TOPIC 10: LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING

CLASSES OF LIVESTOCK FEEDS

• ROUGHAGES: These are feeds with high moisture and fibre content but low in protein. They can be succulent (elephant or napier grass) or dry (hay and g/nuts haulms)

• CONCENTRATES: These are high in protein and carbohydrates but low in moisture and fibre content. They are providers of energy required by animals. Examples are madeya, soya meal. Animals are also given mineral and vitamin supplements. These are called additives.

FEED RATIONS

• Maintenance rations: This is the amount of feed that an animal needs per day to maintain its bodily processes without gaining or losing weight. It is essential for growing animals and those in gestation.

• Production rations: These are feeds that contain all essential nutrients and in their right composition given to animals over and above the maintenance ration e.g. layers mash for chickens to produce eggs.

FORMULATING RATIONS:

• This is where farmers make their own ration to overcome the high price of commercial feeds.

• A method known as Pearson’s Square is used.

Example: Formulate a 15% protein feed using maize containing about 10% protein bean meal containing 3 5% protein.

PROCEDURE

• Draw a square and place the desired percentage protein content of the mixed feed in the centre.

• Place the percentage of each feed stuff to be mixed at the left corners.

• Subtract the figures diagonally across the square. (Subtract the small numbers from bigger ones, disregarding the negative signs).

• Place the numbers obtained on the right corners, giving the required parts of each feed stuff. NB: According to the example, the total is 25.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN FEEDING ANIMALS

• Age and size of the animal:

Young animals require less feed than animals because their digestive systems are not fully developed.

• The type of animal: Ruminants can digest roughages unlike non-ruminants. Exotic breeds also require quality feed.

• The purpose for which the animal is kept: If they are kept for draught, they will require high-energy feed. Animals which are kept for milk, meat and egg production require a lot of concentrates.

• The condition of the animal: Milk producers should not be allowed to starve to avoid milk reduction.

• Quality of the feed: The feed should be easy to digest

• Palatability: The feed should be appetising to the animals.

• Digestibility.

• The amount of feed: This will depend on quality and type.

• Texture: This refers to coarseness or fineness of the feed

• Cost of the feed: Feed should be given to the animals only when they are in production

e.g. layers mash when the chickens are laying eggs.