Wheat middlings facts for kids

Wheat middlings (also called millfeed or wheat midds) are the parts of the wheat grain that are left over after making flour. They are a great source of protein, fiber, and other important nutrients. People use them to make foods like pasta, breakfast cereals, and couscous. They are also a common food for farm animals and pets. Scientists are even studying them to see if they can be used as a biofuel.

How Wheat Middlings Are Made

When flour is made, the wheat grain is separated into different parts. White flour comes mostly from the endosperm, which is the starchy part. The other parts are the germ (rich in protein, fats, and vitamins) and the bran (full of fiber).

Wheat middlings are a mix of these leftover parts. They include:

• Shorts – These are tiny pieces of endosperm, bran, and germ. They make up about 12% of the original wheat grain.
• Red dog – This is a type of low-grade flour. It's made of small bits of endosperm and bran. It makes up about 3% of the original grain.

These middlings contain many of the good things from the wheat kernel. This includes proteins, vitamins, and minerals. For example, regular white flour might only have a small amount of the thiamine and niacin found in the whole grain.

What Are Wheat Middlings Used For?

For People to Eat

A special kind of wheat middlings is called semolina. It comes from durum wheat. Semolina is used to make many popular foods, such as:

• Pasta
• Breakfast cereals
• Puddings
• Couscous

For Animals to Eat

Wheat middlings are a good food source for animals like livestock and horses. They provide lots of protein, fiber, and phosphorus. The amount of nutrients in wheat middlings can change. This depends on how the flour was milled.

Wheat middlings have a lot of energy for animals. They have almost as much energy as barley or corn. They are also used as a cheap filler in pet foods for animals like dogs and cats.

For Fuel Research

Because wheat middlings have a lot of energy and are not expensive, scientists are looking into using them as a biofuel. Biofuels are fuels made from plants or animal waste.

Nutrition Facts

Here's a quick look at the nutrients in wheat middlings: