Nutrients required by livestock, feeds and their classification

This presentation will give you insights on nutrients, feeds and their classification

1. FEEDS AND NUTRIENTS By Mwanja Simon

2. Introduction Feed is the most important input in livestock production. More than any other factor identified in livestock management , the diet has a profound effect on the general health of both individual animal and herd. The diet offered has a great impact on both health and productivity. When feeding animals, the most important goal is to achieve optimal health as reflected in productivity, reproduction and performance

3. Cont’d Feed or feedstuff are all edible material, which after ingestion by the animal is capable of being broken down into simple molecules called nutrients. Nutrient is the name given to the different constituents of feed that are utilized by the body. Most feeds contain several kinds of nutrients but no one ingredient has all the nutrients that the body needs hence there is a need to use a variety of ingredients.

4. Cont’d A total mixed ration contains all the above nutrients to satisfy the nutrient requirement for each stage of production. Every stage of production, level of productivity, age, breed and physiological status demand a specific ration hence the level of inclusion of these feedstuffs varies accordingly. Hence, there is no universal feed, one glove fits all.

5. Nutrients There are six nutrients found in feedstuffs. namely water, carbohydrates, fats (lipids), protein, minerals , and vitamins . Energy is not a nutrient but is derived from the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and protein. A major constituent of most feedstuffs is water. The other nutrients are said to compose the “dry matter” of a feedstuff and largely determine its feeding value.

6. Water   Water  is essential for all livestock, and producers should plan for an adequate supply of clean water when starting a livestock production. The amount of water required depends on the physiological stage of the animal, the climate and type of feeds. Lactating animals require more water, and the amount of water required increases as atmospheric temperature increases. Water availability should be closely monitored because a deficiency in water will result in death much faster than a deficiency of any other nutrient.

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8. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates can be broadly classified into structural and non-structural types. Non-structural carbohydrates, such as starch, are the primary components of grains and are easily digestible by both monogastric animals and ruminants. On the other hand, structural carbohydrates, like cellulose, are often referred to as fiber and cannot be broken down by mammalian enzymes. Instead, they require microbial fermentation for digestion, particularly in the rumen of ruminants. When carbohydrates are consumed in excess of an animal’s energy requirements, they are converted into fat and stored for future energy use, contributing to the animal's body condition and metabolic reserves

9. Cont …. In all species, carbohydrates provide the bulk of energy in most livestock animal diets. Ruminants consume a combination of fiber and starch that have a mixed fate of microbial fermentation to volatile fatty acids(VFA) Non-ruminant animals, such as a pig or chicken, rely heavily on non-structural carbohydrates like starch and sugar to provide consistent energy for growth and performance

10. Lipids or Fats Fats are a highly concentrated source of energy, typically found in small amounts in the common feeds. Incorporating fats in livestock diet plays a crucial role in boosting the overall energy content, which is particularly important for meeting the high energy demands of production stages like growth, lactation, or reproduction. Most of the fat in an animal's body is synthesized from carbohydrates consumed in the diet. During times of abundant feed, fat is stored in the body and can be mobilized as an energy reserve during feed shortages or periods of increased energy demand

11. Proteins Protein is an essential nutrient required by livestock for growth, maintenance, reproduction, and production. It provides the necessary amino acids that serve as the building blocks for muscle development, tissue repair, and enzyme and hormone synthesis. Adequate protein intake supports milk, meat, wool, and egg production, as well as the overall health of the animal. Livestock can obtain protein from various feed sources, including forages, legumes, oilseed meals, and commercial supplements.

12. Proteins cont’d Animals require a considerable amount of protein because their bodies and products (meat, milk) are composed of high levels of protein. Most common feeds are low in protein, and supplying proteins to livestock is a major challenge. Protein is costly, and the higher the percentage of protein in a feed, the greater the cost.

13. Minerals Minerals are essential nutrients for livestock, playing a vital role in numerous physiological processes. They are categorized into macro-minerals and micro-minerals (also known as trace minerals) based on the quantities required by animals. Macro-minerals , those required at 0.1% or more in the diet. They include calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chlorine, sulphur , and magnesium. Micro-minerals,  those required at very small amounts (ppm)) levels. They include iron, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, molybdenum, and others.

14. Vitamins Vitamins stimulate the body’s function or metabolism. Some vitamins have a general effect while others control a specific reaction or activity. In practical feeding of ruminants, the main vitamins of concern are A and D. Vitamin A is a general growth promoter and helps the stock resist infection while Vitamin D is important mainly for maintenance of healthy bones. The B-complex group and Vitamin K are synthesized by rumen micro-organisms, and hence there is no need to supply them through the feed. Even vitamins A and D are not a major concern in the tropics where ruminants generally have access to pasture or rangeland.

15. Energy While not considered a nutrient, energy is vital to an animal’s survival. The breakdown of nutrients , mainly carbohydrates, provides the actual physical energy an animal needs for maintenance and production . Excess energy is accumulated in the form of body fat, which is essential for production and to enable animals to survive periods of low feed intake. Energy is measured in megajoules or calories ( 1calorie = 4.2 joules). Carbohydrates , followed by fats, are the primary energy sources.

16. Classification of feeds/feedstuffs All feeds can be classified into specific categories based on their primary function in the diet, whether the feed is a protein or energy feed, for example. A basic understanding of the classification of feed and the nutrient content of common feeds will make it easier for producers to make feeding decisions Feeds fall into two main groups: roughage/forage or concentrates

17. Classification of feeds

18. Roughages/forages Pasture , stockpiled forage, hay, silage, crop residues, and straws should make up a majority of the livestock (ruminant’s) diet . However, these are the most variable of all the feedstuffs in terms of nutrient content. In general, forages and roughages should be tested by a forage analysis laboratory to determine nutrient densities .

19. Roughages/forages Pastures and stockpiled forage can often meet or exceed the protein and energy needs of most cows, even lactating cows. Cool season grasses are very nutritious in the vegetative (leafy) stages, but their nutritional value decreases rapidly as these grasses bloom . Supplemental energy may be needed on poor quality pastures.

20. Roughage/Forage cont ……. Hays are usually adequate to marginal in energy and protein. Legume hays are high in protein.

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22. Roughage/Forage cont ……. Silage from corn or sorghums are moderate to high in energy and low in protein.

23. Roughage/Forage cont ……. Straws and some crop residues may provide limited amounts of energy, but are very deficient in protein. Peanut hulls may supply little more than fiber to maintain rumen function.

24. Three forms in which roughage is fed Bales Loose chop Pellets and wafers

25. Concentrates-Energy Feeds Grains are high in energy and low to moderate in protein content. Corn is the standard energy feed to which all others are compared, and is the most widely fed grain. Wheat is rapidly digested in the rumen and should not be fed at high levels. Small grains like barley and oats have 85-95% of the energy value of corn, and they are higher in protein.

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27. Concentrates-Energy Feeds Cont ….. Molasses has 80% of the energy of corn and contains 14% more moisture. It is primarily a palatability enhancer or a carrier for other products such as Non Protein N itrogen (NPN) or minerals. It tends to be expensive per unit of energy.

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29. Fats and oils contain 2 to 2.25 times the amount of energy per pound as corn, but they should be used sparingly in cattle diets. Diets containing more than 5% fat can impair rumen function

30. Concentrates-Energy Feeds Cont ….. High energy by-products include soybean hulls, distiller’s grains, brewer’s grains, corn gluten feed and wheat middlings . The availability and cost of these by-products vary considerably depending on your location; however, they can often be a very economical source of energy. Some like corn gluten, brewer’s grains, and distiller’s grain also are moderate in protein conten

31. Concentrates-Protein Feeds Soybean meal is the principal supplementary protein source in many livestock diets. It is a well balanced natural protein with some by-pass properties. Whole soybeans, roasted or raw, can also be fed to cattle, but they have a high fat content. Raw soybeans contain a protein digestion inhibitor so they should be used sparingly. Whole soybeans contain about 15% less protein than soybean meal

32. Concentrates-Protein Feeds cont ….. Cottonseed meal is another good source of protein that is becoming more readily available in Virginia. Cottonseed meal is slightly lower in protein content than soybean meal. Whole cottonseed is also high in energy and fiber. Whole cottonseeds may also be fed to cattle, but whole cottonseed contains only half the protein of cottonseed meal and are high in fat. Because of the gossypol content, cottonseed meal or whole cottonseed are not recommended as a protein supplement for young bulls due to detrimental effects on reproduction -

33. Concentrates-Protein Feeds cont ….. Sunflower cake is 40 % CP with low lysine and twice the amount of methionine than soybean protein. It has very short shelf-life. It can be fed to cattle ration up to 20% level and 10% to poultry ration. Sunflower cake is not recommended for calves, lambs, chicks and young pigs

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35. Fishmeal Fishes can be used as a fishmeal after they have been dried or ground. High levels lysine, methionine and tryptophan and Ca , P. Rich in vitamin B complex Fishmeal should be tested for salt toxicity, E.coli bacteria. Feeding : simple-stomached animals due to high quality. Diets may include up to 10% of fishmeal.

36. Concentrates-Protein Feeds cont ….. Meat and bone meal Rendering is a process that converts waste animal tissue into stable, value-added materials. The carcasses of animals can be used as meat meals after drying or grinding. The product must be substantially free of hooves, horns, bristle, hair and feathers, skin and contents of stomach and viscera. CP : 60-70% useful as lysine supplement but less amount of amino acids like methionine and tryptophan affect their protein quality. It has fat level upto 9%. The enteric factor from the intestinal tract of swine, the ‘Ackerman’ factor and growth factor in ash are important in meat meal.

37. Concentrates-Protein Feeds cont ….. Poultry litter: Dried poultry excreta has been used as ruminant feed. It contains moderate levels of protein and marginal to adequate levels of energy. As long as it is properly deep-stacked before feeding, it contains no harmful bacteria or other pathogens. When mixed with a high-energy grain, it is an excellent feedstuff for beef cows . Because of high levels of calcium, phosphorus, and copper, special mineral mixers are needed when feeding high levels of poultry litters

38. Concentrates-Protein Feeds cont ….. Hatchery waste : It is also known as Incubator waste or Hatchery By Product Meal (HBPM). The mixture of infertile, unhatched eggs and eggshells have been cooked, dried, and powdered to produce this kind of meal. It is found to replace 33% of fishmeal especially in Broiler chicks to enhance weight gain. Feather meal may be available in some parts of Virginia. It is high in protein, but most of the protein is by-pass protein. Feather meal should not be used as a sole protein source .

39. Concentrates-Protein Feeds cont ….. Urea is the most common of non-protein nitrogen (NPN) feed. NPN must be fed with an energy source that is readily available to the rumen. It should not make up more than 1% of the total diet or 3% of the concentrate mix. Urea is often used in lick tanks or liquid protein supplements to increase the CP value of the product or added to corn silage to boost the CP level.

40. Cont’d Other classes of feeds include; Feed additives such as; prebiotics, probiotics etc Vitamins and mineral Supplements