Class 1: Dry Forages and Roughages

• Are basically feed ingredients that has a high concentration of slowly degradable fiber.
• Main purpose is to stimulate the bacteria present in the rumen to make slurry which in general make high quality energy from low quality diet.
• Roughages are further classified into:

I. Non-Maintenance : DCP < 3% on dry matter basis.

ii. Maintenance: 3-5 % DCP on dry matter basis.

iii. Productive : > 5% DCP on dry matter basis.

Class 2: Concentrates

• Is a feed used with another to improve the nutritive balance of the total and intended to be further diluted and mixed to produce a supplement or a complete feed.
• Are generally feeds with a high content of nutritional substances.

Class 3: Silages

• Are made from green foliage crops which have been preserved by acidification, achieved through fermentation.
• The grasses are cut and then fermented to keep as much of the nutrients ( Such as sugars and proteins) as possible.
• Advantages of using silages includes reducing the nutrient losses ( 10-15%), ensuring high milk productions, mitigating the toxic effects of some plants, etc.

Class 4: Energy feeds

• It provides easily digestible and absorbed energy in the form of glucose.
• Various examples of energy feeds are:

I. Millets : Contains 12.6% CP, 1.8% CF, 2.4% Ash, 4.8% EE and 78.4% NFE.

ii. Oats: 11.7% CP, 16% CF, 2.9% Ash, 6.6% EE and 62.8% NFE.

iii. Barley: 10.3% CP, 6.2% CF, 3.5% Ash, 2.4% EE and 77.6% NFE.

iv. Rice: Rice bran ( 10% COP, 10-15% CF) , Rice hull ( 3.8-4.3% CP, 30.43% CF) and Rice Polish ( 11-12% CP, 1% CF)

v. Wheat: 13% CP and 11.3% CF

Class 5: Protein supplements

• The major plant-based protein source are : Soyabean meal, Groundnut meal, Cotton seed cake, Linseed cake, Mustard cake and Sesame cake.
• Ruminants break down dietary protein into ammonia and C skeleton through rumen microbes and synthesize their own microbial protein.
• Therefore, a portion of a ruminant’s protein requirement can be met with non-protein nitrogen (NPN).
• So, there is main concern for ruminants for the protein supply, therefore to make sure majority of protein is available into ruminants, they are feed as by-pass protein.

Class 6: Mineral Supplements

• Generally, Minerals are classified into Macro and Micro nutrients:
• Macro elements includes Ca, P. Mg, K, Na, Cl and S and Micro elements includes Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, Se, I and Mo.
• They both promote bone growth and contribute to enzymatic function of cell membranes.
• In cattle, Calcium plays role in the milk production which determines the productivity of animal.
• Most importantly, they have a role that these elements play for the immune system.

Class 7: Vitamin supplements

• Vitamin needs of ruminants can be confined largely to A, D and E.
• Generally, Vit. A is fed to animals through Carrot, Cod liver oil, Green grass, Silage and Hay.
• D through Cod liver oil, Kidney, Sun dried grass.
• E through Skimmed milk, Selenium mineral, Polysaturated oil diet.

Class 8: Additive supplements

• They are two types:

1. Nutrients feed additives : Synthetic AA, Minerals and Vitamins.
2. Non-nutrients feed additives
3. Antibiotics : Penicillin, Streptomycin, Tetracyclines, etc.
4. Probiotics: Lactobacillus spp, Streptococcus spp.
5. Hormones : Estrogen, Androgen, thyroprotein, etc.
6. Arsenicals: Arsanilic acid, Sodium arsanilate, etc.
7. Tranquilizers: Herbal ASF power, Alviton liquid, etc.
8. Copper Sulphate: At 0.1% level of diet in improvement of rate of weight gain.
9. Live yeast culture: Saccharomyces cerevisiae to manipulate rumen fermentation and improve animal performance.
10. Antihelminthis: Almizol, Levamisole.
11. Flavoring agent: Livo-2000, Liv-52.
12. Antioxidant: BHA, DPPD, BHT, etc.
13. Antifungal: UTPP-5 ( Vet care).