That is why, in animal feeding, we need to look not only at the question “which feed?” but also at the question “which need, in which period?”
An animal’s needs change as it grows
The needs of a young animal and those of an adult animal are not the same.
In the growth period, meeting the nutrients needed for development in a balanced way comes to the fore, while in adult animals the production purpose and life stage become more important in setting the feeding programme.
This change calls for different feeding approaches for different periods.
The production period directly affects feeding
The needs of a lactating animal and those of an animal in the dry period are not the same.
Likewise, the nutritional needs of a beef animal just starting fattening and one approaching slaughter differ.
Separating the starter, grower and finisher periods in broilers is a result of the same approach.
As the animal’s period changes, the ration’s balance of energy, protein, amino acids, fibre, vitamins and minerals should also be reassessed.
There is no single “best feed”
In animal feeding, one feed is sometimes thought to be better than another.
But a feed’s value is not determined by its own analysis results alone. The animal species, age, production period, current ration and feeding purpose should be assessed together.
A feed that is right for one period may not give the same result in another.
So the right approach is not to give every animal the same feed, but to be able to create a feeding programme suited to the animal’s needs.
A period-based approach also matters for organic feeds
Feeds used in organic animal feeding must comply with the relevant organic production rules.
But a feed being organic does not mean it is equally suitable for all animals and all periods.
In organic production, too, the animal’s species, age, production period and feeding purpose should be taken into account.
So when choosing an organic feed, two questions should be considered together:
Does the feed meet organic production requirements?
and
Is it suitable for the period the animal is in?
Correct feeding starts with following changing needs
Animal feeding is not a static process.
The animal grows, its production period changes, its yield level varies and, accordingly, its nutrient needs may change.
That is why reassessing the feeding programme at regular intervals is important for keeping an approach suited to the animal’s current period.
At Bioyem, we offer organic feed options for different periods, taking into account the changing needs of different animal species and production periods.
Correct feeding starts with understanding not only what the animal eats, but what it needs in that period.
