Corentyne Comprehensive High School

Agricultural Science Department

Grade: 9 A
Handout 3
Christmas Term 2021

Class Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Duration: 1 Hr.
Topic: Sources of Food

Objectives: Students will:

1. identify and describe the major feed groups.
2. name different types of animal feeds.
3. classify feed materials into groups according to the predominant nutrient they contain.

Feed refers to any material fed to livestock whether natural or artificial.

These materials may be classified according to the predominant nutrient (s) they contain. The
main feed groups:

1. Basal feeds
2. Supplements
3. Concentrates
4. Forages
5. Additives

Basal feeds

These are energy feeds and are therefore a source of carbohydrates and/or fats. They are
relatively low in crude protein (CP) and crude fibre (CF). These feeds include molasses, cereal
grains such as maize, sorghum, barley and oats. Basal feeds make up 60% - 90% of livestock
ration.

Supplements

These are feeds given to animals in ·order to supply a deficient nutrient. They are usually rich in
protein and may contain vitamins and minerals.

Groundnut cake and cotton seeds supplement the protein needs of livestock, while fishmeal
supplements both vitamins and minerals in poultry rations.

Animal products such as fish meal, blood meal, milk and its by-products serve as reliable
sources of protein and minerals for livestock. Salt blocks also serve as sources of minerals.

Concentrates

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These are feeds which supply primary nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Like
supplements, these are fed with feeds to improve the nutritive balance of the total mixture.

Concentrates are either energy rich, e.g., paddy, molasses, coconut-meal, rice- bran, cotton
seed meal, or they are protein rich, e.g., soya bean meal, fish meal, blood meal, meat meal and
groundnut cake.

Forages

Forages are crops grown for the purpose of feeding livestock. These crops include pasture
grasses, legume crops, cabbages, kale, maize, sugarcane, beetroot and stem tubers.

When forage is cut and dried, as in the case of hay, it is called fodder. Forages comprise of
succulents and roughages.

 Succulents: These comprise of a high percentage of water and very low fibre content.
Succulents are green grasses, legumes and green vegetables. They have a low fibre and high
moisture content, approximately 18% crude fibre, and consist of budding grass and
vegetables.
 Roughages: These have a high percentage of fibre and low moisture content. They aid
digestion bowel movement. Grass is a good example of roughage. It can be fed green by
allowing animals to graze or can be cut and allowed to dry to form hay.
Grass can also be made into silage. Ruminants can feed on large quantities of roughage
because their complex stomach is capable of digesting fibre.

Additives

Additives are synthetic materials that are added to feeds to increase the productivity and
efficiency of food conversion in farm animals. Although beneficial from the standpoint of
increased production, some of these chemical compounds have been found to have
undesirable secondary effects on consumers of the products. Feed additives include vitamins,
minerals, electrolytes, antibiotics and hormones.

The hormone diethyistibestrol has been used in livestock to stimulate growth and fattening.

Antibiotics on the other hand suppress diseases so that the well-being of the animal is
improved. These compounds include penicillin, tetracyclin and aureomycin.

Activities:

1. Define the term ‘fodder’.

2. How are additives beneficial in the diet of animals?
3. How can antibiotics aid in the maintenance of good animal health?

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4. Classify the following feed materials into groups according to the predominant nutrient they
contain.
a. corn
b. fishmeal
c. oats
d. paddy
e. corn meal
f. rice bran
g. grass
h. sugarcane
i. hay
j. lettuce

Source: Agricultural Science for Secondary Schools in Guyana Bk. 3

Prepared by: Ms. Dawana Ceasar (GHOD-Agricultural Science)

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