Application of Our Understanding of Barley Quality to Beef Feedlot Management

Methods for determining quality measurements of barley grain will continue to be evaluated. Improvements in prediction equations and individual quality measurements will occur in the next few years. Bulk density measurements will continue to be the method of determining barley grain quality in commercial applications. This paper has discussed some of the pitfalls of bulk density measurements, however, in practical on-site applications, this is the only measurement that uses simple equipment and is inexpensive. As other measurements, (i.e. starch and fiber content), become.easily determined by NIR or other means, producers will add these tools to their assessment of barley quality. Bulk density measurement comparison within varieties seems to be more accurate than between varieties. Variety identification thus is very important in both practical evaluations as well as in research studies. Barley grain processing and variety evaluations and their influence on animal performance and digestibility of diet components will also be subject to more investigation. The literature cited in this review suggest that barley variety selection will provide livestock feeders with new choices in feed grains. The interaction of variety and processing methods will need to be assessed. Barley grain processing methods that improve the ruminal starch digestion rate and extent, will also improve the digestion of starch in the lower digestive tract and therefore total starch digestion. Processing methods that increase the rate of starch digestion in the rumen have been shown to improve the performance of finishing beef cattle fed high grain diets. The presence of salivary buffers and mastication of feed during time shortly after feed consumption will help decrease the incidence of ruminal acidosis. Digestive upsets, often seen when high barley diets are fed, usually occur four to five hours after feed is consumed. This appears to be related to rates of starch digestion at this delayed time. Processing methods that increase the rate of starch digestion in the early post-eating time periods provide a more balanced rate of starch digestion and, thus, fewer digestive upsets. It is obvious that beef cattle finishing diets that contain barley as the only source of grain can be fed safely and that high quality barley is comparable to corn as a feed grain.