Low protein content in the feed grains of Uusimaa
10.10.2007
Malting barley
Of the malting barley samples analysed for the purpose of
monitoring the quality of the grain harvest, the protein content
was below 11.5 per cent in 40 per cent of the samples and the share
of grains exceeding 2.5 mm was over 85 per cent. Those two-rowed
malting barley varieties whose purpose of use has been reported to
be for malting are classified as malting barley. In Satakunta and
Uusimaa the shares have been higher (50 and 48 %) than in Häme and
Finland Proper (38 and 37 %). The protein content has the greatest
effect on the quality of malting barley. Häme is an exception,
where also grain size affects the share of samples fulfilling the
requirements: In 73 per cent of the samples the grading result
(>2.5 mm grains) exceeds 85 per cent, whereas the share of the
whole country’s samples is 85 per cent. In Häme 54 per cent of the
samples fulfil the requirement on protein content.
The average protein content of the malting barley samples is 11.7 %. It is somewhat lower than in 2006. Regionally there are no large differences as to protein content. The protein content was a little lower only in Uusimaa (11.3 %). Average sieving result (90.6 %), is clearly lower than in the two previous years (93.9 and 95.2 %). Average sieving result in Finland Proper (92.7 %) is higher than in Satakunta and Häme, where the result is just below 90 per cent.
Feed barley
Average hectolitre weight of feed barley is 65.1 kg. In this
press release all of the barley samples, with the exception of
samples intended for malting, are considered to be for feed barley.
The hectolitre weight has been above 64 kg in two thirds of the
samples. The highest regional hectolitre weights are in Finland
Proper (67.7 kg), and Uusimaa, (66.9 kg) and the lowest in Central
Finland (62.8 kg) and Central Bothnia (62.5). The higher hectolitre
weights in Southern Finland are explained by the greater share of
two-rowed barley in the samples.
The average protein content is 12.1 % in the whole country. The protein content has been the highest in Pirkanmaa (13.2 %) and Central Bothnia (13.1 %). The protein contents were the lowest in North Karelia (11.3 %) and Kymenlaakso (11.5 %).
Oats
The average hectolitre weight for oats at 56.3 kg is slightly
higher than in autumn 2006 (55.9 kg). Regionally the differences
are small. Average hectolitre weight in Finland Proper, Kymenlaakso
and Central Finland is clearly higher than the others: On average
57.5 kilograms for all of them. In North Karelia and Pirkanmaa the
average is lower than in the rest of the country: 55.2 kilograms
for both.
The hectolitre weight has been above 52 kilograms in 93 per cent and above 58 kilograms in 29 per cent of the oat samples. In Finland Proper, Kymenlaakso, Central Finland and the Swedish area of the Bothnia Rural Advisory Centre all of the samples have exceeded 52 kg. In the Swedish area of the Bothnia Rural Advisory Centre only six per cent of the samples exceeded 58 kg, whereas the corresponding share in Kymenlaakso is half and in Finland Proper and Central Finland about one third. The least number of samples with a hectolitre weight above 52 kg are from North Karelia and South Savo, where the shares are 81 and 83 per cent respectively.
The average protein content of oats is 13.0 % in the whole country. Regionally, the highest contents are in North Savo (14.0 %) and in Central Finland and Pirkanmaa (13.8 % for both). Protein contents were at the lowest in Kymenlaakso (11.6 %) and Uusimaa (11.9 %).
For additional information, please contact:
Director Mirja Kartio tel. +358 20 77 25090
Senior Officer Juha Kärkkäinen tel. +358 20 77 25098
Updated information on average quality (in Finnish): http://www.evira.fi/portal/fi/kasvintuotanto_ja_rehut/vilja/viljasadon_laatu/viljasadon_laatu_2007/