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Report no. 636


Henrik Wachmann Bent Borg Jensen Knud Erik Bach Knudsen Helle D. Kjærsgaard
18.12.2003
Barley/wheat ratio and wheat bran in pelleted finisher feed – effect on the prevalence of Salmonella, gastro-intestinal health, transit time and productivity

Abstract
The importance of the barley/wheat ratio and of addition of wheat bran to pelleted finisher feed was studied.

The effect on the prevalence of Salmonella, the gastro-intestinal health, transit time and on the productivity was measured. The grain content of the diets was composed as described below:

Group

1

2

3

4

5

6

Wheat, %

100

75

50

25

0

85

Barley, %

0

25

50

75

100

0

Wheat bran, %

0

0

0

0

0

15

The prevalence of Salmonella decreased significantly as the amount of barley increased.

Compared with wheat, barley had a positive effect on the functional traits of the gastric content:

*

The concentration of organic acids in the stomach and the caecum increased.

*

The composition of the microflora was affected positively.

*

The separation between the fluid and the solid matter phase was reduced.

*

The transit time of fluid and dry matter was reduced.


However, barley was not found to have any effect on the population of coliform bacteria, enterobacteria or on yeast.  Overall, the microbiological data and the physico-chemical data indicate that the gastro-intestinal health improved as the amount of barley increased.

There was a positive linear correlation between the prevalence of gastric lesions and the barley content of the feed. The more barley, the fewer gastric lesions.

The productivity, which expresses the production results, decreased as the amount of barley increased (corresponding to approx. DKK5 per place unit/year for each 10% inclusion of barley).

Inclusion of 15% wheat bran (group 6) had no significant effect on the prevalence of Salmonella positive pigs, on the population of bacteria or on the concentration of organic acids of the gastro-intestinal tract. However, the productivity was reduced by 7% compared with the diet in which the grain consisted of wheat only (group 1).

On the basis of this trial, the present recommendation is maintained of avoiding pure wheat mixes and of mixing barley into the feed when Salmonella problems arise.
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