Utilizing New Barley Cultivar in Dairy Calf Rations

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HTML Editors: Dr. Jochum Wiersma & Tracy Allrich

Sixteen pre-weaned dairy calves were fed a grain starter ration consisting of 39% waxy hull-less barley, 39% shelled corn, 20% soybean meal and 2% minerals and vitamin mix. A similar control group was fed the same grain starter except that the hull-less barley (Apollo) was replaced with conventional covered barley (Excel) in the ration. In addition the 32 pre-weaned calves were fed 4.4 pounds of mild twice daily.

Another group of 16 weaned calves (no milk) were fed the same type of starter rations plus all the alfalfa they desired. Weaned calves were fed in group pens of four calves each and pre-weaned calves were fed in individual pens inside an insulated and ventilated calf barn nursery. Pre-weaned calves were fed the grain starter free choice and the weaned calves were limited to 4 pounds/head/day.

Both starter rations were formulated to NRC standards to meet the nutrient requirements of both weaned and pre-weaned calves. Feed samples were collected at weekly intervals and composited by month for analysis. Grain starter rations were formulated to a minimum of 18% protein. The average for the duration of the trial resulted in 19.2% protein for the ration containing the normal barley and 20.1% for the starter containing the waxy hull-less barley.

The hull-less cultivar was three percentage points higher in protein than the Excel variety. Also note in Table 1 the crude fiber and ash content of the hull-less barley was considerably lower than the normal six-row barley. Energy was slightly higher in the waxy variety because of the higher fat and starch values with less fiber and ash. The higher fiber value of the conventional barley is due primarily to the hull content.

A major difference in the two types of barley is in the starch composition. The waxy type or soft starch is almost totally (98.4%) amylopectin, whereas the conventional variety has starch consisting of 27.2% amylose and 72.7% amylopectin as a percentage of dry starch. Waxy hull-less barley has a more soluble fiber as well as being high in the beta-glucans.

Calves fed the two different cultivars of barley performed equally well and resulted in similar results with excellent feed conversion and rate of gain. Pre-weaned calves consuming either waxy hull-less or naked barley grew at the rate of 0.90 lb./day and those fed regular commercial barley gained 0.88 lb/day. Weaned calves on the hull-less barley gained 1.82 lb/day and those on the conventional barley treatment grew at the rate of 1.89 lb/day. These differences were not statistically significant.

In summary the following conclusions were reached concerning this calf feeding trial:

1. Waxy hull-less barley performed well as a grain in calf starters for both weaned and pre-weaned dairy calves.
2. Covered (conventional) barley and hull-less (waxy) barley are quite different in carbohydrate and protein make-up. (The starch in waxy barley is virtually all amylopectin and amino acid content is substantially higher).
3. Adequate intake of grain starter both by pre-weaned and weaned calves resulted with the two different types of barley cultivars.
4. Growth rates and average daily gains of calves fed waxy barley were not significantly different from the control.
5. No unusual health or off-feed problems were observed in these feed trials with the different types of barley cultivars.
6. Overall performances of calves fed waxy hull-less barley was satisfactory and similar to calves fed conventional barley.
7. Waxy hull-less barley is a good and useful grain as a major ingredient in dairy calf starters. Advantages include higher protein (amino acid content), lower fiber and more digestible, starch is all amylopectin (branched chain), and greater digestible energy than conventional barley cultivars.

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