There are various ways to decipher the energy/quality of a concentrate by looking at a specific area on a feed ticket.  Here I have outlined two 16% rearer nuts by different feed companies.  The way that we can achieve this is by looking at:

• Oil & Fat level
• Ash level
• Fibre level
• Where is Calcium Carbonate?
• How are feed ingredients ordered?
• And most importantly what are the ingredients?

The oil and fat level relate to the level of vegetable oil added or oil seed meals, or oils within a feed ingredient.  Distillers’ grains and biscuit meal contain high levels of oils.  Oils can be a good source of energy although they can reduce fibre digestion if in high inclusion.

Ash relates to the level of minerals and limestone within a feed ingredient, neither have an energy level meaning the higher the ash level the lower the energy density.  Limestone is required for growth in young ruminants, but it is also cheap and a way for compounders to cheapen a feed product.

Fibre is important to develop the young ruminant however quality digestible sources are required and roughage can be supplied on farm via straw.  Palm Kernel, Sunflower and Malt culms are not very digestible but provide a lot of fibre.  Sugar beet, citrus pulp, wheatfeed and soya hulls are useful fibre sources which develop the rumen with quality fibre as well as starch and sugars. It makes more sense to feed less concentrate at a lower fibre level, gaining more fibre from the ration.

Barley is an excellent source of energy and starch for a young ruminant as it releases much slower.  Maize is also useful for providing energy and a slower release starch, but wheat provides too much rapidly available starch, this is a benefit in dairy rations but not so useful in youngstock rations. Wheatfeed is often criticised but it provides useful starch, some protein, digestible fibre and moderate energy, particularly as the rumen develops so the energy density of a rearer nut can be less.

These two concentrate nuts show significant difference, on paper they would display similar energy values but there is a big difference between the digestibility of fibre and therefore the ACTUAL energy available.

For more advice on energy levels in compound feeds please contact Wesley at wesleyhabershon@fcgagric.com or your local FCG office.