Energy Concentrates in Animal Nutrition

Characteristics of Energy Concentrates

Objectives

• Students should be able to:
  • Name at least 7 energy concentrates.
  • Describe the nutritional properties of at least five (5) energy supplements.
  • Recommend appropriate feeding techniques for the 5 energy supplements.

Characteristics of Energy Concentrates

• Carbonaceous concentrates:
  • High energy feeds.
  • Contain < 20% Crude Protein (CP) and < 18% Crude Fiber (CF).

Energy Concentrates

• Mostly feed grains and their by-products.
• Examples:
  • Maize (corn), sorghum, millet, wheat, rice, barley, teff.
  • Brans, germ meal/hominy chop.

General Nutritive Characteristics

• High in Energy (TDN or NE).
• Low in fiber.
• Low in protein (in relation to oil seeds and some mill seeds).
• Variable in protein quality.
• Low in vitamins D, A, Riboflavin, B12, and Pantothenic acid.
• Fair in Vitamin E.
• High in Niacin, but the Niacin is unavailable to the pig.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolour)

• Drought resistant, hence grown in areas with inadequate rainfall for Maize production.
• Requires processing to enhance digestibility.
• Lower in energy than Maize (75-78% of Maize TDN).
• Low in Calcium but, fair in Phosphorus.
• Low in fibre, with more CP than Maize and < oil.
• Nutrient Content (% DM):
  • TDN: 68 - 75%
  • CP: 8.6 - 12.5%
  • CF: 2.5 - 4.8%
  • Ca: 0.3 – 0.9%
  • P: 2.7 – 4.12%
• Some varieties have a high content of phenolic compounds including Tannins which:
  • influence palatability
  • lower protein digestibility
  • reduce energy values for pigs and poultry

Maize (Zea mays)

• The most common grain in animal diets.
• High in energy (80% TDN) and thiamine.
• High in niacin but its unavailable for non-ruminants.
• Fair in P (0.3%) but low in Ca (0.05%).
• Low in CP (8-9%).
• Low in lysine, tryptophan, vit. D, riboflavin and pantothenic acid.
• Offered either as air dry (88-90% DM) or high moisture maize (20-35% moisture).

Millet (Pennisetum coracana)

• Applies to several species of cereals which produce small grains.
• Variable in composition (g/kg DM):
  • CP : 100 - 120
  • CF : 20 - 90
  • EE : 20 - 50
• Comparable in nutritive value to Oats.
• Contains a high percentage of indigestible fibre.
• Usually ground for feeding to animals other than poultry.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

• Contains 12 -14 % C.P. and 80% TDN.
• Generally too expensive for livestock diets.
• A good feed but packs in the stomach.
• May form up to 70% of poultry diets.
• High levels may be included in pig diets provided care is taken to control the fineness of grinding.
• When used in ruminant diets at levels of 30 - 40 %, the remainder of the diet must contain sufficient fibre.
• Not appropriate for the production of yellow broilers.
• Its gluten content can have a beneficial effect on the quality of heat processed extruded cubes or pellets.

Molasses

• A by-product of sugar processing containing:
  • 55 - 70% TDN
  • 3 - 7% CP most of which is NPN (non-protein nitrogen, therefore low in true protein).
• Commonly fed in the liquid form (70 - 80% DM), but also available in dehydrated forms.
• A readily available energy source and quite palatable.
• Often used as a pellet binder and /or to reduce dustiness and improve ration palatability.
• Is the basis for liquid protein supplements containing urea.
• May not be used at levels in excess of 10 % of the replacement value of corn in livestock rations.
• Commonly fed to ruminants or horses at levels of 3 -7% of the ration.
• High levels impart a laxative effect due to high Mg and K content and may disrupt rumen microbial activities.
• Inclusion is limited by the difficulty of mixing it into concentrated feeds.
• Requires specialized equipment making it very difficult to use it on ‘farm.’

Maize and Cob Meal

• Is made up of whole ears of maize (cob and grain) ground to varying degrees of fineness.
• Contains 73 % TDN and 7 - 8% C.P.
• An excellent feed for finishing ruminants
• Generally not fed to swine or poultry

Oats (Avena sativa)

• 65 - 70% TDN and 12% C.P.
• Are normally only used for ruminants and horses
• Low in energy (11 - 12 MJ/kg DM) and high fibre (12.1%) hence seldom used for pigs or poultry.
• The de-husked grain is of high energy value due to it’s comparatively high oil content
• The protein quality is better than for other cereals.
• The hulls /husks are fibrous and poorly digested
• Does not supply sufficient energy for maximum gains in feedlot cattle.
• Deficient in methionine, histidine and tryptophan.

Barley (Hordeum sativum)

• Traditionally considered to be particularly suitable for pig feeding
• Contains appropriate amounts of both fibre and oil associated with the production of saturated carcass fat
• High C.F. limits its use in swine and poultry diets.
• Has higher levels of fibre than maize and wheat
• Contains 11 -12% C.P. and 70 - 75% TDN.
• ME values in (MJ/kg DM):
  • Ruminants: 13.0
  • Poultry: 12.5
  • Swine: 13.7
• Low in protein quality (deficient in lysine)
• Lipid content is usually low (< 25 g/kg DM)
• Forms the main concentrate in pig and ruminant diets

Rice (Oryza sativa)

• The main cereal crop of the Asian continent
• Has a thick fibrous husk like that of oats when threshed (rough rice)
• The hull can make up to 20% of the total grain wt.
• Brown rice is formed by the removal of the hull
• Rough rice can be fed to horses and ruminants
• Brown rice is preferred for pigs and poultry
• High in TDN (65-75%) but low in CP (7.5%)
• Low in EE (1.6-2.3%)

Rye (Secale cereale)

• 75% TDN and 12 % C.P.
• Is a bread grain in northern Europe
• The least palatable of all the Cereals
• Fed to poultry in minute amounts or not at all.
• Contains two detrimental factors (Anti-Nutrients) to Poultry.
  • An appetite depressing factor in the bran
  • A growth suppressant in all fractions of the grain.
• Should be restricted to less than 40% of ruminant diets
• Causes digestive disturbances if too finely ground.
• Its protein has higher lysine and lower tryptophan than wheat protein.

Triticale

• 78% TDN and 15% C.P.
• A hybrid derived from a cross between Wheat and Rye.
• Contains higher quality protein than other cereals
• Unpalatable and may contain ergot similar to Rye.
• Limited to less than 50% of livestock rations
• Feeding value as an energy source comparable to that of maize and other cereals
• Excess may lead to increased liver abscesses in steers.

Dried Beet Pulp

• Is the residue from sugar beet processing
• Contains 18 - 19 % C.F. (may be a roughage)
• Packs 65 - 70% TDN and 8 -10% C.P.
• Should not replace more than 15 - 20 % of the grain in the ration.
• Excellent for bulk and laxative in furrowing sow rations

Dried Citrus Pulp

• Is a coarse flaky product prepare from the residue resulting from the manufacture of citrus juices
• Made up of a mixture of pulp, peel, seeds and cull fruits.
• Variable in composition & requires routine analysis before use
• Similar in feed value to dried sugar beet pulp, but has a lower protein content (5 - 8%)
• Mainly used for dairy and beef rations
• Quantities of up to 20 - 25% of the total DM in ruminant diets may be used if desired.
• High levels ( 50% of DMI) may produce taint milk
• Is not very palatable to monogastrics although up to 10 % may be included in sow diets.
• High in fibre (13%) and low in P (0.12 %) but, good in Ca (up to 2%).

Animal Fat

• Obtained from the tissues of animals in the commercial extraction processes
• Usually treated with an antioxidant to prevent rancidity
• Main functions include:
  1. increasing the energy value of the feed
  2. decreasing dustiness in feeds
  3. improving the texture and palatability
  4. speeding up pellet mill capacity and machine wear.
• May be added at levels of up to 5% in ruminant diets and up to 10% in monogastric diets.

Simple Rations for Ruminants

Diets for Ruminants