbial mass. Hence, rumen fermentation may achieve
its optimum potentials in Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) and
microbial mass yields more realistically with feeding BG
vs. CG. Consequently, BG feeding can reduce needs for
supplemental protected escape proteins. However, such
exceptionalities in fueling microbial metabolism remain
until rumen acidity is maintained within optimal ranges
(e.g., >5.8-6.0) below which microbial maintenance
requirements increase and as such mass yields decrease.
In addition, microbial endotoxines release causes
proinflammatory responses that weaken immune function
and depress productive longevity. Thus, mismanagement
in processing and feeding BG can easily make a debacle
from the pearl of cereals. The paper delineates
comparisons in physical and chemical structures between
BG and other common cereals as well as differences in
their response to processing techniques and feeding
strategies. In so, doing, nutritional uniquenesses and
conversely, disturbing consequences of improper BG
feeding to ruminants are underscored. Steam-rolling may
improve feed efficiency and post-rumen starch digestion;
however, it may not improve production and feed intake.
Due to limited BG responses to processing comparing
corn, sorghum and wheat, setting more consistent and
global standards for feeding and processing should be
more feasible for BG than for other cereals. In high-starch
diets, optimum feeding of BG reduces requirements for
effective small intestinal starch assimilation, subsequently
reducing hindgut starch use and fecal nutrient losses.
Barley in many ruminant industries is usually less
expensive and more available than corn and wheat which
are highly demanded by non-ruminants and humans. With
its nutritional exclusivities underlined, BG use will be a
factual art that will either matchlessly profit or harm
rumen microbes, cattle production, farm economics and
the environmental.
ER  -