Attached to every bag of feed is this little colored tag. With these modern times, many regional or national feed companies now provide the same information on their websites. Tags contain vital information such as the product weight, guaranteed analysis, list of ingredients. and feeding instructions. The feeding instructions tell you how best to use the product.
Now while the information on the feed tag can be overwhelming, the information is typically pretty to the point. If you have ever looked at one and felt that you needed a Ph.D. to understand fear not for I am here to help. I will be giving you a breakdown of each section and what they mean.
Product name
Each feed typically has a name that is usually specific to the company that made it. The product name will tell you which animal the feed is designed for. You may see things like “Chick Starter” or “Calf Starter” with the product name. It will be indicated under the product name if the feed is medicated.
Along with the name it will also tell you what the feed will come in: textured or pellet. Most feed tags will tell you the form the feed is in but not always. Pelleting helps to reduce feed wastage but the pellets may be too big for the animal to eat so pick accordingly.
Purpose statement
Nutritional requirements of different animals vary considerably. In addition for specific species, the nutrient requirements will vary depending on the age and production level of the animal. The label will tell you if it is intended for breeding, lactation, maintenance, etc.
Guaranteed analysis
This section contains information regarding the amounts of specific nutrients that the feed contains. The minimum crude protein and fat content of the feed are required to be listed on all feed labels in the U.S. . It is also necessary to have the maximum fiber content here. If less than 6% of these minerals are in the feed, the calcium and phosphorus content may be listed but it is not required. Some companies choose to list additional nutrients for extra marketing.
One thing to be cautious about when looking at the guaranteed analysis is that though it may show you the percentage of certain nutrients it does not tell you the whole story. This list does not include the quality of the ingredients used to make the feed. So as always be sure to do your homework to ensure you are getting the best feed.
Energy
Energy is often the first consideration people look at when balancing any ration. An animal eating a very energy-dense concentrate will need to consume fewer pounds of it per day vs eating a low energy-dense concentrate. Reducing the amount of concentrate consumed allows the animal to eat more forage.
The crude fiber content of a feed can give you a clue about its energy density. This is due to an inverse relationship between fiber and expected digestible energy content. Just as commercial feeds with a high fiber content typically contain less digestible energy than those with low fiber content.
Fat is another source of energy in feed. A traditional concentrate usually contains 3-4% fat, but many feeds now list higher crude fat values. This is because some manufacturers add supplemental fat to their formulations. Feeds containing more than 8% crude fat would be considered added-fat feeds.
Protein
Energy is commonly the first consideration in designing a feeding program, crude protein is often the first nutrient producers look for when selecting a specific feed. Remember to choose a ration that complements the forage the animal is consuming. Testing the hay is the best way to determine the nutrient profile of the forage, which will aid you in selecting the right ration. If you are wondering the best way to perform a hay test I covered that in a previous post “Hay Sampling: What to Know”.
When choosing a concentrate, it is important to consider its energy-to-protein ratio as well. Nutritionists keep this ratio in mind when formulating feeds, assuming that producers are following the feeding instructions on the label.
List of ingredients
The next section on the feed tag is the list of ingredients. The ingredients are listed in order of the greatest to the smallest amount in the formulation. Some feed manufacturers will specifically list the various grains and protein supplements (oats, corn, alfalfa meal) while others use general ingredient categories (grain products, plant protein products).
Plant protein products
The most common product used for plant protein in feed is soybean meal. This is good because the oil extraction process is sufficient to destroy the anti-nutritional factors in soybeans. Canola, sunflower seeds, peanuts, cottonseed, flax, and sesame seeds are some of the other oilseeds that are used in animal feed.
The first four or five ingredients will commonly make up the bulk of the formulation. Vitamins, minerals, and flavorings will make up a small portion of the total concentrate.
Grain products
Cereal grains are the main energy source in diets. Grains such as corn, barley, wheat, and sorghum are commonly used in rations. Some of the less common ones used include rye, oats, triticale.
Instructions for feeding
The last section on the feed tag is the instructions for feeding. This is the manufacturer’s recommendation for using their product to maximize its performance. According to the feeding instructions, the animal is expected to consume a certain amount of pounds each day. Feed intake is based on weight and not volume. Be sure to read the instructions carefully. Not all rations should be fed in the same way.
“Complete feeds” are formulated to be the animal’s only nutrition source. At the same time also satisfies their forage needs. This is in order to meet the animal’s needs. A “Balancer” ration is to be fed in very small amounts. They provide a very dense source of protein, minerals, and vitamins to complement high forage diets.