Rolled barley for pigs - soak or not?

[Catriona]

We've just been given a nice pile of rolled barley, to feed to the pigs. They are free range GOS crosses, usually on sow breeder nuts - I was planning to build up to maybe 1/3 rolled barley.
Does that sound OK? And does it need to be soaked before feeding, or is the rolling enough?

I'm assuming this pile won't keep for more than a few weeks now it' been rolled, but might as well make use of it!

 

[farmgineer]

I don't soak mine, they drink alot whilst eating though

 

[David.]

We used to feed rolled barley, protein meal and a bucket of water all in the same trough. Doesn't need to be fed wet though, fine either way.

 

[Catriona]

Thank you both!

 

[Pigken]

I have soaked 2/3 rds rolled barley, 1/3 Rd rolled beans, soak it day before, pigs did fine on it,

 

[Pan mixer]

Soaking any cereal alters the chemistry and makes it more digestable for a monogastric.

I soak my ground cereal ration for the service yard and always soak my muesli

 

[chris&linda]

We have always soaked them. Surprised others don’t

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Daughter soaks barley for her pigs, but only just before she feeds it.