Tempering Barley Improves Feedlot Performance

Cattle feeders who feed dry rolled barley could benefit from tempering the grain before rolling, and by using a yeast and enzyme additive, according to North Dakota State University researchers.

Tempering involves adding water to dry barley and allowing it to steep for several hours before rolling. Animal scientist Vern Anderson and research specialist Eric Bock, both at NDSU’s Carrington Research Extension Center, evaluated temper rolled barley along with a yeast/enzyme supplement for growing and finishing feedlot steers. Tempered barley with and without the supplement was compared to dry rolled barley and dry rolled corn as part of a total mixed ration.

In feeding trials, average daily gain of steers fed tempered barley was greater than that of steers fed dry rolled barley, at 3.48 pounds per day compared to 3.30 pounds per day, Anderson says. Adding a yeast and enzyme supplement to the tempered barley also increased gains, but not significantly, to 3.51 pounds per day, he says. The supplement had its greatest effect on feed consumption and weight gains during the mud and wet conditions of the spring breakup. Steers fed dry rolled corn had slightly higher daily gains at 3.58 pounds per day.

No differences in feed efficiency were observed among the rations.

The only carcass traits affected by the rations were slaughter weight and fat thickness, Anderson says. Steers fed the tempered barley plus yeast/enzyme supplement were heaviest at slaughter, at an average weight of 1,185 pounds, and had the thinnest fat cover, 0.376 inch. The lot of steers fed dry rolled barley had the greatest fat thickness at 0.476 inch. Steers in the dry rolled corn lot averaged 0.397 inch, and the steers fed tempered barley without the yeast/enzyme supplement averaged 0.384 inch.

Tempering barley is a simple, inexpensive process that softens the barley kernel and helps control particle size when rolling the grain. Feeding tempered barley increases steer performance and carcass value, adding to net income, says Anderson. Cold weather was not a problem for mixing, storing or rolling the moistened grain.

"Feeders who dry roll grain should explore methods of tempering barley," he says. "It’s possible to assemble tempering equipment using insulated water sources, augers, mixer wagons, and holding bins or surge tanks to mix and store a one- to three-day supply of grain."

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Source: Vern Anderson, (701) 652-2591
Editor: Gary Moran, (701) 231-7865