SUBJECT: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
TERM: 2ND
CLASS: SS 2
WEEK 0NE :
LIVESTOCK RATIONS
What is Livestock Ration?
Livestock ration is a way of supplying the farm animals under stock by the farmer
with the appropriate quantity and quality feedstuff within a stipulated period of
time for proper growth and development.
A Ration is also defined as the total amount of feeds an animal receives in a 24-
hour period. An animal highly needs a balanced share of feeds/diets (rations) to
perform a specific taxes or activities such as growth, maintenance of body weight,
temperature, lactation and gestation etc.
Types of Ration
There are four major types of livestock rations thus;
1. Balanced ration
2. Maintenance ration
3. Production ration
4. Wearing ration
1. Balanced Rations/Diets:
This is the type of ration which contains all the numerous/six classes of feed
in right proportion. To produce highly and for good profit in livestock
business, the animals should be fed on a balanced rations which are often
obtained through proper ration formulation. The ration formulation involves
the combination of the proper amounts of the various feed ingredients in the
feed to meet the body requirements of the animal. Those required feed
nutrients include: carbohydrate, proteins, minerals, vitamins, fats and oils
and water. A balanced ration is always served to the animals based on their
production functions, specie of animal and the animal’s stage of life.
2. Maintenance Ration
This type of rations are always served to farm animals that are in non- productive
state which will just meet their energy requirements. Such a ration is served to the
animals to help them carry on the normal body activities without loss or gain in
body weight. The various life processes/body activities which the maintenance
ration enables the animalsto carry out are respiration, digestion, regulation of body
temperature and excretion etc.
3. Production Ration:
This kind of ration is fed to the animals well above the maintenance level. It
is served to enable the animals produce highly in terms of milk, egg, andmeat
or offspring production. Such ration is usually meant to be high in
carbohydrates and proteins in order to meet the energy needs at themoment.
Examples/classes of production rations are:
a. Steaming up: This kind of production ration; is given of special diets to a
pregnant animal in preparation for parturition and lactation.
b. Supplementary feeds: This refers to the additional feed stuff given to the
animals in order to effect a purpose which may not be readily met by the
conventional or normal feeding process. This kind of feed helps to make up
for deficient nutrients in the diet.
4. Weaning Ration:
This is the type of ration often fed to the young animals prior to gradual
separation from their mother (weaning). Weaning ration (WR) is usually
high in proteins and low in fibre, so as to facilitate the growth and
development of the young ones. Such rations should be gradually
introduced to the young animals. The young animals should also be fed with
colostrum.
