Feed Quality

Feed quality is dependent on both the original plant material and also how the material has been processed to arrive at the final feed.

Problems that Might Arise in Rations

Mould growths can grow on feed crops before or after harvest and on feeds during storage. These may result in the production of mycotoxins (the most important being aflatoxin). Sometimes moulds form in feeds such as maize, peanuts, cottonseed and ryegrass. Some animals such as cattle can tolerate a little mould in their rations but moulds are particularly toxic to horses and pregnant animals.

The presence of anti-nutritional factors. These may include:

• Factors affecting protein utilisation and digestion e.g. tannins, anti-vitamins and others such as saponins (lucerne), cyanogens, alkaloids, photosensitizing agents, isoflavone
• Contamination with poisons or poisonous plants such as oleander can cause problems in mixed or complete feeds.
• When plant material is harvested mechanically small animals such as frogs, mice and even snakes may get killed in the process. They end up in the bulk feed bins and are processed along with the feed.
• If the quality of the original plant material is poor then the preserved feed or the mixed feed ration manufactured therefrom will also be of poor quality. In this sense, the poor quality feed may include a raw material like lucerne that is harvested at a mature stage, when it is very dry and has already lost most of its leaves.