Cattle Feed Supplements - A Need of Time To Keep Cattles Healthy

Feed is the single largest expense incurred for maintaining the cattle. Several type of feedstuffs are included in the cattle feed with different nutrient value. All that only matters is the amount of the nutrient that the cattle feed provides. The harvested forage such as hay, pasture, silage is the mainstay of any cattle diet. But, the forage is not enough to cater to the nutritional need of the cattle. Hence, the forage must be supplemented with proteins, energy, and nutrients needed by the cattle feeding on forage diets.

Traditionally, cottonseed meal, corn meal, soybean meal, grain sorghum, or milos are added in the cattle forage. However, nowadays, a variety of Animal Feed Supplements are available to improve the feed efficiency and prevent diseases. Even they are much cheaper than the traditional nutritional feed. The feed additives can be either nutritional or non-nutritional and can be included directly or by indirect methods into the feed system of the animal. The supplements that add on to the nutritional value of the feed are more expensive. And, the proper use of them can really improve the health of the cattle.

Cattle Feed Supplements - A Need of Time To Keep Cattles Healthy

• Protein Supplements

It is one of the most expensive ingredients in the feed. A range of supplements is now available that can be effectively used for the beef cattle. The common protein supplements include distiller grains, corn gluten feed, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, and urea. Urea is an inexpensive form of supplement but can be toxic if fed in more than required quantities. Other commercial products such as protein blocks, Powder Animal Feed Supplement, and Liquid Animal Feed Supplements are also available for protein supplementation. These supplements may include both natural protein and non-protein nitrogen.

• Energy Supplements

These supplements are fed to the cows to provide them with additional calories, which the forage cannot provide them. However, many of the protein supplements also provide the energy content but the requirement of energy differ in each cows. The energy requirements of the adult cows vary in terms of their production cycle. The lactating cows require high level of protein and energy as compared to the non-lactating ones. So, they must be fed with the energy supplements to fulfill their energy needs.

Besides, the above-mentioned supplements, the cattle are fed with the roughage supplements such as the harvested hay or corn stalks, especially during the winter season. They should also be provided with adequate level Mineral Supplements throughout the year. Potassium, magnesium, sulfur, etc., are some of the minerals required by the animals. The low cost feed supplements offered by the Cattle Feed Supplements Manufacturers can easily fulfil the mineral requirements. Moreover, the quantity of the supplement should be used carefully.