ASB 322: Feedstuff Analysis
Lecturer: Dr. F. Manyeula (PhD)
Week 1
Importance of feed analysis in
animal feeding
Guarantee feed quality. Production of
animal feeds and feeding animals is based
on the nutritional requirements for their
livestock.
Feeding livestock – provides an animal with
nutrients e.g protein, minerals
This is to meet nutrient requirements of animals
It also has to be cost effective (minimizes over or
under-feeding of nutrients. )
It should avoid toxicity of certain nutrients
Accurate determination of feed quality is
critical for producers to meet customer,
regulatory, and government requirements.
Differentfeedstuffs has different
nutrient level
The value of a feed depends on its content of
particular nutrients and the proportion
available for the animal’s body requirements
Determination of the physical, chemical
and biological attributes of feeds which
influence their consumption and
utilization by animals. (Production of
superior fodder = questions agronomists)
Modern feeding of livestock entails
precise delivery of required nutrients
Thereforean need to know the amount
of each nutrient contained in feedstuff
for example: If a lactating dairy cow
needs 2500g of protein & you supply it
with 6kg Lucerne.
Feed analysis reveal that Lucerne
contain 170g/kg CP; 1020g of protein is
supplied
o Deficit of 1480, which should be met by
concentrate and silage or grass
Feed sampling
Sampling integral part of research
protocol
Important in quality control in routine
feed or food production
Proper techniques are required for
representative sample.
If improper sampling is done, it will
results in wrong research results or
quality will be compromised
Why a representative sample?
It will be expensive to evaluate the
whole feed
It save time
However if an error is made it may
affect the use of whole feed
Sampling techniques
Errors during sampling can not be
corrected in the laboratory.
A large sample size provides accurate
results
a) A field
A field is divided into blocks
Trees/shrubs need larger blocks
Sampling over time needs permanent
blocks
To reduce heterogeneity of vegetation,
stratification is done
Or a ‘Z’ or ‘X’ patterns are made by
transect lines on the field
A quadrat is thrown along a transect
A quadrat may vary from 25 x 25 to 100
x 100cm.
All the samples within the quadrat is cut
at mowing level
Silage
Sampling done at feeding time
Five sample are taken for 2 to 4 days
Samples mixed well and a sample is put
in air tight bag
Then, the sample is placed in a freezer
for latter analysis
Grain or compounded feed
Select 3 to 5 bags from same lot
Bags selected randomly from top,
middle & bottom
250 gram is collected using a scoop
A sack probe may be used for sampling
Mix the samples, then take 200 gram
sample
Place sample in porous paper bag
Common Grain sampling tools
Scoop Sack probe
Bales
A coring device or drill type core may
be used
Samples should be taken cross section
of stack
Bales need to be moved
Bales are torn apart to take a sample
Sample a mixed & a sub-sample taken
I broke the bale apart
and took sample
from the middle
Identification
Identification of sample is done by
labeling
This help organisation of work
Ease or remembering characteristics
Data to be recorded;
Your name, sample code/number
Origin of sample
Name or type of feed
Stage of maturity/date of haversting
Type of storage/special observations