Impacts of Including Sprouted Barley in the Diet of Beef Cattle on Production, Ruminal Health, And Meat Quality

Abstract

Beef producers in the United States are working to meet rising global demand for animal protein while facing major challenges such as drought, climate uncertainty, and rapid urbanization. These issues make it difficult to produce consistent and dependable feed, pushing producers to explore new ways to grow feed using fewer natural resources. Vertical farming systems are one option that can grow sprouted cereal grains indoors throughout the year while using decreased land and water than traditional agriculture. Sprouted barley grows within six to seven days and may serve as a nutrient dense alternative feed source for cattle at several stages of production. However, little information exists on how sprouted barley influences cattle growth, rumen function, carcass characteristics, or meat qu