Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Members of the WCC-201 are making significant progress on the different objectives set forth by this committee. Research on digestion of barley-based high-grain diets for beef cattle and steers is being completed (North Dakota State University). Research on digestion of barley-based high-grain diets for beef cattle and steers is being completed (North Dakota State University). Use of barley hay is being intensively tested at Montana State University in a multi-pronged research program where stage of maturity/at harvest, drying processes, barley genetics, ear morphology and nitrate concentration are all taken into consideration. Use of barley for feed is being enhanced by emerging new research information regarding the use of barley malt feeds (North Dakota State University), barley processing and its bulk density (Montana State University). Releases of feed barley cultivars of two-rowed type (North Dakota State University) and six-rowed type (Utah State University) remains an important emphasis of the group. Comparison of animal performances fed with barley grown under dryland or irrigated conditions, is yielding valuable research results at Montana State University. New approaches such as proteomics are being developed at Utah State University and may have applications in the identification of barley seed proteins for animal feed or human food. Finally, the active involvement of the North Dakota Barley Council in this group activity is remarkable and very much appreciated. North Dakota Station Report Vern Anderson (ND) distributed a 19 page report of barley related activities of the ND members of the committee. Reports were included on NDSU Feedlot schools for beef producers that included a discussion of barley-based growing and finishing diets and 8 research projects as follows: 1) Effects of Barley Processing for Backgrounding Diets on Performance of Beef Steers 2) Influence of Degree of Barley Processing on Digestive Functions in Steers 3) The Effect of Rumen Degradable and Undegradable Protein Supplementation in Barley-Based High-Grain Finishing Diets on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Traits of Beef Steers 4) Digestion of Barley-Based High-Grain Diets Supplemented with Rumen Degradable and Undegradable Protein in Steers-Digestion Trial 5) Barley Malt Feeds for Growing Beef Calves 6) Effect of Supplementing Ruminally Undegradable Fiber to Feedlot Steers on Fecal Nutrient Fractions and Fecal Ammonia Emissions 7) Research on Two-Rowed Feed Barley (note: this experimental variety will be released as Moose) 8) Barley Malt Feed Variations in Diets for Growing and Finishing Beef Steers Utah Station Report Dominique Roche (UT) distributed a registration description of a newly released spring 6-row feed variety named Aquila recommended for irrigated conditions. The main characteristics are an early heading date, a low propensity for lodging and a test weight equal or superior to that of two-rowed cultivars. Feed characteristics have not been characterized in depth and Dominique asked for suggestions for characterization. It was recommended he contact the ruminant nutritionists on the committee (Bowman, Hunt, Lardy) for recommendations and possible assistance in first laboratory analysis and than animal studies useful to determine nutrient value. Otherwise proteomic investigations on barley seed proteins are being pursued following outlines given at the last WCC meeting. Montana Station Report Wayne Gipp (MT) distributed a report prepared by Jan Bowman (MT) on her barley and other related research at Montana State University. The main trial (Effects of Barley Cultivar and Growing Environment on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Beef Cattle) summarized compared Valier (2 rowed malting) and Harrington (2 rowed feed) grown under dryland or irrigation on finishing beef cattle performance. There were no differences in animal performance or carcass characteristics between the two varieties. Dryland barley had lower NEm and NEg. Irrigated barleys had lower ADF and higher starch content, making irrigated barleys the more efficient feed source. Bowman (MT) reported 5 peer reviewed papers and 9 proceedings publications from her laboratory, 11 of which involved barley related research.

Escue, S.G., M. L. Bauer, S. A. Soto-Navarro, T. C. Gilberry, and G. P. Lardy. 2004. Effect of Supplementing Ruminally Undegradable Fiber To Feedlot Steers on Fecal Nutrient Fractions and Fecal. Ammonia Emissions. Proceedings, Western Section, Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci., Vol. 55. Kaiser, C.R., J.G.P. Bowman, L.M.M. Surber, et al. 2004. Variation in apparent component digestibility of barley in the rat from the core collection of the USDA National Small Grains Collection. Anim. Feed Sci. & Tech. 113(1-4): 97-112, March 5. Lardy, G.P., D.N. Ulmer, V.L. Anderson, et al. 2004. Effects of increasing level of supplemental barley on forage intake, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation in steers fed medium-quality grass hay. J. Anim. Sci. 82 (12): 3662-3668. Reed J.J., G.P. Lardy, M.L. Bauer, et al. 2004. Effect of field pea level on intake, digestion, microbial efficiency, ruminal fermentation, and in situ disappearance in beef steers fed growing diets. J. Anim. Sci. 82 (7): 2123-2130. Soto-Navarro, S.A., G.J. Williams, M.L. Bauer, et al. 2004. Effect of field pea replacement level on intake and digestion in beef steers fed by-product-based medium-concentrate diets. J. Anim. Sci. 82 (6): 1855-1862. Schauer, C.S., G.P. Lardy, W.D. Slanger, et al. 2004. Self-limiting supplements fed to cattle grazing native mixed-grass prairie in the northern Great Plains. J. Anim. Sci. 82 (1): 298-306.