Four Benefits of Feeding Your Livestock Correctly

The Australian diet has changed a lot over the past 40 years and people now eat a much more varied diet. That has meant a lot of changes and adapting for farmers. I find it really interesting to look at how much farming has changed for families over the last century. I have been recording some of the stories of how farming has changed by talking to farming families as well as chatting to some agricultural experts to see how farming might change in the next century. I hope this blog will help to inspire people about the Australian farming industry.

Four Benefits of Feeding Your Livestock Correctly

11 September 2017
 Categories: , Blog


Livestock farmers, especially sheep ranchers, exploit every practical means to raise production. A sustained output of optimal volumes of quality meat, milk, wool, hides and skins means good profits and business sustainability, while protein demands of the general public are catered for. Your livestock's growth rate, gestation patterns and overall condition are directly associated with the nutritional variety and balance in your feed. If you are a livestock farmer or manager seeking to raise your farm productivity, you need to practise nutritional profiling of your feed. Here are some essential facts to help you along.

Improved meat flavour

Meat obtained from animals fed regularly on feed comprising high fraction of grains is remarkably tastier with a more pronounced flavour. This is in contrast to meat of animals fed mainly on grass and greens. Increasing the grain content of your animals' feed delivers higher calorie and mineral concentration per feed volume. Grains are rich nutrient reserves. Animal-friendly grains include maize and wheat germ, oats, barley and sorghum. Remember to administer your feed in ground form, not whole.

High body weight

The principal use of food in animals is general survival and reproduction. Any other food not utilized in this manner is converted to those slabs of juicy steak, and even thicker drumsticks (if poultry is your concern). For increased animal mass, supplement your fodder and silage with feeds high in protein and fat such as soy beans, fish products, sunflower seed and rapeseed. Mineral supplementation is also a must if you want to trip that balance further. Visit your agro-vet and ask for a salt mix containing zinc, manganese and cobalt, among other micro-nutrients essential for growth.

More milk

Your dairy animals require the nutritional profiling identical to the one described above, but with a higher measures of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and common salt. These higher concentrations can be obtained at the farm from barley fodder and bone meal. Although water is not a nutrient, allow the lactating animal unlimited access to the water-trough.

Regular gestation

Head count is a principal concern in livestock. Having it increase regularly calls for effective reproductive health of the animals. Observe feed nutritional profiling with an emphasis on vitamins, proteins and high energy (carbohydrate and fats). The objective is to put the females in heat regularly. Continue with this profile throughout the gestation period, and raise calcium and phosphorus levels. These two minerals are essential in foetal bone formation.

Practising nutritional profiling by adjusting your feeding approaches according to nutritional requirements of the individual animal will reflect rightly in your books.

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Growing a range of crops

The Australian diet has changed a lot over the past 40 years and people now eat a much more varied diet. That has meant a lot of changes and adapting for farmers. I find it really interesting to look at how much farming has changed for families over the last century. I have been recording some of the stories of how farming has changed by talking to farming families as well as chatting to some agricultural experts to see how farming might change in the next century. I hope this blog will help to inspire people about the Australian farming industry.

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