FEED INGREDIENTS | Feed Concentrates: Cereal Grains

Abstract

The primary energy source for livestock production is cereal grains, with corn, barley, sorghum, wheat, and oats being the most common cereal grains fed. These cereal grains primarily provide energy to animals by their concentration of starch. Although the starch in the typical hybrids of these cereal grains contains about 25% amylose and 75% amylopectin, the site and extent of their digestion vary because of the differences in the structural nature of the endosperm. Reduction of particle size and processing with heat and moisture increase the digestibility of the cereal grains in the rumen and total tract, thus resulting in increased energy availability. The amount of cereal grains used in diets should depend on cost, production level of animals, dietary concentration of forage neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and the nature of the grain processing. Adequate forage NDF is needed to stimulate ruminal fermentation, a minimum amount of nonfiber carbohydrates (NFCs) is needed to support microbial protein synthesis, and maximum NFC is necessary to reduce the risk of ruminal acidosis. Because of the agronomic conditions for their production, ease of distribution, and the comparative low costs of energy provided by grains, the cereal grains and their corresponding by-products will remain as staple ingredients in diets for dairy cattle.