Concentrates are feed ingredients with a high content of extracts devoid of nitrogen and exhibit a lower crude fiber content than forage feed. The amount of crude fiber is less than 18%. Concentrates are also more easily digested by ruminant animals, such as goats, sheep, and cows.
Concentrates are necessary for providing additional nutrients to enhance the overall nutritional value of livestock feed. The effects of concentrates on livestock include enhanced growth and development, improved quality of livestock products, and greater livestock endurance. If animals are only fed forage, their productivity tends to be low.
Concentrates can be manufactured from a variety of ingredients, including grains (ground corn), soybean meal, groats, bran, rice bran, coconut meal, molasses, and tubers, which are combined with fish, shrimp, skin, blood, and chicken feathers.
The protein content of the various ingredients differs, but upon processing into concentrate, the protein content remains constant. This is distinct from the quality and handling variability observed in fresh ingredients. Soybean meal contains 42.5% crude protein, chicken feather meal 83.74%, and fish meal 66.2%.
It is recommended that feather meal be included in the ration at a maximum of 40% of the total protein content. For sheep, for example, the recommended rate is 10% of the ration protein. The dose in question results in an increase in the weight of the sheep by 134 grams per head per day. It is recommended that farmers provide an intermediate feed consisting of a concentrate at a rate of approximately 17% at 15:30-16:00.
