The potential feed value of grain tailings for poultry (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice abstract)

Summary in the original language of the document

Small grains, broken grains and weed seeds are a waste product which can be utilised as a feed stuff. The weed seeds have the potential to supply different amino acids and minerals.
The sample of tailings tested contained Ryegrass (Lolium spp.), clover (Trifolium spp.), charlock (Sinapsis) and dock (Rumex) seeds as well as small and damaged grains as seen in figure 1.
The nutritional content of the grains and tailings are shown in Table 1. Reduction in Starch levels are countered by higher levels of sugars due to harvesting weeds before maturity. Higher Oil levels will be due to higher level in weed seeds, some of which were oilseed types such as charlock (Sinapsis Arvenis L).
Increased Ash and Neutral Detergent Fibre will potentially reduce intakes and is due to the presence of dust, husks and straw from the grain.
The samples were also tested for amino acid profiles and, in the tailings, there was an increase of all amino acids tested except Glutamine and Proline, as shown in Figure 2.
Weed seed type will influence final feed value, and care must also be taken to ensure that any seeds which are toxic to poultry are removed prior to harvest. There is also a risk that weeds can be spread as a result of this practice and so milling may be beneficial.
In conclusion, there is an increased feed value in tailings, compared to clean grains, which could be utilised as a local, organic feed by poultry farmers. Other research has shown that there is no reduction in feed value from small, low bushel or specific weight grain, and so this offers an advantage to farmers who are able to clean grain prior to selling.