Farm feed, better known as animal feed
Farm feed is an important part of the farm that has to be carefully thought out. It’s not just about what the animals eat, but also how they are fed and when. Feeding can have a big impact on animal health, productivity, profitability and sustainability.
Feeding practices vary across different agricultural systems. For example, in organic livestock production there are more restrictions on feed ingredients than in intensive livestock production. There are many reasons for this – one being that organic producers cannot use antibiotics or hormones whereas intensive producers can do so if needed to improve growth rates or prevent illness among their animals…
The type of farming system you’re using will determine what kind of feed your animals need! Read more about the different types of animal feed.
Animal feed
There are a variety of different types of animal feed that farmers can choose from to keep their animals healthy and productive. No matter what type of farming system you’re using, it’s important to know what your animals need in order to provide them with the best possible diet!
The pet food industry has created special foods for our furry friends, with all the nutrients they need to live healthy lives. The best way to ensure your pet’s health is by feeding them the appropriate dog or cat food for their age, size and breed. Read more about the different kinds of pet foods.
Livestock feed
The basis for any good livestock diet is forage and high-quality fodder — the most commonly used being hay, straw, and silage. Silage is fermented fodder that is high in moisture content. It is an excellent source of nutrients and feed value for ruminants. In addition to forage and fodder, livestock also require a variety of concentrates which are made up of grains, proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins.
Cattle & Sheep feed
Cattle and sheep are ruminants, meaning they have special digestive systems that enable them to get nutrition from plant-based feeds. They can use high fibre feeds that other farm animals cannot digest well. These feeds can include straw, hay, grasses and cereals. However, cattle and sheep also require a significant amount of protein in their diet to grow at a healthy rate and produce high quality meat.
Chicken Poultry feed
When raising small numbers of poultry the farmer has more flexibility with types of feeds used as well as when they are fed. Most poultry feeds are a combination of corn, wheat, and soybean meal. These feeds also contain vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients to keep the chickens healthy and productive. Read our guide on how to get started with raising chickens or how to pick the best automatic chicken feeder.
Goat feed
Goats are browsers, meaning they eat a variety of plants, leaves, and shrubs. This diet can be supplemented with hay, straw, grains, and commercial feeds. In order to produce high-quality milk and meat, goats require a balanced diet that is high in protein and minerals.
Horse feed
Horses are grazers and eat a variety of plants, including hay, straw, grasses, and oats. They also require a significant amount of minerals and vitamins in their diet to stay healthy. Commercial horse feeds are available that provide all the nutrients horses need.
Pig feed
Pigs are omnivores, which means they can digest a wide variety of foods. They do best on a diet that is based largely on grains with some added protein. Farmers often combine corn, soybean meal, or cottonseed meal to fulfill the pigs’ dietary needs. It is also necessary to supplement their diet with essential minerals and vitamins.
Wild bird food
Wild birds are seed-eating creatures, consuming a wide variety of seeds from different types of grasses, weeds, agricultural crops and trees. Some insectivorous (insect-eating) species will also supplement their diets with small insects, snails or other animal matter they may find in the wild.
Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.
Thomas Jefferson
FAQ on Farm Feed
There are two types of animal feed: concentrates and roughages. Concentrates are made up of cereal grains, oilseeds, protein meals and additives (vitamins and minerals). Roughages are mainly hay, silage and straw.
Animal feed is made of various ingredients, but the most common ones are cereal grains, oilseeds, protein meals and roughages.
The main ingredient in animal feed is cereal grains.
There are many benefits to using animal feed, some of which are improved productivity and health, reduced environmental impact, better welfare for animals and increased profitability.
Organic livestock production has more restrictions on feed ingredients than intensive livestock production. This is mainly because organic producers cannot use antibiotics or hormones to promote growth, whereas intensive producers can if needed.