Utilization Methods and Techniques of the Three Wheat Feeds

Wheat bran, wheat chaff and wheat straw are collectively called the three wheat feeds, and they are important feeds in the main @#@245@#@ producing areas. Rational utilization of the three wheat feeds can promote the development of animal husbandry. If used improperly, not only will they fail to produce the desired effect, but they can also cause livestock and poultry to contract certain diseases, resulting in economic losses.

Wheat bran

Wheat bran belongs to the high-phosphorus, low-calcium feed category, and the ratio of phosphorus to calcium it contains is 4:1, which is exactly the opposite of the physiological calcium-to-phosphorus ratio required by livestock and poultry of 1.5:1 to 2:1. Feeding too much wheat bran can cause calcium deficiency disease due to an imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Such as rickets in young animals, osteomalacia in adult animals, enteroliths in equines, urolithiasis in male livestock, and thin-shelled eggs in poultry. The key measure for safely feeding wheat bran is to master a reasonable amount, and generally speaking it should be controlled below 20% of the compound feed.

Pigs should not be fed wheat bran before 40 days of age; for growing-finishing pigs under 55 kg it makes up 12%, for finishing pigs from 55 kg to 90 kg it makes up 15%, for breeding boars and pregnant sows it makes up 20%, and for lactating sows it makes up 16%.

Wheat chaff

Wheat chaff has sharp awns and barbs, and machine threshing makes this even worse. When fed, the awns and barbs can injure the mouth, and over time this causes cattle to eat grass slowly, chew inadequately, lose body condition and decline in physique. The key measure for rationally feeding wheat chaff is to first subject it to harmless treatment. There are two treatment methods: first, the rolling method; a small amount can be rolled with a stone roller, and a large amount can be rolled with a stone roller mill. Second, the alkalization method: 3 kg of quicklime, 0.5 kg of salt and 150 kg of clean water, mix and stir evenly, add 100 kg of wheat chaff, and soak for one day and one night. Scoop it into a basket, drain off the liquid, and it is ready to feed. After alkalization, the awns and barbs of the wheat chaff are softened, it does not injure the mouth, and it can also supplement calcium.

Wheat straw

Untreated wheat straw has a high crude fiber content, an extremely low digestion rate and poor palatability, livestock do not like to eat it, and it easily causes impaction in equines, so it is a low-quality feed. However, if it is given special treatment by the same method as wheat chaff, it can be fed to all kinds of livestock. It can be treated by ammoniation, and treatment with ammonia water, ammonium bicarbonate or urea is all acceptable. Taking urea treatment as an example: dissolve 10 kg of urea in 90 kg of clean water to make a 10% solution, cut the wheat straw into pieces about 2 cm to 3 cm long, spray and mix 30 kg of urea solution per 100 kg of wheat straw, seal it with plastic film, and when the temperature reaches above 20 degrees C, it can be taken out for use after half a month; it is better for feeding ruminants such as cattle and sheep.