Animal Feeds and Feeding Practices – Grade 11

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the Grade 11 lecture on animal feeds, feeding resources, ration formulation, and feed conservation.

Animal Nutrition

The science of feed preparation and feeding to optimize animal performance and profitability.

Feed Resources

Sources of livestock feed in Ethiopia: natural pastures, crop residues, improved forages, and agro-industrial by-products.

Natural Pasture

Naturally occurring grasses, shrubs, and tree forages that supply over 60 % of livestock feed, especially during the wet season.

Overgrazing

Excessive grazing that reduces pasture productivity and forage availability.

Crop Residues

Left-over plant parts after harvest (straws, stovers, cobs, hulls, chaffs) that are low in protein and digestibility.

Forage Crops

Cultivated plants (grasses and legumes) grown for animal feed, used fresh or conserved.

Grasses (Forage)

High-fiber forage crops such as Rhodes, Sudan, and Elephant grass that provide bulk feed for ruminants.

Legumes (Forage)

Protein-rich forage crops like Alfalfa and Vetch, used to supplement low-quality feeds.

Agro-industrial By-products

Residues from processing industries (flour mills, oilseeds, sugar, breweries) used as animal feed.

Wheat Bran

A palatable flour-milling by-product rich in B-vitamins and laxative properties.

Oilseed Cake/Meal

Residue after oil extraction (e.g., soybean meal, noug seed cake) rich in protein and minerals.

Molasses

Sugar-industry by-product supplying energy (≈54 % TDN) and acting as an appetizer and dust settler.

Brewer’s Spent Grain

Brewery by-product high in fiber, protein, and minerals for livestock feeding.

Roughage

Bulky feedstuffs (>18 % crude fiber, <60 % TDN) with low digestible energy, e.g., hay, straw, silage.

Dry Roughage

Hay, straw, stover, etc., containing 80–90 % dry matter.

Green/Succulent Roughage

Fresh pasture or wilted forage with 10–30 % dry matter; used to make silage.

Concentrate

Nutrient-dense feed (

Energy-rich Concentrate

Low-protein (<18 % CP) feed like cereal grains, brans, and molasses supplying carbohydrates.

Protein-rich Concentrate

Feed containing >18 % crude protein, e.g., oilseed cakes, fish meal, meat meal.

Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)

Sum of digestible fiber, protein, fat, and carbohydrate in a feed; measures energy content.

Crude Protein (CP)

Total protein content of a feed, estimated from nitrogen concentration.

Maintenance Ration

Minimum feed needed to keep an animal’s body weight constant and support vital functions.

Production Ration

Additional feed supplied beyond maintenance to support output such as milk, meat, or eggs.

Balanced Ration

Daily feed that provides all required nutrients in proper amounts and proportions.

Pearson Square Method

A simple tool for balancing rations using two ingredients to achieve a desired nutrient level.

Carbohydrates (Feeds)

Primary energy source from grains, crop residues, molasses, and hay.

Fats (Feeds)

High-energy nutrients from oilseed cakes and animal fats that also insulate the body.

Proteins (Feeds)

Essential nutrients made of amino acids; supplied by legumes, oilseed meals, and animal by-products.

Macro-minerals

Minerals required in larger amounts (Ca, P, Mg, K, Na) for bone, muscle, and metabolic functions.

Micro-minerals (Trace)

Minerals needed in tiny amounts (Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Zn) critical for enzyme and hormone function.

Fat-soluble Vitamins

Vitamins A, D, E, K stored in body fat and required for vision, bone health, and antioxidant functions.

Water-soluble Vitamins

B-complex and C vitamins that are not stored and must be consumed daily.

Ration

The 24-hour amount of feed offered to an animal.

Hay

Forage dried to 15–20 % moisture to preserve nutrients for later feeding.

Curing (Hay)

Process of drying green forage (sun and wind) to reduce moisture for hay making.

Tripod System

Three-legged stand used to store hay off the ground for improved drying and drainage.

Silage

Fermented, moist forage preserved anaerobically in a silo for use during feed shortages.

Ensilage

The controlled fermentation process of converting fresh forage into silage.

Silo

Structure (pit, tower, bag) used to store chopped forage under anaerobic conditions for silage.

Premix

A concentrated blend of vitamins, minerals, and additives incorporated at low levels in compound feed.

Compound Feed

Commercially manufactured feed produced by blending multiple ingredients into a homogeneous ration.

Laxative Feed

Feedstuff like bran that ferments quickly, stimulating bowel movement.