Types Of Feeds Flashcards
Roughages
are bulky feeds with a low weight per unit volume and high fibre content.
Roughage is suitable for maintenance requirements of ruminants.
It is NOT suitable for growth, fattening, and production.
Characteristics of roughages
➢ Bulky
➢ Low weight per unit volume
➢ High fibre content
➢ Less digestible nutrients
➢ Less nutritive value
Types of Roughages
1. Dry Roughages
Dry roughages are cut, dried in the sun and fed to animals.
This type of feed is called fodder.
Dry roughages are divided into two groups:
a) Protein-rich roughages
➢ Lucerne hay
➢ Legume hay (Ground nut hay)
b) Carbohydrate-rich roughage
➢ Oats straw
➢ Teff hay
Succulent roughages
Succulent roughages are young plants that have high moisture content.
These plants are still growing on land when they are grazed by animal in the veld.
This type of feed is called forage. Silage and Green lucerne is an example of succulent roughage.
Functions of roughages
➢ Supplies bulk to the ration
➢ Stimulates milk production
➢ Stimulates the development of rumen in young ruminants
➢ Source of nutrition
Concentrates
are feeds that contain high percentage of digestible nutrients.
Concentrates are suitable for growth, fattening, and production.
Characteristics of concentrates
➢ Not bulky
➢ High nutritive value
➢ More digestible nutrients
➢ Less fibre content
➢ Less volume per unit mass
Types of concentrates
1. Protein-rich concentrates
➢ Have high level of proteins
➢ Suitable for growth, and production
➢ Protein-rich concentrates of plant origin includes legume seeds like lupine, peanut oil cake meal, soya beans and sunflower seeds.
➢ Protein-rich concentrates of animal origin include fish meal, carcass meal and crayfish meal.
- Carbohydrate-rich concentrates
➢ Yields high levels of energy
➢ Suitable for fattening and energy ➢ They are only of plant origin e.g. maize meal, oat meal and barley meal
Functions of concentrates
➢ Essential for growth
➢ Production of milk, eggs, wool, meat, etc.
➢ Used to balance roughages
SUPPLEMENTS
Supplements are substances that animals require for normal growth and production that are absent from their feed and must be added to it.
Main substances that are added as supplements
are minerals, vitamins, nitrogen and growth stimulants.
Ways in which minerals can be given to animals.
➢ Mineral licks are blocks or special feed supplements mixed with salt that contain minerals and other essential nutrients.
➢ Drinking troughs - Mineral salts dissolved in water.
➢ Supplementing rations - minerals added to the concentrate feed.
➢ Dosing – animals given mineral solutions by mouth.
➢ Cafeteria-style mineral provision – minerals are supplied to animals at a feeding station controlled by computer systems.
➢ Injections – animals are injected by minerals if they are showing signs of mineral deficiencies.
Vitamins supplements.
Ways to supplement vitamin deficiencies
➢ Injections
➢ Drinking water
➢ Supplementary rations
Non-protein nitrogen (NPN)
Protein requirements of ruminants can be met by supplementing with Non-protein nitrogen sources such as Urea and Biuret.
Urea
➢ Urea is a cheap nitrogen source used by ruminants to synthesise proteins.
➢ It is poisonous in large quantities ➢ Excessive intake can cause death.
Biuret
➢ Biuret is an expensive non-protein nitrogen source used by ruminants to synthesise proteins.
➢ It is less soluble and safer than urea.
Growth stimulants
Growth stimulants are substances that promote animal’s growth and production.
Types of growth stimulants
➢ Growth hormones
➢ Thyroid regulators
➢ Antibiotics
➢ Tranquilisers
Growth hormones
➢ Growth hormones stimulate growth by increasing the rate in which the feed is converted to muscle.
➢ Growth hormones are implanted under the skin of the animal ➢ Growth hormones include androgens, somatotropins, thyroxines, glucocorticoids and oestrogens
Thyroid regulators
➢ Thyroid regulators regulate the secretion of thyroxin.
➢ Thyroid gland plays an important role in metabolic rate of animals. ➢ Thyroid regulators improve the metabolic and growth rate of animals.
Antibiotics
➢ Animals are treated with antibiotics to prevent them from getting diseases.
➢ Antibiotics are used to improve the growth of poultry.
Tranquilisers
➢ Calms and increase appetite in animals
Feed flow programme
is the programme for management of food throughout the production cycle, where the correct amount of nutrients is provided to the herd on an on-going basis.
Types of ration
Maintenance ration
➢ Maintenance ration is the amount of feed that an animal needs to maintain its body mass and composition.
➢ It does not provide enough energy or nutrients for work and production.
Production ration
Production ration is the feed that an animal need for work and production (of eggs, meat, wool and eggs)
Importance of fodder flow and fodder production planning
➢ Safe use of resources
➢ Meeting the animal’s requirements
➢ Manageability
Aspects to consider when drawing a fodder flow
➢ Number of livestock
➢ Possible feed available
➢ Season
➢ Cost
