Purpose of feed wheat, its characteristics

Forage is a plant feed for farm animals. Wheat used for this purpose is fodder. It is often grown for this purpose or transferred to this category of grain, unsuitable for use in the food industry.

According to DSTU 2019, soft wheat of the 4th grade and hard wheat of the 5th grade fall into the category of fodder. Its grain moisture does not exceed 14%, and the level of protein and gluten is not normalized. Garbage should be no more than 5%, and smut grain - 10%.
The requirements for the composition of feed wheat are not too strict. They are prescribed in international and national standards. The main thing is that the grain had a healthy appearance and was absent:

• rot, mold;
• foreign odors;
• nsects and microorganisms that can harm animals.

The composition of such wheat may differ in the percentage of protein, gluten, starch, cellulose and variety of varieties. Forage for cattle and birds usually differs in hardness.
When buying feed grain for feed production, it is necessary to clarify the compliance of its characteristics with the requirements of the specific region where it is planned to be used. After all, even the country of origin influences the indicators.
To extend the shelf life of the feed, it is pre-dried. Compound feeds are made on the basis of fodder wheat, which provide good growth rates of animals and a significant weight gain due to the balanced composition. Grain quality affects the size of feed pellets - the larger it is, the better the raw material.

Why feed wheat is not used as mono feed

For the full development of animals, they do not have enough of the substances that are in the feed grain, and some of them in large quantities can harm:

• an excess of starch can provoke gastric diseases;
• carbohydrates are the cause of obesity if there is not enough fiber and protein in the feed;
• with a small amount of fiber, fat and sugar there is indigestion, food is poorly digested.

To avoid the following consequences, follow a certain ratio of wheat and feed:

• it is enough for pigs to add 20–40% of fodder from the total weight;
• cattle dosage is calculated based on the size of specific animals, the average is 30%;
• grain is pre-shredded, germinated or otherwise treated with birds and added within 60%.

Feed is the main feed for most species of farm animals, because, having a low price, it contains the basic substances needed by the body.

What determines the grain class

Each country has its own norms and indicators according to which wheat is classified. They operate only within the state and do not affect international trade. The world market uses ISO rules. Based on them, Ukraine is a major exporter of feed wheat.

Technical standards that meet the requirements of the European Union came into force in 2019. This is document 3768: 2019 “Wheat. Technical conditions ", which replaced the 2010 document. The new version reduces the number of classes for common wheat from six to four.

The class criterion regulates pricing, relations between producers and buyers of grain within the country.