Typical Nutritional Values And Composition

Nutritional Values of Common Feeds - Dairy Australia

Dairy Australia has published a booklet outlining the nutrient compostion and nutritional value of common foodstuffs i.e. grain, hay, silage, chaff, seed, meal and more. These values are given as an average from a number of research sources and can vary considerably due to many factors such as rainfall, harvest technique, storage and age. Values for various nutrient composites are described in more detail below.

The tables provided on nutritional values and composition of our products are in reference to these averages. The information is by no means guaranteed or endorsed by Barunah Pty Ltd.

DM - Dry Matter

(%)

What is left of the product once all moisture has been removed, what the animal digests. Used alongside ME to determine feed cost and efficiency.

ME - Metabolisable Energy

(MJ per kg of DM)

Used to determine the energy content of the feed which can then be used to calculate the cost and efficiency. Particularly useful in producing blended feeds.

CP - Crude Protein

(% of DM)

Protein requirements differ between species and other factors. A higher percentage of CP is required during breeding of livestock and high milk production in dairy cattle.

NDF - Neutral Detergant Fibre

(% of DM)

Components of feed not readily digestible, therefore a very high percentage is undesirable for cost/efficiency but levels below 30% can lead to ruminant acidosis.

EF - Effective Fibre Value

(Low/Medium/High)

A measure of a feeds ability to promote chewing and saliva. A base measure is that 2/3 of NDF should be effective fibre, raising rumen pH and preventing acidoses

%Sugar - Sugar

(% of DM)

Microbes in the rumen rapidly ferment sugars. Rapid consumption of excessive amounts of sugar may lead to ruminal acidosis, especially if starch intake is also high.

%Starch - Starch

(% of DM)

Starch, produced by all green plants as an energy store is rapidly digested into glucose in the rumeen. High amounts have the same effect as high sugar in acidoses