HOME MADE ANIMAL FEED CONCENTRATES - usaid

There are many commercial concentrate mixes available. Some are high in protein for use during
the first part of the feeding period. Others are high in energy for use during the last part of the
feeding period.
You can also make your own concentrate mixes if the ingredients are available.
Concentrate use can be even higher than 1:1 concentrate to milk yield
Feed costs are about 70% of total operating costs for animals, so decreasing equals significant
income
Concentrate supplementation for lactating cows has been proved as successful by many
small-holder farmers
The use of local feed resources to reduce production cost should be more a primary concern
for dairy farmers
Most of farmers use home-made concentrates, plus by-products and commercial concentrates
home-made concentrates comprised of local feed resources decrease feed cost of
production, by adding value to the own production
NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF CATTLE
Prior engaging in home making of concentrates a farmer should be aware of nutritional requirements
of their livestock.
(400 kg)
Head per day
Unit
Cows lactation
and after
weaning
Lactating
cows first
1/2 of lactation
Dry pregnant
cows 2
months before
calving
Heifer 1
month, 40 kg
and growth
650 g/day
Feed unit -- 6.70 8.30 6.40 2.30
Exchange energy MJ 82.00 98.00 79.00 16.90
Dry matter g 10.50 12.00 9.80 0.80
Digest protein g 570.00 780.00 704.00 220.00
Fat g 214.00 266.00 211.00 190.00
Fiber g 3015.00 3400.00 2867.00 65.00
Sugar g 489.00 626.00 540.00 200.00
Calcium g 50.00 63.00 60.00 10.00
Phosphorus g 27.00 36.00 35.00 5.00
Magnesium g 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Potassium g 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Sulfur g 19.00 23.00 18.00 0.00
Hardware mg 526.00 720.00 492.00 40.00
Copper mg 70.00 86.00 68.00 6.00
Zinc mg 302.00 448.00 324.00 35.00
Manganese mg 475.00 604.00 440.00 30.00
Cobalt mg 5.40 7.20 4.80 0.50
Iodine mg 4.00 6.00 4.50 0.30
Carotene mg 248.00 320.00 250.00 30.00
Vitamin D MO 5.40 7.60 6.40 700.00
Vitamin E mg 234.00 315.00 256.00 30.00
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