[A preliminary study of the components causing poor utilization of barley in the young chicken]

The effect of barley on the characteristics of the intestinal contents and on the growth performance has been studied in the young chicken (5 to 27 days) by comparing 5 different varieties of barley: 2 six-rowed winter barleys (Astrix and Sympa)), 2 two-rowed winter barleys (Alpha and Sonja) and 1 two-rowed spring barley (Aramir). All the barleys were used in the ration at a rate of 50 p. 100 to constitute 5 complete, balanced diets which were similar (e.g. energetic value, amino acids) to each other and to a control diet of corn and soya. There was no relation between the characteristics (in particular, viscosity of barley soluble components) of the barleys studied in this trial and the growth performances obtained. On the other hand, the 2 barleys (Astrix and Alpha) which caused retarded growth and a significant increase in the conversion rate were the same ones modifying the viscosity of the intestinal contents. The barley intolerance of the young chicken is thus related to the presence of undigestible, viscous components which are difficult to determine by a simple water extraction of the barley.