Caustic soda and barley

[nuffield]

was reading on the farmers weekly website yesterday that they are recommending farmers add 3% caustic soda to barley . apparently it strips itof the husk and so helps preserve it if its harvested too wet. theres also something similar about an acid ,sorry cant remember name, which can be added to do a similar job.
Point is, I feed straights, rolled barley and rolled oats. So , is this common practice? and will it be safe to feed straights to horses this winter if these additives have been used?

 

[Cuffey]

The acid used is an organic acid-- propionic--it smells similar to acetic acid in vinegar
The product is used to make the barley safe--stop mould forming, probably cheaper than barn drying the crop for cattle feed. It has been done for many years
NOT sure but expect any rolled barley or oats you buy will have been dried rather than treated--ask your supplier

 

[nuffield]

thanks for the reply. i'll have to look into this via the agri merchant.