Theory question 108
Animal Nutrition(a) Explain the term ration.
(b) Name four classes of livestock feed and list two characteristics of each class.
(c) Distinguish between maintenance and production rations.
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(a) A ration is the total amount of feed given to an animal in 24 hours
(b) Any four with two characteristics: roughages – high fibre, bulky, low energy (hay, silage, grass); concentrates – low fibre, high energy or protein, easily digested (maize, groundnut cake); basal/energy feeds – high carbohydrate, low protein (maize, cassava); protein supplements – high protein (fish meal, soya meal); minerals/vitamin supplements – small amounts, prevent deficiency diseases (bone meal, premix); additives – non-nutritive, improve growth/health (antibiotics, coccidiostats)
(c) Maintenance ration keeps the animal alive and healthy at constant weight with no production; production ration is extra feed above maintenance for growth, milk, eggs, work or pregnancy
Define, classify, then contrast the two rations.