Barley Fodder Protein

[Gammond]

Does anyone know what the protein content of barley is AFTER it is sprouted?

I believe it is around 12% before?

I guess I'm looking for a nutritional comparison before and after.

 

[rjohns39]

Here are a couple links
http://www.foddersolutions.com.au/nutrition/
http://blogs.cornell.edu/organicdai...Sprouted-Barley-Fodder-Fact-sheet-2cobct5.pdf

 

[Gammond]

Here are a couple links
http://www.foddersolutions.com.au/nutrition/
http://blogs.cornell.edu/organicdai...Sprouted-Barley-Fodder-Fact-sheet-2cobct5.pdf

Someone from Fodder Solutions just replied - they said the the protein absorption goes from 9% to about 14% last time they tested. He said this can apply to chickens as well....

 

[Titan Farm]

The problem I see is that both links are not intended with poultry in mind.
Poultry have a hard time processing nutrients from fibrous materials.
The statics my be true for say cattle, sheep or goats but not chickens as they process there food differently and the nutritional information would be quite different.

 

[rjohns39]

There can be a lot of variability in nutritional content of grains—all driven by weather, that's why feed producers talk in generalizations.

 

[Morrigan]

I've read that sprouting increasing the digestability of barley and thus makes any nutrients more bio-available. I sprout mine based on that theory, but I've never been able to track down the specifics of the protein content. I would be interested in knowing the answer.

 

[Titan Farm]

Soaked grain, sprouted grain, and fodder are all different and are to a point digested differently. They also have different digestible nutrition, it does no good "processing" a grain in these ways if the total digestible nutrition is lowered or if you lose more nutrients than you started with.

 

[lazy gardener]

True that ruminants process fiber better than poultry. However, if the sprouts are fed out at the sprout stage, instead of holding them to the fodder stage, the amount of fiber would be greatly decreased. I feed out my sprouts before the grass blade has exited the monocot sheath. IMO, the fiber content at that stage would be minimal, while the nutrient level should actually be higher than it would be at the fodder stage. The day before I intend to feed my sprouts, they go on the window sill to "green up".

The best way to assess how a flock does with sprouts or fodder is to actually do it. Monitoring flock condition, as well as their fecal output seems appropriate no matter what feed you are using.

 

[Gammond]

True that ruminants process fiber better than poultry. However, if the sprouts are fed out at the sprout stage, instead of holding them to the fodder stage, the amount of fiber would be greatly decreased. I feed out my sprouts before the grass blade has exited the monocot sheath. IMO, the fiber content at that stage would be minimal, while the nutrient level should actually be higher than it would be at the fodder stage. The day before I intend to feed my sprouts, they go on the window sill to "green up".

The best way to assess how a flock does with sprouts or fodder is to actually do it. Monitoring flock condition, as well as their fecal output seems appropriate no matter what feed you are using.

Where are they the rest of the time? Somewhere dark? I started mine in the window sill (first timer).

 

[rjohns39]

Last time I did sprouts, was for human not bird consumption, but I did them in a grow tent with grow lights. I'm waiting to hear @lazy gardener response, cause she's a smart cookie.