Barley for the 21st century’s ruminant

Challenges in science and industry usually arise from over-complex systems analyses. Simple and feasible on-farm approaches of barley use will enable concurrent improvements in rumen microbial efficiency and yield, post-rumen starch and protein assimilation, milk and meat outputs, animal immune function, and adequately persistent economic life. Optimizing barley grain value for ruminants has been a major global and environmental challenge. Mismanagement in feeding and processing barley grain for high-producing dairy and beef cattle can easily make a fiasco from the pearl of cereals. With its nutritional exclusivities underlined, optimum barley grain feeding to postmodern ruminants is a factual art that will either matchlessly profit or harm rumen microbes, cattle production and farm economics.