What to look for in supplementary feed

• Published date: 10 April 2024
• Publication title: Central Rural Life

‘‘The more we know, the better our decision-making.’’

Complementary

Feed supplements are best used to complement the available feed. For example:

● When protein is limiting production, a high-protein hay, silage or grain will be the best complement and, as a general rule, will also be the most cost-effective.

● Where there is an energy deficiency identified, cereal grain is the ideal supplement. If the remainder of the diet is high in protein, it is best to choose a low-protein feed.

● If paddock feed (i.e. forage) is deficient, such as during winter, then a forage-based supplement would be the feed of choice. However, during summers following a good spring, there may be an excess of dry pasture to be grazed. Grain supplementation will enhance feed utilisation and increase the nutritive value of the total ration.

Choice of supplement

The smaller and lighter the animal, the higher the feed’s nutritive value needs to be, due to limited rumen capacity.

Therefore, high-quality hay is a better supplement of protein and energy than very wet silage (<50% DM), and high-protein, high-ME (metabolisable energy) grain should be used when paddock feed is not limiting.

Wet silage and low-quality hay are better fed to larger animals, such as crossbred ewes or cattle.

Minerals, trace elements

The most important mineral for growing lambs and pregnant ewes is calcium. Lambs require a ratio of calcium to phosphorus of 2:1 to optimise bone growth and reduce the risk of urinary calculi formation in wether lambs when grazing low-calcium (grass-dominant or cereal-based) pastures.

Addition of trace elements to supplementary feed is often the most expensive way to...