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Effect of Processing Barley and of Delayed Concentrate Feeding on Growth and Nutrient Balance in Growing Pigs and the Effect of Processing Barley on Apparent Digestibility of Pregnant Sows

Spillers Limited, Animal Nutrition Research Laboratory, Middle Aston House, Nr. Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire

Abstract

A digestibility trial with pregnant sows, a large scale field trial and a balance trial with growing castrates were conducted to measure the nutritional effects on weight gain, feed/gain and nutrient digestibility and retention of feeding rolled, or whole barley, with a pelleted concentrate or feeding a pelleted complete diet of the same over-all composition. Furthermore, the effect on the proximate dietary principles of the delayed feeding of the concentrate was measured with growing castrates receiving rolled barley and concentrate in metabolism crates.

The ration containing rolled barley led to greater crude protein and gross energy digestibilities for sows tied in stalls than a similar ration containing whole barley. The digestion of energy crude protein and dry matter in the pelleted diet was not significantly (P<0.05) greater than for those components in the pelleted concentrate fed together with rolled barley.

The pelleted diet improved the feed/gain of growing pigs penned in groups in comparison to barley grain and pelleted concentrate fed separately. Rolled barley and concentrate fed separately led to an intermediate response. Some differences also occurred in rates of weight gain and carcass characteristics.

The digestibility and utilization of whole barley was not significantly (P<0.05) less than that of rolled barley for growing pigs caged continuously in metabolism crates. Furthermore, these pigs utilized diets in which the barley and concentrate were fed at separate meals as effectively as those fed the mixed diet.

¹ The authors are indebted to Mr. J. C. Dickins for his helpful statistical advice and to Spillers Limited, Central Laboratory, Cambridge, for carrying out some of the chemical analyses. The authors are also grateful to Miss Jennifer Jones for technical assistance and to Mr. Colin Turner for his care and attention to the pigs.