Effect of Fungal Fermentation and Other Treatments on Nutritional Value of Waxy Barley Fed to Chicks

Abstract

Unpearled and pearled waxy nude barley was subjected to water treatment, cooking, fermentation with Rhizopus oligosporus, or beta-glucanase treatment. Grain products were incorporated into 23% protein diets and fed to broiler chicks, with a corn-soy diet as control. Fermentation of barley improved body weight gains over chicks fed untreated barley and controls, although not significantly so in two of three trials. Water or beta-glucanase treatment did not produce significantly different weight gains over untreated barley or control diets, although feed gain ratios tended to be improved. Excreta of chicks fed untreated barley were greater in total quantity and wetness over corn-soybean meal fed controls, while fermentation of barley resulted in feces weight and wetness similar to controls. Greater overall growth response was observed in chicks fed unpearled barley over those fed pearled barley. Fermentation appeared to improve performance more than beta-glucanase treatment.