Every harvest presents an opportunity to get more value from your cereals. But maximising that value isn’t just about yield – it’s about how you store, process, and feed that grain.
Alkagrain offers a straightforward way to turn homegrown cereals into a consistent, high-quality feed, using a simple on-farm process that delivers a more rumen-friendly, protein-enhanced grain for livestock.
What is Alkagrain?
Alkagrain is an alkalised cereal feed, produced by treating mature cereals with Home n’ Dry pellets in a one-step process. The result is a stable, high-starch, protein-enhanced feed material designed for ruminant diets. It can be used and fed to dairy cattle, beef, sheep and goats.
A Simple, Reliable System at Harvest
One of the biggest advantages of Alkagrain is its simplicity – particularly during the busy harvest period. The process is straightforward:
- Mix Home n’ Dry pellets with ripe, fully mature grain
- Sheet the treated grain
- Leave for 14 days
- Feed
That’s it!
This one-step system removes complexity and reduces margin for error, making it one of the most practical grain treatment options available.
For many farms, grain can be treated and rolled at the point of harvest, streamlining the process even further.
Flexible for Every Farming System
Alkagrain is designed to fit into how farms already operate. It can be produced at harvest using homegrown cereals or throughout the year using bought-in grain. Alkagrain can also be purchased pre-treated and rolled from Taylor’s Grain Farm Services.
Importantly, the alkalisation process works equally well on whole grain, meaning it can be stored first and processed later if required.
This flexibility allows farmers to spread their workload beyond harvest, adapt to labour or machinery availability and match feed preparation to livestock demand.
What Happens During Alkalisation?
Once the grain is treated and sheeted, a natural enzyme reaction takes place within 14 days. By the end of this period:
- The reaction is complete
The grain is stable
- The feed is ready for use
The alkalisation process transforms the grain into a more nutritionally balanced and rumen-friendly feed, helping improve how it behaves in the animal.
The Key Benefits of Alkagrain
Producing Alkagrain at harvest delivers several clear advantages:
1. Adds Protein to Your Cereals
Alkagrain enhances the protein value of cereals, helping balance rations more effectively without relying solely on bought-in protein sources.
2. Improves Rumen Function
By helping to buffer rumen pH, Alkagrain supports a more stable rumen environment and can reduce the risk of sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA).
This is particularly valuable in high-performing livestock fed cereal-based diets.
3. Maximises Use of Homegrown Crops
Instead of relying heavily on external feeds, Alkagrain enables farmers to unlock more value from their own cereals.
This helps:
- Increase feed self-sufficiency
- Improve margin over purchased feed
Make better use of what’s already grown on farm
4. Combines Energy and Protein in One Feed
Alkagrain provides a cost-effective supply of starch and protein together, supporting ration formulation and reducing the need for multiple ingredients.
5. No Drying Costs
Because the system works with harvested grain without the need for drying, it can significantly reduce post-harvest costs – particularly in challenging weather seasons.
6. Supports Higher Cereal Inclusion
By improving how cereals behave in the rumen, Alkagrain allows for greater use of homegrown grain within diets, helping to drive efficiency and animal performance.
From Harvest to Feed: Efficient and Practical
After just 14 days under the sheet, the grain is ready to feed – whether rolled immediately or stored whole and processed later.
The result is a feed that is:
- Stable
- Consistent
- Easy to handle
- Suitable for year-round use
This makes Alkagrain a practical solution not just at harvest, but as part of a longer-term feeding strategy.
Unlock More Value From Your Harvest
Alkagrain isn’t about adding complexity to your system – it’s about simplifying it. By combining a simple on-farm process, flexible production options and proven nutritional benefits, it provides a dependable way to turn cereals into a more valuable, effective feed.
Alkagrain helps improve ration efficiency, support rumen function, and make better use of homegrown resources.
A System That Works Around You
Whether you’re producing at harvest or throughout the year, using whole grain or rolled, with your own kit or a local processor, Alkagrain is designed to fit into real farming systems.
Simple. Flexible. Proven.
A smarter way to get more from your cereals – this harvest and beyond.
For more information, please:
Call the Alka-line: +44(0)1200 613118
or email info@homendry.com
Learn more: www.homendry.com