Improvement in the Nutritional Value of Barley for Chicks by Enzyme Supplementation

Abstract

Fry et al. (1957a) have recently shown that a simple water treatment of ground pearled barley markedly improved its nutritional value. Diets containing water-treated barley supported chick growth equal to that given by a diet containing corn. Feed efficiency obtained with the treated barley diets was significantly better than that for chicks fed the diet in which corn replaced the barley. Hastings (1946) found that addition of a diastatic enzyme material to a high fiber chick diet improved growth and feed efficiency. This preparation was without effect when added to a low fiber diet in which wheat and oats replaced the milling byproducts. Neither of the diets contained barley. Other studies (Arscott et al., 1955; and Fry et al., 1957b) strongly suggest that the depressed growth and feed efficiency which results when the corn component of a chick diet is replaced by either barley or pearled barley is due to . . .