Concentrate Feed For Animals
The purpose of a concentrate feed is to be further diluted and combined with another feed to create a complete feed or a supplement, improving the nutrient balance of the overall diet.
A more accurate definition of concentrate is that, depending on the type, it is an incomplete feed that contains a higher proportion of energy, protein, premix (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and organic acids), and other feed additives. The concentrate is anticipated to be combined with additional feed ingredients, such as corn, soybean meal, groundnut cake, wheat or corn offal, bran, etc.
As a result, concentrate feed should not be given to your animals until it has been incorporated into a mixture with other ingredients in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
What Are The Various Types Of Concentrate?
Concentrate feed is simply feed that is intensely focused on one type of nutrient. As follows:
- Energy concentrate
- Protein concentrate
- Minerals, vitamins, and additives concentrate
For many animal species (including poultry, swine, ruminants (sheep, goat, and cattle), fish, and other micro-livestock) at various production phases, concentrate feeds are available. These include,
- Chick concentrate (for birds between age 1 day and 6 weeks)
- Grower Concentrate (for birds between age 6weeks and 16 weeks)
- Layer concentrate (for chickens that are laying eggs)
- Broiler starter and finisher concentrate (for broiler chicken)
- Turkey concentrate
- Piglet and pig concentrate
- Cattle concentrate
- Sheep and goat concentrate
Several livestock companies use various names to brand their concentrate feed products. Consider Laymore Additional Inclusion Concentrate, Growfast Concentrate, etc. from Animal Care, available in Nigeria. The specific purposes they serve are always listed on the package label or sack, regardless of the brand name.
Benefits Of Concentrated Feed
It is less expensive.
It saves time and lowers labor costs.
Disadvantages Of Concentrate Feed
When mixing, it is possible to make mistakes. For example, mixing with the incorrect amount of maize.
When maize is scarce or when machines such as a hammer mill/crusher and/or mixer are unavailable, a farmer may find it difficult to use concentrate.
How to Combine Feed Concentrate With Maize (Corn) And Other Ingredients
It is simple to combine a concentrate feed with maize and other feed ingredients. The procedure is outlined below:
Take the required amount of maize grain. If you want to add wheat offal or other ingredients, weigh them and set them aside.
Using a hammer mill or crusher, crush the maize grains to the desired size.
Check that the weight of the crushed maize grains has not changed.
If you have a mixer, use it to combine the concentrates and other ingredients. If not, you can mix it by hand on a clean floor with a spade. However, make certain that the mixing is thorough.
Rebag the feed after mixing it, or feed it.
How To Determine The Mixing Ratio
Some concentrate feed manufacturers, you may have noticed, write percentages on the packaging sack of their concentrates. 40% Broiler Finisher Concentrate, for example. Some farmers believe that figure represents the concentration of crude protein (CP) in the concentrate. The truth is that the percentage does not always correspond to the amount or level of CP. It is the proportion/ratio of the concentrate to the amount of feed to be prepared. It is, in other words, the mixing ratio.
What Are Some Examples Of Concentrates?
Corn, millet, wheat, barley, cottonseed meal, soybean meal, groundnuts, flaxseed, canola, and sunflower seeds are examples of concentrates in animal feed.
Conclusion – Concentrate Feed For Animals
Concentrate feeds are classified into two types: carbonaceous and proteinaceous.
Carbonaceous concentrates, also known as energy feeds, are composed of feed that is high in energy but low in protein. Cereal grains such as corn, millet, wheat, and barley are among them. These feeds are used to boost the energy levels in livestock rations.
Proteinaceous concentrates, also known as protein feeds, are composed of feed that is high in protein but low in energy. Soybean meal, cottonseed meal, and animal by-products are the main protein sources in these feeds. These feeds are used to boost protein levels in poultry, swine, and fish rations.
