Animal Nutrition
Complete Feed for Livestock and Poultry | The Best Nutrition for Livestock and Poultry
Complete feed for livestock and poultry is a precisely mixed blend containing all the necessary nutrients. This mixture is formulated in specific proportions to meet the dietary needs of animals and prevents the separation of individual ingredients. It’s designed to be the sole dietary source (aside from water) for the animals.
All animals require specific amounts of nutrients. A deficiency in these nutrients can lead to poor physical condition, reduced productivity, and even death. Efficient use of available feed resources is crucial for economically viable livestock and poultry farming. To meet the nutritional requirements of animals, it’s essential to consider factors such as the specific conditions of rearing, production, and the animal’s needs in terms of the type and quantity of food required.
Another factor that underscores the importance of feed in livestock and poultry farming is the significant cost of feed, which accounts for 60-70% of total production costs. Providing balanced diets at a reasonable cost is a constant challenge for farmers.
It’s important to note that using ready-made tables such as ACR and NRC might not always be accurate. This is because factors like climate, animal breed, and available ingredients can vary widely.
Key Components of Complete Feed for Livestock and Poultry
Complete feed systems represent one of the latest advancements in optimally utilizing feed resources for livestock and poultry. These feeds must be formulated to provide all the necessary nutrients in the correct proportions to meet the animal’s specific requirements. Proper formulation of feed components ensures the health, growth, and reproductive success of livestock and poultry.
The composition of livestock and poultry feed varies depending on the species, age, breed, and level of production. However, in general, the components of livestock and poultry feed fall into six main categories:
- Water: Essential for all biological processes.
- Protein: Builds and repairs tissues, produces enzymes, and hormones.
- Carbohydrates: Provide energy for the body.
- Fat: A concentrated source of energy and helps in the absorption of certain vitamins.
- Minerals: Inorganic elements necessary for various bodily functions.
- Vitamins: Organic compounds required in small amounts for various metabolic processes.
- Amino acids: The building blocks of proteins.
Purchasing: Buying premium feed for livestock and poultry
Carbohydrate Sources in Livestock and Poultry Feed
Carbohydrates are one of the most important and primary energy sources in livestock and poultry feed. Carbohydrates are a group of chemical compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. In livestock and poultry feed, carbohydrates are commonly found in the form of glucose, cellulose, starch, and plant fibers. The need for carbohydrates in animals depends on the type of animal, age, breed, level of production, and climatic conditions. In general, ruminants such as cows and sheep require a higher proportion of carbohydrates compared to poultry. The importance of carbohydrates in livestock and poultry feed is as follows:
- Energy Source: Carbohydrates are the primary energy source for vital bodily functions, reproduction, growth, and milk and meat production.
- Digestion Regulation: Carbohydrates aid in digestion and act as prebiotics, stimulating the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
- Maintaining Health: Carbohydrates help maintain a healthy immune system and brain function.
Carbohydrates, by generating heat in the animal’s body, not only maintain the animal’s body temperature but also promote muscle growth and activity, preserving the animal’s vital functions. Simple carbohydrates like sugars and starches are easily digested by all animals. However, complex carbohydrates that make up the fibrous stems of plants are not easily digested by dogs, cats, birds, or laboratory animals. On the other hand, the fibrous materials of these plants have little or no energy value. The main sources of carbohydrates in livestock and poultry feed include:
- Sugars: These are the simplest types of carbohydrates and are quickly absorbed by the body. Sources of sugar in livestock and poultry feed include corn syrup, molasses, and sugar.
- Starch: A type of complex carbohydrate that is slowly digested by the body. Sources of starch in livestock and poultry feed include corn, wheat, barley, and rice.
- Fiber: A type of complex carbohydrate that is not digested by the body. Fiber aids in digestion and acts as a prebiotic in livestock and poultry feed. Sources of fiber in livestock and poultry feed include alfalfa, hay, and sugar beet pulp.
Points to Consider Regarding Carbohydrate Consumption:
- Balanced Feed: Using various carbohydrate sources in an animal’s diet is essential.
- Carbohydrate Quality: The quality of carbohydrates affects their digestion and absorption by the animal’s body.
- Level of Production: Animals with high levels of production require more carbohydrates.
- Climatic Conditions: In hot climates, animals require more carbohydrates.
Protein Sources in Livestock and Poultry Feed
Protein is often the most expensive component of feed, playing a crucial role in promoting growth and tissue repair. By using this valuable nutrient effectively, costs can be reduced. Protein derived from animal sources (such as milk, liver, fish waste, meat, or meat meal) is more effective in promoting growth and egg production than protein from most plant sources. However, livestock and poultry feed are not limited to meat-based ingredients but also includes plants like wheat, barley, triticale, and soybean meal. This nutrient is particularly essential for young poultry and livestock. The quantity consumed significantly impacts egg and meat production.It’s important to note that excess protein can have adverse effects on poultry of any age.
Protein sources in livestock and poultry feed can be broadly categorized into:
- Plant-Based Protein Sources:
- Oilseed meals: Soybean meal, sunflower meal, rapeseed meal, peanut meal, cottonseed meal
- Cereals: Corn, wheat, barley, rice
- Legumes: Peas, beans, lentils
- Oilseeds: Sesame, sunflower, canola
- Forage: Alfalfa, clover
- Oilseed meals: Soybean meal, sunflower meal, rapeseed meal, peanut meal, cottonseed meal
- Animal-Based Protein Sources:
- Meat and bone meal: Derived from slaughterhouse waste.
- Blood meal: Produced from dried animal blood.
- Fish meal: Produced from fish waste.
- Milk powder: Derived from dried cow’s milk.
- Eggs: Used in powdered or liquid form.
- Meat and bone meal: Derived from slaughterhouse waste.
Fat Sources in Livestock and Poultry Feed
Fats are an essential component of animal diets due to their ease of digestion. They offer high nutritional value, serving not only as energy reserves but also providing insulation for the body. Fat sources in livestock and poultry feed can be derived from both plant and animal origins. Fats are a fundamental component of nutrition, serving as a primary energy source, aiding in the transport of fat-soluble vitamins, constructing cells and hormones, and improving the palatability of feed for livestock and poultry.
Oilseeds are the primary source of fat in agricultural feeds. Examples of fat sources in livestock feed include cottonseed oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, flaxseed oil, and soybean oil. Generally, the benefits of using fat in livestock and poultry feed include:
- A rich energy source and the primary method of increasing dietary energy
- Increased growth rates
- Increased feed efficiency
- Decreased feed intake
- Source of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
- Reduced feed dust
- Improved feed palatability
- Increased body heat in animals and preservation of caloric intake, reducing stress
- Potential to slow down feed passage in the intestine, thereby increasing digestibility
- May exhibit a “spare the protein” effect
• May be more cost-effective than other energy sources
Engormix, a U.S. company, has highlighted some concerns regarding fat consumption:
- Using higher levels of fat may counteract pelleting effects.
- Measuring metabolizable energy (ME) content can be challenging.
- Potential for feed rancidity
- Equipment needs relative to fat additions must be adequate
- Poor digestibility of saturated fats by young birds
- Use of rendered fats
Article: For a deeper dive into the optimal lipids for broiler diets, check out our article on this topic
Mineral Sources in Livestock and Poultry Feed
Minerals play a vital role in maintaining the health of bones, teeth, and tissues, as well as regulating the body’s chemical processes. Minerals are classified as microminerals, required in smaller quantities, and microminerals, needed in larger amounts. Essential minerals for animal life include common salt (sodium chloride), calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, cobalt, iodine, zinc, molybdenum, and selenium. The last six can be toxic to animals if consumed in excess.
Animals most commonly suffer from phosphorus and calcium deficiencies as these minerals are heavily utilized in bone production, milk, and eggshells. Good sources of calcium and phosphorus include bone meal, dicalcium phosphate, and defluorinated phosphates. Eggshells are almost pure calcium carbonate. Calcium can be easily supplied by ground limestone, ground seashells, or marl, all of which are high in calcium. However, it’s important to note that excessive mineral consumption can lead to toxicity. Excess phosphorus (from bone materials) can immobilize manganese in the diet, leading to crooked bones and slipped tendons in chicks and poultry.
The nutrient composition of plant-based livestock and poultry feed varies depending on the species, variety, and strain. Forage plants, in particular, exhibit significant differences in composition and nutritional value. For example, legumes generally contain higher levels of protein compared to grasses. Legumes often contain significantly higher amounts of calcium (approximately 4-5 times), magnesium (2-3 times), potassium (7 times), sulfur, iron, zinc, copper, and cobalt compared to grasses. However, they have lower levels of silica and manganese. The table below provides an example of these differences.
Buying products: Purchasing livestock feed – Top-quality animal concentrates.
Vitamin Sources in Livestock and Poultry Feed
Vitamins are essential organic compounds that play vital roles in the metabolism, growth, and overall function of animals. Required in small quantities for specific functions, vitamins do not provide energy but are essential for energy utilization. Vitamins help animals regulate bodily functions, maintain health, and enhance resistance to disease. A deficiency in any vitamin can lead to illness or death.
Vitamins are classified into two categories: fat-soluble and water-soluble.
Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, and vitamin K.
Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, biotin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.
In this regard, Vitamin C plays a significant role in collagen production, mineral absorption, and boosting the immune system. It also aids in wound healing and helps the animal cope with stress.
Another example is vitamin B4, also known as choline chloride. Apart from strengthening the immune system, vitamin B4 also enhances fertility. Additionally, it contributes to weight gain and improves egg quality.
Animal-Based Vitamin Sources:
- Vitamin A: Liver, fish oil, butter, eggs
- Vitamin D: Fish oil, egg yolks, sunlight
- Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, nuts, seeds
- Vitamin K: Leafy green vegetables, liver, cheese
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Meat, fish, legumes, whole grains
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Dairy products, eggs, meat, leafy green vegetables
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Meat, poultry, fish, legumes, nuts
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid): Meat, poultry, eggs, mushrooms, avocado
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Meat, poultry, fish, banana, potato
- Vitamin B7 (Biotin): Eggs, liver, nuts, mushrooms
- Vitamin B9 (Folate): Leafy green vegetables, legumes, nuts, citrus fruits
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products
Plant-Based Vitamin Sources:
- Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, bell peppers, tomatoes, kiwis
- Vitamin K: Leafy green vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower
Basis for Selecting the Type and Quantity of Livestock and Poultry Feed
The selection of the type and quantity of feed for livestock and poultry is a complex and critical process that directly impacts the health, growth, production, and ultimately, the profitability of the farmer. Livestock and poultry feed is analyzed and evaluated based on dry matter (DM). These calculations must be performed with high precision, as a diet formulated for an animal may either fail to meet the animal’s nutritional needs or provide excessive amounts of nutrients. This can not only lead to diseases in the animal but also result in financial losses for the poultry or livestock farmer. To produce feed, the animal’s conditions on the farm (such as age, lactation, pregnancy, etc.) must also be considered.
Numerous factors influence this selection and require careful consideration. The most important factors in selecting the type and quantity of livestock and poultry feed include:
- Age and physiological stage: An animal’s nutritional needs vary significantly depending on its age and physiological stage (fetus, chick, adult, pregnant, lactating, etc.). For example, chicks require more protein and energy than adult hens. Pregnant and lactating animals require more calcium and phosphorus.
- Breed and genetics: Different breeds of livestock and poultry have varying nutritional requirements. For instance, broiler breeds generally require more energy and protein than egg-laying breeds.
- Sex: The nutritional needs of males and females also differ slightly. For example, roosters require more protein than hens.
- Environmental conditions: Climatic conditions such as temperature, humidity, and ventilation affect an animal’s metabolism and nutritional needs. In hot climates, animals require fewer calories, while in cold climates, they need more calories to maintain their body temperature. However, this is less applicable in industrial settings where temperature and humidity are controlled. In fact, equipment may vary, such as the number of fans, etc. Different altitudes can also affect nutritional requirements. For example, high altitudes can predispose poultry to ascites.
Article: For more information on ascites and how to prevent it, read our article on poultry ascites
Atricle: Discover the secrets to making top-notch chicken feed with our ultimate guide.
Amino Acids in Livestock and Poultry Feed
Amino acids play a crucial role in poultry nutrition as they are the building blocks of proteins, which are essential for growth, development, and tissue repair in animals. Just like bricks form a strong foundation for a building, amino acids form the foundation for healthy animals. Without these building blocks, animals cannot grow or thrive properly.
For example, lysine is an essential amino acid for livestock that plays a vital role in growth, milk production, and immune system strengthening. Additionally, it not only reduces herpes but also decreases the severity, duration of treatment, and likelihood of disease recurrence.
Methionine, on the other hand, is an important nutrient for animals that helps them grow better, stay healthier, and perform better. In poultry, methionine promotes better feather growth and increased egg production. In cattle, it is used to increase milk production, and in pigs, it is used to strengthen muscles.
For more information on amino acids, you can visit the Evonik AMINODat® website. This website provides comprehensive information on amino acids worldwide, along with their digestibility coefficients, based on over 140 raw material analyses for pigs and poultry. This includes analysis of total amino acids, standardized ileal digestible amino acids, standardized ileal digestibility coefficients for essential amino acids, proximates, minerals, and energy values for pigs and poultry.
Importance of Raw Material Quality in Livestock and Poultry Nutrition
The quality of raw materials is a critical factor in feed formulation. Selecting high-quality raw materials not only improves production performance and animal health but also has a direct impact on production economics.
High-quality raw materials contain the right amounts of essential nutrients required for animal growth, reproduction, and health. The better the quality of the feed, the better the digestion and absorption, and consequently, nutrients are more completely available to the animal’s body. All of these factors contribute to producing a higher quality final product. Also, due to the quality of the feed and the improved immune system of the animal, the use of additional additives and drugs is reduced, which in turn reduces production costs.
However, low-quality raw materials may contain antinutrients that inhibit the absorption of nutrients, leading to disease and slower growth in animals.
Therefore, it is very important for farmers to be very careful in selecting raw materials. Factors affecting the quality of raw materials include:
• Type of raw material: Each raw material has a different chemical composition and nutritional value.
• Origin of raw material: Raw materials sourced from different geographic regions may vary in quality.
• Storage conditions: Improper storage conditions can lead to a decrease in the quality and nutritional value of raw materials.
• Contaminants: Raw materials may be contaminated with chemicals, microorganisms, or toxins that negatively impact animal health.
• Evaluation of raw material quality: To evaluate the quality of raw materials, various methods such as chemical analysis, microbiology, and sensory evaluation are used. This is done in the control and quality laboratory of feed mills.
Desirable Characteristics of a Complete Feed for Livestock and Poultry
The following desirable characteristics of a complete diet for animal:
- Matching feed quantity to animal needs and production: The amount of feed should correspond to the animal’s requirements and production.
- Palatability of the provided feed: If the food is not palatable, the animal will not eat enough, and its nutritional needs will not be met.
- A balanced mix of proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients: A balanced diet should include a mix of proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients.
- Attention to sufficient mineral content: There should be an adequate amount of minerals in the feed.
- Easy digestibility of the food: The nutrients in the complete feed should be easily digested and absorbed by the animal. If the food is not fully digested, some of its nutrients will be excreted and wasted.
- Laxative feed: To prevent constipation and other digestive problems in animals.
- Relatively high bulk of the feed: For livestock, there should be enough succulent green fodder, as they are bulky, nutritious, and easily digestible.
- High quality: The raw materials used in the preparation of the complete feed should be of high quality. The use of spoiled or contaminated raw materials can cause disease in the animal.
- Maintaining a regular feeding schedule.
- Avoiding sudden changes in feed.
- Cost-effective in terms of labor and cost: The price of the complete feed should be commensurate with its quality and nutritional value.
- Feed is generally used in two forms: complete or concentrate. Concentrates are used as a dietary supplement along with other foods such as forage and hay. Concentrates meet at least the maintenance and production requirements. For cattle and sheep, animal concentrates are very good supplements along with forage and hay. However, for poultry, the use of complete feed is much better and more balanced for chicks. This is because complete poultry feed is not only very cost-effective but also reduces feed transportation costs. We have fully examined this topic in the article on broiler concentrate.
Product Purchase: High-Quality Chicken and Poultry Feed – Premium Chick Starter
The top-rated and most affordable livestock and poultry feed supplier
When selecting a manufacturer for livestock concentrate or complete poultry feed, it’s crucial to consider not only the company’s history and experience but also its feed conversion ratio (FCR). A strong FCR indicates that the feed is efficiently converted into optimal production. Jahan Kaveh, with over 15 years of experience in producing livestock and poultry feed, has achieved impressive results. For instance, poultry farms using Jahan Kaveh’s broiler feed have consistently achieved excellent results. For example, using Jahan Kaveh feed, farms have reached an average slaughter age of 42 days for Arian chickens, with an average weight of 2500 grams and an FCR of 1.77. For Ross 308, the average weight was 2735 grams with an FCR of 1.67, and for Cobb, the average weight was 2720 grams with an FCR of 1.74.
Resources:
This article was prepared through the efforts of Homa BahramParvar and the content production team at Jahan Kaveh Ofogh Khazar, a producer of various livestock and poultry feeds. It is hoped that this article can be of some assistance, however small, to the livestock and poultry farming industry.
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