Increased cattle farming has attracted many new feed manufacturing plants across the country to fill the high demand. However, the increased cost of protein ingredients and their scarcity have led to the adulteration of feeds with cheap ingredients that can be harmful to the animal if used in excess.
The sad thing is that this is done at the farmer’s expense without concern for whether it will harm the cow or affect milk production.
Does the farmer know? No. However, after this article, the farmer will understand how adulteration is done and how to identify contaminated feeds.
Adulteration is simply adding mixtures of pure substances with cheaper and lower-quality substances, mainly to make money. Common adulterated feeds include dairy meal, sow and weaner, Maize germ, wheat bran, layers mash, chick mash, broilers mash, fish meal, and the list is long.
Products used to adulterate feeds include rice polish, lime, cobs, cob dust, sand, dust and water for molasses.
Read Also: Bad feeds it to blame for your chicken deaths.
Rice Polish
It is a byproduct of rice obtained in the milling operation of brushing the grain to polish the kernel. It has an oil content of 13-19%, Crude protein of 13-16%, TDN OF 70-90 like that of maize, phosphorus content of 1.30%, and a better assortment of amino acids.
Even though it has a significant nutritional value to cattle, factors promote rancidity under warm, humid climate conditions (during transportation and storage). Rancid feeds are unpalatable and potentially toxic.
Rice polish is cheap and readily available. It is used to replace key protein ingredients in feed formulations. Large amounts, in the rancid form, are toxic to the animal. Feeds with large amounts often leave white-yellow dust in the hands, which can cause animals to reluctance to eat them.
Limestone powder
Though limestone powder is alkaline, its excessive use increases the cattle rumen’s PH value, reducing its mineral intake. This worsens the health of the cattle and the quality of milk produced. Since it is cheap and available, a 10% add-on net weight to replace ingredients like rice bran and oil cakes reduces cost, increasing profit.
Other adulterated products include molasses, to which water is added to make it less thick. Mineral salts are also contaminated with common salt, marble powder, and even fine sea sand. Fine sea Sand and dust are added to almost all feeds since they are heavy. Maize cobs are shelled and added to feeds or sold as maize germ to farmers.
Corrupt cattle Feed manufacturers are packaging contaminated mineral salts in trusted brands’ packaging bags and selling them at lower prices than the original. This is misleading farmers who buy the products only to be disappointed.
Effects of corrupt feed on the animal
- Metabolic diseases
- A decline in milk quality
- Delayed heat intervals
- Deterioration of cattle body condition
- High cost of production
- Death of the animals in extreme cases
The sad thing is, who cares? Cattle feed manufacturers are least bothered about the health of the animals or the production. Their main aim is profit, and using these products in large amounts guarantees it.
