Feed grain is a cereal intended for feeding farm animals. Fodder is the basis of diets in poultry and pig farming, as well as a valuable component in cattle breeding. Such crops cannot be used for food purposes.
The benefits of fodder
Feed grain is a very valuable and useful product for animals. It is endowed with all the necessary vitamins and minerals for the full development and growth of livestock and poultry. In addition, cereals contain a lot of carbohydrates, protein and amino acids. Also, forage has a high energy value. The price of fodder is lower, which can significantly reduce the cost of livestock products.
Common Crops
The following crops are most common among feed grains:
- Cereals - wheat, rye, oats, corn, barley, millet.
- Legumes - beans, peas, a rank, beans, lentils, soy.
Feed wheat
Wheat is not only the most important food, but also a forage crop. Almost half of the total crop is consumed specifically for fodder needs.
This is a herbaceous annual plant, 50-150 cm high. It happens in winter and spring. Today there are many varieties of wheat. Conventionally, they can be divided into hard and soft types. Durum wheat varieties above the ear have a thick-walled straw filled with a dense mass. In soft crops, on the contrary, the straw is thin-walled and hollow along the entire length.
Grain Grades
Depending on quality, according to GOST, hard and soft wheat varieties are divided into different classes of grain.
Hard grains have 5 divisions, and soft grains - 6. All classes, except 5 and 6, are used for food purposes.
- Higher, 1 and 2 class wheat belongs to strong varieties that can be used both independently and as an amplifier of weak varieties for baking.
- Grade 3 is considered very valuable. It is used independently in the food industry and does not need improvement.
- Grade 4 wheat can be used in the food industry and bakery only after its improvement in higher grades.
- Grades 5-6 of wheat belong to the "feed".
Grading according to quality classes in this standard is carried out according to indicators of gluten, moisture, protein (except for class 5), density, pest infection, harmful, grain and weed impurities.
When determining the quality of feed grain, it is taken into account, first of all, the level of its condition (dry matter content, crude protein, metabolic energy, crude fiber, phosphorus, calcium, etc.).
Grade 5 wheat
Class 5 wheat is non-food; therefore, it is intended for the feeding of domestic animals and the production of animal feed. In its composition, it is practically no different from food. However, if for grain intended for food purposes, a high percentage of starch and gluten is considered a virtue, then for animal feed it is rather a disadvantage. Therefore, feed wheat in the feed of small and cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry (ducks, chickens, geese) serves only as an additive to the main rations and is not used as monocorm.
- For chickens, grain is prepared by grinding, germination or yeast and can make up no more than 60% of the total feed.
- The amount of feed grain in the diet of cows is calculated depending on the weight of the animal and the milk yield, and can be up to 30% of the total nutritional value of the feed .
- For fattening pigs, the optimal amount of wheat in the feed is 20-40%.
Feed wheat indicators
For fodder there are mandatory quality requirements. So, feed wheat GOST R 52554-2006 must be healthy, not infected by pests and have industrial value. The composition admits the presence of grain impurities up to 15%, weeds - 3%, sprouted grains of not more than 2%. Humidity should not exceed 15%,
In terms of protein content, feed wheat exceeds all other cereals, in addition, it is a high-calorie feed, second only to corn. The grain contains 10-15% of proteins, a small amount (up to 2%) of fats, 2-3% of sugar, up to 65% of carbohydrates, which are mainly represented by starch. There is also a complete set of essential amino acids, vitamins of groups B, E, PP, trace elements - potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium.
Advantages of feed wheat
First of all, feed wheat is a valuable food product, which contains many useful micro and macro elements, lysine, amino acids, phosphorus, which favorably affect the development and health of livestock. The soft variety is used to feed fastidious animals and birds. Feed wheat (price 7500 - 8500 rubles / t) is considered more popular than other feed crops due to its affordable cost, taste, nutrition and useful properties. It is used as feed for almost all types of livestock and poultry.
Animals that eat this food gain good weight and height, and give healthy offspring.
disadvantages
The disadvantage of feed wheat is the high content of gluten and starch, which in the stomach of animals form a sticky mass that can cause pain and colic in the stomach. In addition, excessive consumption of wheat by feed cattle can lead to obesity, which increases the risk of various diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor the dosage of all feed so as not to harm your household.
Feed corn (grain)
Corn is the queen of the fields. Its feed value is 1.34 feed units. According to GOST 13634-90, corn is divided into three classes, depending on the percentage of damaged grains and grain impurities. The third class of this culture is used for animal feed. The maximum permissible percentage of grain impurities for this class should not exceed 15%, and the number of sprouted grains should not exceed 5%. Depending on the color and type of grain, this culture is divided into 9 types, each of which can be used for feed purposes and for the production of animal feed.
Feed barley
Grade 3 barley, or feed barley, like corn, is the main forage crop included in the diet of large horned animals. It is rich in amino acids and lysine. It is considered the most cost-effective culture. Suitable for all agricultural pets. Almost everyone adores him - cows, horses, pigs and even rabbits. Feed value reaches 1.2 feed units. The quality of feed barley is regulated in GOST 28672-90.
Feed oats
The quality of oats is determined according to GOST 28673-90. This culture is divided, depending on the grain impurity, into four main classes. Oats, in the composition of which from 12 to 15% of grain impurities, belong to the fourth (feed) class. Of all the crops, the nature of oats is the lowest - 460 grams / liter.