Netherlands: Sprouted barley as a potential feed supplement for laying hens

With feed costs being a major expense for poultry farmers, the price difference between feed barley at £148 per tonne and laying hen feed at £310 per tonne has sparked interest in finding more economical alternatives. One potential solution is the use of sprouted barley as a nutritional supplement for laying hens. To explore this idea, researchers at SRUC’s Allermuir Avian Innovation and Skills Centre, funded by the Scottish government, conducted a study to investigate whether supplementing free-range laying hen feed with sprouted barley could help reduce feed costs. The aim was to determine whether these savings could be achieved without affecting egg production or hen health. Also read: Brazil’s corn industry is discovering DDGS Germinated barley Sprouted barley refers to barley grains that have been germinated by soaking them in water and allowing them to begin the sprouting process in a controlled environment. The hydroponic process involves growing the barley without soil and ...