Metabolizable Energy of the Anatomical Parts and Other Fractions of Western Barley and the Effect of Enzymes and Water Treatment

FRY et al. (1957 a,b) first reported improved chick growth response when barley was water soaked prior to feeding. Jensen et al. (1957) from the same laboratory demonstrated that enzyme supplementation of a ration containing barley also resulted in similar growth improvement. It was subsequently shown by Leong et al. (1958) that the metabolizable energy value of barley was increased by either enzyme supplements or water treatment. Numerous studies since these early reports have confirmed the response obtained with western barley and the increase in metabolizable energy content. Although it appeared that the response was due to an enzymic action, the factors involved were unknown. The substrate for the enzyme was presumed to be from the carbohydrate portion of the diet. The research to date had been more concerned with factors affecting the response to enzymes or water treatment than with the part of the barley affected. A search …