Types and Classification of Feeds for Sheep and Goats for JSS 1

Feeds for sheep and goat

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. identify feedstuffs for sheep and goat;
2. classify feeds for sheep and goat.

Introduction to Feeds for Sheep and Goats

Sheep and goats are important livestock animals in Nigeria. They provide meat, milk, and sometimes wool or skin. For these animals to grow well, stay healthy, and produce what farmers need, they must be fed properly. Just like humans need different types of food to be strong, sheep and goats also need a balanced diet.

The food given to sheep and goats is called feed. Understanding different types of feed is important for any farmer who wants to raise healthy and productive animals.

What are Feedstuffs?

Feedstuffs are the individual ingredients or materials that are used to make up the diet of livestock animals. They are the raw materials from which animals get their nutrients.

These ingredients can come from plants, animals, or minerals. Farmers combine different feedstuffs to provide a complete and balanced diet for their sheep and goats.

Types of Feedstuffs

Feedstuffs for sheep and goats can be grouped into different types based on their physical characteristics and how they are commonly used. The main types are roughages, concentrates, and crop residues and byproducts.

Roughages

Roughages are feedstuffs that are high in fibre and are bulky. They are usually low in energy and protein compared to concentrates. Roughages are very important for sheep and goats because their digestive systems are designed to process large amounts of fibrous material.

Examples of roughages include:

1. Fresh Grasses: These are green plants that sheep and goats graze on directly from pastures. Examples include elephant grass, guinea grass, and common pasture grasses.
2. Hay: This is grass or other leafy plants that have been cut, dried, and stored. Drying preserves the feed for use during dry seasons when fresh grass is scarce.
3. Legumes: These are plants like groundnut haulms (the leafy parts of groundnut plants after harvest) and cowpea haulms. They are often richer in protein than grasses.
4. Silage: This is green forage (like maize or grass) that has been cut and stored in an airtight condition to ferment. Fermentation preserves the feed and makes it palatable.

Concentrates

Concentrates are feedstuffs that are rich in nutrients like energy or protein, but low in fibre. They are less bulky than roughages and provide a lot of nutrients in a small amount. Concentrates are often given to animals that need extra energy for fast growth, milk production, or during pregnancy.

Examples of concentrates include:

1. Grains: These are seeds from cereal plants. Common examples are maize (corn), guinea corn (sorghum), and millet. They are excellent sources of energy.
2. Oilseed Cakes: These are the solid materials left after oil has been extracted from oilseeds. Examples include groundnut cake, soybean meal, and palm kernel cake. They are rich in protein.
3. Milling By-products: These are materials left over from processing grains. Examples include wheat offal (from wheat milling) and rice bran (from rice milling). They provide both energy and some protein.

Crop Residues and Byproducts

Crop residues and byproducts are materials that remain after crops have been harvested or processed. These can be valuable sources of feed, especially during dry seasons when fresh pasture is scarce.

Examples of crop residues and byproducts include:

1. Maize Stover: These are the stalks and leaves of maize plants left after the cobs have been harvested.
2. Rice Straw: These are the dried stalks and leaves of rice plants after the grains have been threshed.
3. Yam Peels and Cassava Peels: These are the outer coverings removed from yam and cassava tubers during processing. They can be dried and fed to animals.
4. Brewers’ Spent Grain: This is a byproduct from breweries, consisting of the leftover grain after brewing beer. It is a good source of protein and fibre.

Classes of Feeds Based on Nutrients

Beyond their physical form, feedstuffs can also be grouped based on the main nutrients they provide to sheep and goats. This helps farmers ensure their animals get all the necessary nutrients for different body functions.

Energy Concentrates

Energy concentrates are feedstuffs that provide a lot of energy. Energy is needed for all body activities, such as walking, eating, growing, and keeping the body warm. Animals that are growing rapidly or producing milk need more energy.

Examples of energy concentrates include:

1. Maize
2. Guinea corn
3. Millet
4. Cassava (dried chips or peels)

Protein Concentrates

Protein concentrates are feedstuffs rich in protein. Protein is essential for building and repairing body tissues, such as muscles, skin, hair (wool), and for producing milk. Young, growing animals and pregnant or lactating (milk-producing) animals need plenty of protein.

Examples of protein concentrates include:

1. Groundnut cake
2. Soybean meal
3. Palm kernel cake
4. Fish meal

Fibre-Rich Feeds

Fibre is a type of carbohydrate that is not easily digested but is very important for the healthy functioning of the digestive system of sheep and goats. Feeds rich in fibre help to keep the rumen (the first stomach of ruminants) working properly.

Examples of fibre-rich feeds include:

1. Grasses (fresh or hay)
2. Legumes (e.g., groundnut haulms)
3. Crop residues (e.g., maize stover, rice straw)

Additives

Additives are special ingredients added to feeds in very small amounts. They are not major sources of energy or protein, but they provide essential vitamins and minerals that are needed for overall health, strong bones, and proper body functions.

Examples of additives include:

1. Mineral Supplements: These provide minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and salt. Salt licks, which are blocks of salt and minerals, are common examples.
2. Vitamin Supplements: These provide essential vitamins that animals might not get enough of from their regular diet.

Classifying Feeds for Sheep and Goats

Classifying feeds means grouping them based on their characteristics or nutrient content. This helps farmers choose the right feeds for their animals. For sheep and goats, feeds can be classified in two main ways:

1. By Physical Form and Bulkiness:

   This classification divides feeds into:

   1. Roughages: Bulky, high in fibre, low in energy/protein (e.g., grasses, hay, groundnut haulms).
   2. Concentrates: Less bulky, high in energy/protein, low in fibre (e.g., maize, groundnut cake, wheat offal).
   3. Crop Residues and Byproducts: Leftovers from crops or processing (e.g., maize stover, yam peels).

2. By Main Nutrient Content:

   This classification focuses on what nutrients the feed primarily provides:

   1. Energy Concentrates: Provide high energy (e.g., maize, guinea corn).
   2. Protein Concentrates: Provide high protein (e.g., groundnut cake, soybean meal).
   3. Fibre-Rich Feeds: Provide essential fibre for digestion (e.g., grasses, hay, crop residues).
   4. Additives: Provide vitamins and minerals in small amounts (e.g., salt licks, vitamin mixes).

By using these classifications, a farmer can make sure their sheep and goats receive a balanced diet that meets their specific needs at different stages of life.

Identifying Common Feedstuffs

Identifying feedstuffs involves recognising them by their appearance, texture, and common uses. This skill is important for farmers to select appropriate feeds for their animals.

When identifying feedstuffs, consider the following:

1. Appearance: Look at the colour, shape, and size of the feedstuff. For example, maize grains are yellow and round, while hay is dried green or brownish grass.
2. Texture: Feel the feedstuff. Roughages like hay are coarse, while concentrates like groundnut cake might be in pellets or a fine meal.
3. Source: Where does the feedstuff come from? Is it from a farm (grass, maize), a processing plant (wheat offal, palm kernel cake), or a mineral source (salt lick)?
4. Smell: Some feedstuffs have distinct smells. For example, silage has a slightly sour, fermented smell.

Practising identification with actual feed samples helps to develop this skill. For example, a farmer can easily tell the difference between fresh grass and maize grains by simply looking at them and knowing their origin.