Livestock and farm animals are often fed based on the advice and experience passed down by generations of farmers. Access to available resources plays a part, too, such as crop by-products like molasses, straw, and tree pods combined with the use of licks. These types of livestock feed and supplies usually meet the minimal nutritional requirements of most animals but may not always provide a balanced diet.

What Does a Balanced Diet Mean?

Food that contains more or fewer nutrients than those required by an animal is considered unbalanced and can negatively impact growth, milk production, and reproduction. While it may seem it would be better for an animal to receive more nutrients than required rather than less, that is not true. Animals actually waste energy trying to rid their bodies of the excess nutrients instead of using the energy for growth or milk production. Therefore, it’s important for livestock feed and supplies to be analyzed and corrected, or balanced, to meet the animals’ nutritional requirements.

What Are Key Elements of a Balanced Diet?

To meet the food requirements of animals, it’s necessary to understand what they need. Here are some of the key elements of a balanced diet for livestock.

• Proteins: These nutrients build body tissues like muscles, nerves and blood cells. Oilcakes such as soybean meal and cottonseed cake, as well as some tree pods, are good sources of protein for livestock.
• Minerals & Vitamins: These are needed in small quantities to carry out vital bodily functions. For livestock, minerals can be found in salts or provided as a lick, and vitamins can be added to food or injected.
• Carbohydrates: Sugars, starches, and fiber are the three types of carbohydrates animals need. Sugars and starches provide energy for moving, breathing, and growing. Sources for livestock include molasses—a readily available sugar—and starches like corn, barley, and wheat. Fiber is not digested by the animal but aids in overall digestive health.

For the largest selection of affordable pet products and livestock feed and supplies in Robertsdale, AL, call on Racine’s Feed, Garden & Supply. Their team provides food and healthcare supplies for all your livestock and pets, including cattle, horses, chickens, rabbits, dogs, cats, and fish. Call them today at (251) 947-3003 to learn more about the products and brands they offer, or visit them online.