Cereals grown at Upper Pendre Focus Site sent to a laboratory for full nutritional analysis
Dr Delana Davies, Arable & Horticulture Technical Officer
All the cereals grown at Upper Pendre Focus Site were sent to a laboratory for full nutritional analysis.
|
|
ME MJ/Kg DM |
Crude Protein % |
Moisture % |
Starch % |
|
Triticale |
13.8 |
11.5 |
15.1 |
60.6 |
|
Barley |
13.2 |
9.7 |
13.8 |
51.5 |
|
Wheat |
13.7 |
12.1 |
14.1 |
57.3 |
|
Rye |
13.6 |
10.9 |
13.2 |
49.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The rye compares favourably with the other cereals in terms of Metabolisable Energy content with a starch value comparable to barley. Rye also has the benefit of containing around 5% sugar which can provide a readily available source of energy for rumen microbes which complements the slower digestion of starch.
Crude Protein levels of rye presented between that of barley and triticale.
Cereals grown at Upper Pendre are used to feed the dairy herd and finish cattle from the suckler herd, and it was concluded that the rye could be used as a straight substitute for any of the other cereal crops in the rations on the farm.