Agriculture (0600) | Livestock nutrition

Welcome to Livestock Nutrition!

Hello! This chapter is vital because feeding livestock correctly is the foundation of successful farming. Think of it this way: animals are like finely tuned machines. If you put in the wrong fuel, they won't run efficiently—or they might break down entirely!
In these notes, we will learn about the building blocks of animal food, how to create a perfect meal plan (a balanced ration), and why clean water is non-negotiable. Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; we will use simple examples to break down the science!

7.2 Livestock Nutrition: The Basics of Animal Diet

1. Understanding Nutritional Requirements

All livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, etc.) require certain food materials to stay healthy, grow, and produce milk, meat, or eggs. We group these needs into six essential nutrient categories.

A. The Six Essential Nutrients (Food Materials)

A well-fed animal needs a mix of these six nutrients in the right proportions.

1. Protein: The body's "building blocks."
   Function: Essential for growth, muscle formation, tissue repair, and the production of milk, wool, and eggs.
   Deficiency Signs: Slow growth rate, low birth weight, poor milk production, and weak immune system.
2. Carbohydrates and Fats (Energy): The body's "fuel."
   Function: Provide energy for movement, heat regulation, and all internal bodily processes. Excess carbohydrates are stored as fat.
   Deficiency Signs: Loss of body condition (weight loss), lethargy (tiredness), and reduced physical activity.
3. Minerals: Crucial for structure and chemical processes.
   Function: Needed for strong bones (Calcium and Phosphorus), blood formation (Iron), and maintaining body fluid balance (Salt).
   Deficiency Signs: Weak bones (Rickets), anaemia (lack of blood), and Pica (eating non-food items like soil or stones).
4. Vitamins: Essential for health and resisting disease.
   Function: Help the body utilize other nutrients and maintain health. (e.g., Vitamin D for bone health, Vitamin A for vision and growth).
   Deficiency Signs: Poor eyesight, reduced fertility, or increased susceptibility to illness.
5. Water: See Section 3 below—it is arguably the most important nutrient!
6. Fibre / Roughage: Indigestible plant material.
   Function: Especially important for ruminants (like cows and sheep) as it helps stimulate rumination (chewing the cud), which is necessary for healthy digestion.

Quick Tip: Analogy for Nutrients

If an animal is a house:

• Protein is the bricks and cement (building materials).
• Carbohydrates/Fats are the electricity and heating fuel (energy).
• Minerals/Vitamins are the tools and wiring (regulating processes).

2. The Balanced Ration (Feeding Practices)

A ration is the total amount of food given to an animal over a 24-hour period. A balanced ration means that this food meets all the animal's nutritional needs exactly—no more and no less.

The key principle of feeding practices (7.2(a)) is ensuring the ration is suited to the age and the stage of development of the livestock.

Example: A young, growing calf needs a diet high in protein for muscle development. A fully grown bull needs less protein but enough energy to maintain his large size. A pregnant cow needs a huge amount of extra nutrients to grow the calf inside her.

A. Maintenance Ration vs. Production Ration (7.2(b))

We divide the animal's nutritional needs into two main categories:

1. Maintenance Ration
This is the amount of feed required simply to keep the animal alive, maintaining its body weight and keeping all body functions (breathing, digestion, heat) running, without producing anything extra.
Key Takeaway: This ration maintains life, but results in zero production (no weight gain, no milk).

2. Production Ration
This is the extra feed required above the maintenance ration to allow the animal to produce something of economic value.
Examples of "Production":

• Milk (in dairy cows)
• Meat/Flesh (weight gain in beef cattle or pigs)
• Wool (in sheep)
• Offspring (pregnancy or reproduction)
• Work (draft animals)

Key Takeaway: Total Feed = Maintenance Ration + Production Ration.

3. The Importance of Water Supply (7.2(c))

Water is often the cheapest but most critical nutrient. An animal can survive a long time without food, but only a few days without water.

Why Water Must Be Adequate and Clean:

1. Digestion and Transport: Water is essential for the chemical reactions of digestion and for transporting nutrients from the gut to the cells.
2. Temperature Control: Water helps regulate body temperature through sweating or panting.
3. Production: Milk is about 87% water. Inadequate water intake drastically reduces milk yield.
4. Cleanliness (Hygiene): An adequate, clean water supply prevents the spread of disease. Dirty or stagnant water sources can be breeding grounds for pathogens and parasites.

Did you know? A high-producing dairy cow can drink over 100 litres of water per day, especially in hot weather!

4. Stockmanship and Record Keeping (7.2(d))

Stockmanship is the skill of managing, caring for, and handling livestock efficiently and humanely. Good nutrition is only effective when coupled with excellent stockmanship.

A. Care in the Handling of Animals

Gentle handling is crucial. Animals that are stressed or handled roughly perform poorly:

• Stress Affects Digestion: Scared or stressed animals eat less and digest food less effectively.
• Injury Prevention: Careful handling prevents injuries (e.g., bruising) which reduces the value of the meat and causes unnecessary pain.
• Observation: A good stockman observes the animals daily to spot early signs of ill-health or nutritional deficiency before they become severe.

B. Record Keeping and Production Records

Farming is a business, and good records are essential for making informed decisions about feeding, health, and breeding.

Two crucial types of records are required:

1. Diary of Events (Health and Management Records):
   This is a chronological log of everything that happens on the farm.
   • Examples: Dates of birth, weaning, vaccinations, administration of medicine, identification numbers, and culling (removal of unproductive animals).
2. Production Records:
   These track the economic output of the animals. These records help the farmer determine if the feeding regimen is profitable.
   • Examples: Daily or weekly milk yields (for dairy), average daily weight gain (ADG) for beef or pigs, and feed conversion ratios (how much feed is needed to produce 1 kg of meat).

Why are these records important for nutrition?
By comparing the feed cost to the production record (e.g., high-quality feed vs. low milk yield), a farmer can adjust the ration to save money or increase efficiency. They help ensure the balanced ration is truly working!

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Key Takeaway Summary

Effective livestock nutrition requires providing the correct balance of Protein, Energy, Minerals, and Vitamins. This ration must be divided into a Maintenance Ration (for basic survival) and a Production Ration (for output like milk or meat), tailored to the animal's stage of life. Finally, clean water and excellent stockmanship (including detailed Diaries of Events and Production Records) are necessary to maximize health and profitability.