Study Notes on Animal Feed in Natural Animal Husbandry

Animal feed selection is crucial for animal husbandry.
- In nature, animals select feed suited to their species.
- Captive animals often lack the choice and depend on what humans provide.
- It is a significant responsibility to plan their diet effectively.

Types of Feed:
- Basfoder (Basic Feed):
- This type of feed forms the largest part of an animal's diet.
- Should closely resemble the animal's natural intake.
- Examples: Hay, Silage, Seeds, Vegetables, Whole animals, Insects.
- Kraftfoder (Supplemental Feed):
- Provided when basic feed lacks sufficient nutrients.
- Examples: Pellets (often tailored to specific species or groups), Mineral supplements (pellet form, stones, etc.), Vegetables, and Fruits.

Characteristics of Roughage:
- Contains high fiber content.
- Comparatively low in nutrients per volume, thus requiring high intake frequency.
- Types include Hay, Silage, Haylage, Straw, and Grass.
- Essential for animals adapted to digest cellulose, a hard-to-digest carbohydrate.
- Types include:
- Grosstarm-jäsare/blindtarmsjäsare (cecal fermenters)
- Idisslare (ruminants).

Straw (Halm):
- A yellow, dry product, consisting of dried stems of cereal crops, often used as bedding material.
Hay (Hö):
- Composed of dried grass that varies in nutritional value.
- Depends on species composition, clover mix, fertilization, sunlight, rainfall, harvest time, and storage conditions.
- Must cover basic needs for plant fibers, minerals, vitamins, protein, and energy.
- Characteristics: Dust-free, green, and pleasant-smelling.
- Dry matter (ts) content: 84%.

Ensilage (Silage):
- Fermented freshly cut grass with a sour smell and wet composition.
Haylage (Hösilage):
- Freshly harvested grass stored without air access, considered semi-dry.

Types of Grasses:
- Ängsgröe (Meadow Grass):
- Slow to establish, best suited for grazing.
- Good regrowth characteristics.
- Engelsk rajgräs (Italian Ryegrass):
- Durable but sensitive to cold.
- Tolerates repeated harvests, trampling, and grazing.
- High sugar content, suitable for grazing and silage.
- Timotej (Timothy Grass):
- Hardy and slow regrowth; energy-rich and flavorful.
- Well-suited for hay and wrapped feeds.
- Ängsvingel (Meadow Fescue):
- Durable; thrives in both wet and dry conditions.
- Good regrowth capacity makes it resistant to grazing and multiple harvests; best cut early in development.

Characteristics of Legumes:
- Contain higher levels of protein and minerals, especially calcium than grasses.
- Do not require nitrogen fertilization.
- Examples:
- Rödklöver (Red Clover): Resistant to drought, best in mowing swards but used in pasture; sensitive to trampling and grazing; disappears from the field in 1-3 years.
- Vitklöver (White Clover): Thrives in moist soils; requires phosphorus and calcium; palatable and resilient to grazing/trampling; good for wrapped silage.
- Lusern (Alfalfa): The oldest and most established, challenging to overwinter in Sweden; leaves dry quickly and fall off; difficult to harvest for hay.

TS Definition:
- TS = Dry Matter
- Refers to the portion of feed remaining after all water is removed.
- Dry matter composition:
- Hay: approximately 85% TS
- Haylage: 50-70% TS
- Silage: 25-50% TS.
- Recommendation: at least 1 kg TS per 100 kg of animal body weight.

Kraftfoder Details:
- Complementary to roughage, used when animals need to produce or are under intensive training.
- Concentrated feed is richer in protein and easily digestible carbohydrates, providing more energy.
- Nutrients are absorbed rapidly by the body, containing starch, which some animals cannot tolerate in excess.
- Excess energy can be stored as fat.

Oats:
- High fiber content and greater fat than other grains.
- Commonly fed to ruminants, horses, and breeding pigs needing satiating feed.
- Energy-rich and often the sole concentrated feed for horses.
Wheat:
- Inexpensive and energy-rich, frequently used for dairy cattle.
- Recommended maximum is 25% of total grain intake across all animal species.
- Contains high starch levels.
Rye:
- Less palatable compared to other grains.
- Provides good quality meat for pork; resilient to drought.
Barley:
- The most common grain feed; contains high starch.
- Can be cultivated under extreme temperatures; historically used for bread, now mainly for malting (beer, whiskey, soft drinks).

Oilseeds Explained:
- Byproducts of oil extraction can be used as animal feed, termed oilseed feed or oil power feed.
- Varying properties based on the plant source; rich in amino acids (lysine), complementing grains well.
- Note: Some oilseeds contain harmful substances and have lower palatability.
- Commonly grown in Sweden: rapeseed and turnip rape. Used as protein feed for cattle and pigs.

Water Quality:
- Animals require clean water, similar to human needs. Excessive bacteria and algae can cause health problems.
- Young animals, ruminants, and horses are particularly susceptible.
- Water dispensers must provide water quickly to prevent fatigue in animals.
- Stagnant water requires frequent changes.
- Testing Water Quality: Suggest sending water samples for analysis to ensure its safety.
- It is generally recommended to provide free access to water; however, the law dictates a minimum of two times a day.
- Water intake recommendations per day:
- Dairy cow: 80-120 liters
- Average horse: 70 liters

Effectively planning and managing the diet of livestock is essential for their health and productivity, ensuring that both bulk and concentrated feeds meet the nutritional needs of different animal species in accordance with their life stages and production demands.