Evaluation of barley as a source of protein for chicks. II. Nutritional assessment of barleys of differing variety and composition as complements to protein concentrates.

Abstract

AbstractBarley samples differing in variety, nitrogen fertiliser treatment and location of growth were compared in mixtures with gelatin by the rat net protein utilisation (n.p.u.) test and in mixtures with fish, meat, soya bean or groundnut meals by the total protein efficiency (t.p.e.) chick growth procedure.Small but significant differences were found, the order of superiority of the barleys varying according to the nature of the accompanying concentrate and in some cases there were indications that the variations in quality were related to amino‐acid composition. In general the poorer the quality of the accompanying concentrate the more pronounced were the differences between the barleys.