Using Barley in Horse Feeds

In the United States, barley ranks behind only corn and sorghum in terms of feed grain production. Barley must be differentiated in terms of the desired end use, as various cultivars are developed for specific purposes. For example, malting and feed barley are distinctly different, as high protein content is desirable in feed grain but not for malting.

In general, barley has a feeding value that is about 95% that of corn. It is relatively high in crude protein for a feed grain, ranging from 8 to 13%, but like oats, barley is relatively low in lysine and methionine. Because most feed barley contains the hull, fiber content is relatively high at around 5 to 7%. Starch makes up nearly 65% of the kernel. Additionally, the kernel has approximately 1% simple sugars and 2% sucrose.

Barley to be used for feed has a test weight of 40 lb (18 kg) per bushel and a maximum of 4% foreign material, and a maximum of 1% heat damaged kernels. Color can range from yellow to golden yellow and the grain should be free of excessive dustiness with no evidence of seed treatment. There should be no moldy or musty smell.

Barley tends to be quite hard and requires some type of processing to make the nutrients more available. The most common types of processing include rolling and steam flaking. Concerns for barley quality surround storage issues. Improper storage will allow fungus, molds, and insects to enter the grain and alter the nutrient profile.