Feeding Livestock

Feeding

All food contains water. Water is required by the animal for many purposes.It makes up over 50 per cent of its body. Carbohydrates are organic compounds and they are present in all feeds. They are produced in green plants. Even when farm animals receive well-balanced rations, it is still possible for them to suffer from deficiency diseases. It is now known that the cause of these troubles is due to a lack of vitamins.

• All food contains water. Water is required by the animal for many purposes.It makes up over 50 per cent of its body. Carbohydrates are organic compounds and they are present in all feeds. They are produced in green plants. Even when farm animals receive well-balanced rations, it is still possible for them to suffer from deficiency diseases. It is now known that the cause of these troubles is due to a lack of vitamins.

The amount of food the animal receives during 24 hours is called a ration. A properly balanced ration should supply the animal with necessary nutrients. A well-balanced ration of roughages and concentrates speeds up the growth of young and mature animals. Feeding is an important factor in improving the herd.

• The amount of food the animal receives during 24 hours is called a ration. A properly balanced ration should supply the animal with necessary nutrients. A well-balanced ration of roughages and concentrates speeds up the growth of young and mature animals. Feeding is an important factor in improving the herd.

Feeding Livestock

• Feeding Livestock
• Proper feeding is very important in raising livestock successfully. Unless you feed properly there is little hope in securing good livestock. Many farm animals are slow in development and low in production simply because they are improperly fed. Meat animals gain faster if they are fed the proper amount and kinds of feeds. Improper feeding may result in various diseases in animals.

The important nutrients in feeds are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and also water. All these nutrients are quite necessary for building fat, new tissues in the body of growing animals. They are also necessary for the development of muscles, bones, for the production of milk and for the growing of wool.

• The important nutrients in feeds are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and also water. All these nutrients are quite necessary for building fat, new tissues in the body of growing animals. They are also necessary for the development of muscles, bones, for the production of milk and for the growing of wool.

Vitamins are necessary for keeping the animal in a healthy and vigorous condition.Water in proper amounts is very essential for all kinds of livestock. Although succulent feeds such as silage and grass contain a large amount of moisture, additional water is needed.

• Vitamins are necessary for keeping the animal in a healthy and vigorous condition.Water in proper amounts is very essential for all kinds of livestock. Although succulent feeds such as silage and grass contain a large amount of moisture, additional water is needed.

Feed Efficiency

• Feed Efficiency
• Feed efficiency is measured by the pounds of feed required per pound of live weight gain. Specific records for feed efficiency can only be obtained by feeding each animal individually and keeping records on the amount of feed consumed. With the possible exception of some bull testing programs, determining feed efficiency on an individual animal basis is seldom economically feasible.

Interpretation of feed efficiency records can be rather confusing, depending on the endpoint to which the animals are fed. Feeding endpoint can be a certain number of days on feed to a specified slaughter weight or to a carcass compositional endpoint. Most differences in feed efficiency, shown by individual animals, are related to the pounds of body weight maintained through feeding periods and the daily rate of gain or feed intake of each animal.

• Interpretation of feed efficiency records can be rather confusing, depending on the endpoint to which the animals are fed. Feeding endpoint can be a certain number of days on feed to a specified slaughter weight or to a carcass compositional endpoint. Most differences in feed efficiency, shown by individual animals, are related to the pounds of body weight maintained through feeding periods and the daily rate of gain or feed intake of each animal.

Cattle fed from a similar initial feedlot weight to a similar slaughter weight will demonstrate a high relationship between rate of gain and efficiency of gain. In this situation, cattle that gain faster will require fewer pounds of feed per pound of grain. Thus, a breeder can select for rate of gain and thereby make genetic improvement in feed efficiency.

• Cattle fed from a similar initial feedlot weight to a similar slaughter weight will demonstrate a high relationship between rate of gain and efficiency of gain. In this situation, cattle that gain faster will require fewer pounds of feed per pound of grain. Thus, a breeder can select for rate of gain and thereby make genetic improvement in feed efficiency.

However, when cattle are fed to the same compositional endpoint (approximately the same carcass fat), there is little, if any, difference in the amount of feed required per pound of gain. This is true for different sizes and shapes of cattle, and even for various breeds that vary greatly in skeletal size and weight

• However, when cattle are fed to the same compositional endpoint (approximately the same carcass fat), there is little, if any, difference in the amount of feed required per pound of gain. This is true for different sizes and shapes of cattle, and even for various breeds that vary greatly in skeletal size and weight