Farm animals require balanced diets to stay healthy and productive. Their nutritional needs depend on factors like species, age, and whether they are raised for meat, eggs, or dairy. When formulating diets for livestock, farmers and nutritionists aim to provide the right amounts of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals within the animals’ preferred feedstuffs.
Cattle
Cattle are ruminants, meaning they have a four-chambered stomach that allows them to digest tough plant materials. Their main diet consists of roughages like grass, hay, and silage. Grains like corn, barley, and oats are often added to provide more energy.
Beef cattle in the growing and finishing phases are fed high-concentrate diets to promote quick weight gain. Once they reach market weight, cattle are typically sent to feedlots where they eat a high-energy grain ration until slaughter. Here’s an overview of what cattle eat at different life stages:
| Age | Diet |
|---|---|
| Calves until 6-12 months | Milk, fresh forage and hay, grains |
| Young stock 1-2 years old | Forage, hay, silage, some grain |
| Finishing cattle | High-energy grains like corn, barley, supplements |
| Beef cows | Grazing pasture, hay, silage, minerals |
| Dairy cows | High-quality forage, grains, protein sources, minerals, vitamins |
The fiber in forages keeps cattle healthy by promoting rumen function. Grains provide energy for growth and milk production. Protein, vitamins and minerals are included in the diet as needed to meet nutritional requirements.
Sheep
Like cattle, sheep are ruminants suited to eating grasses, forbs, and other roughages. They graze alongside cattle on pasture and can thrive on poor-quality brush and weeds. Their small mouths allow them to be more selective when grazing.
Lambs typically enter feedlots at 4-8 months old for finishing. Here they eat a high-concentrate diet with added roughage. Ewes (female sheep) require quality forage and browse. During lactation their energy needs increase and they receive supplemental grains. General sheep diets:
| Class | Diet |
|---|---|
| Lambs | Milk, fresh pasture, high-quality hay |
| Finishing lambs | Grain-based concentrate with roughage |
| Ewes | Grazing pasture, hay, browse, grains in lactation |
| Rams | Pasture, hay, grains |
Sheep’s nutritional requirements are met through forage crops and pasture combined with supplemental feeding as needed. Access to clean water and mineral mixes is essential.
Goats
Goats are natural browsers suited to eating leaves, shrubs, vines, and brush. They will eat grass if brush is unavailable. Goats are nimble and able to climb and stand on their hind legs to reach vegetation.
Browse and forages like hay and silage make up the bulk of the adult goat diet. They also consume vegetables, fruits, tree leaves and can graze alongside cattle or sheep. Feed for goats:
| Class | Diet |
|---|---|
| Kids | Milk, high-quality hay, fresh pasture and browse |
| Finishing goats | Forage, browse, grains |
| Does | Browse, hay, grains when lactating |
| Bucks | Pasture, browse, hay, grains |
Goats require access to pasture and woody browse like shrubs and trees. They are natural foragers able to satisfy much of their nutritional needs by grazing brush and plants.
Horses
In their natural environment, horses graze on pasture and scrub forage. Domestic horses are fed diets primarily consisting of grass hay and pasture, with supplemental grains if more energy is needed. Horse feeds:
| Class | Diet |
|---|---|
| Foals | Mare’s milk, grass, hay, grains |
| Yearlings | Pasture, hay, grains |
| Performance horses | Pasture, hay, grains |
| Idle Adult Horses | Pasture and/or hay |
| Broodmares | Pasture, hay, grains |
Horses do best when they can graze freely. Stabled horses eat hay. Grain mixes provide concentrates for energy, growth and lactation. Horses require routine access to clean, fresh water.
Swine (Pigs)
The natural diet of pigs is diverse, consisting of plants, seeds, roots, earthworms, insects and more. On farms, their feed is designed to provide complete nutrition in an efficient diet.
Young pigs start on complex starter feeds and transition to grower feeds as they age. Finishing hogs eat a high-energy corn-based diet for rapid weight gain prior to market. The nutritional needs of swine:
| Class | Diet |
|---|---|
| Piglets | Sow’s milk, creep feed, starter diets |
| Grower pigs | Balanced grower feeds |
| Finishing hogs | High-energy corn-based feeds |
| Sows | Gestation and lactation diets |
| Boars | Lean meat-type diets |
Swine feeds are formulated to contain optimal levels of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals for each stage of growth and production.
Chickens
Modern chickens have been selectively bred for either egg or meat production. Their nutritional requirements can be met through commercial feed mixes specific to each purpose.
Layer feeds are formulated to promote egg production and quality. They contain higher levels of calcium and nutrients. Broiler feeds provide balanced nutrition for fast and efficient weight gain.
| Type | Diet |
|---|---|
| Layer chickens | Layer feed |
| Broiler chickens | Broiler starter, grower, finisher feeds |
| Chicks | Starter feeds, chick grit |
Chickens also enjoy scratch grains, kitchen scraps, insects and vegetation. A constant supply of clean, fresh water is essential.
Dairy Cows
High-producing dairy cows have specialized nutritional needs. Their diet focuses on providing quality forage along with grains, protein sources and mineral supplements.
Dairy cattle spend much of their time grazing or eating hay and silage. But large amounts of concentrates are also required to meet their energy needs. A typical dairy cow ration contains:
- High-quality hay and silage
- Grains like corn, soybeans, barley
- Protein supplements
- Fats
- Vitamins and minerals
These components are combined and balanced to optimize rumen health, milk production and reproduction. Rations are formulated based on the cow’s stage of lactation.
Layers vs. Broilers: Nutrition for Chickens
Broiler chickens raised for meat and laying hens have distinct nutritional requirements. Commercial feeds are specially formulated for each type of production.
| Nutrient | Layers | Broilers |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 16-18% | 18-22% |
| Calcium | 3.5-4.5% | 1% |
| Phosphorus | 0.5-0.8% | 0.45% |
| Sodium | 0.2% | 0.2% |
Laying hens need feeds that are lower in protein but higher in calcium to support egg production. Broilers require higher protein levels and less calcium for fast growth and weight gain.
Common Livestock Feeds
Farm animals consume a variety of plant-based feeds and byproduct ingredients. Here are some of the most common:
- Forages – Grasses, legumes, hay, silage
- Grains – Corn, wheat, barley, oats
- Oilseeds – Soybeans, canola meal, cottonseed
- Byproducts – Beet pulp, wheat middlings, distiller’s grains
- Supplements – vitamins, minerals, amino acids
Rations are balanced by combining energy and protein sources with vitamins and minerals. This ensures diet provides complete nutrition for the animals’ needs.
Pasture for Cattle, Sheep and Goats
Grazing pasture and rangeland is the most natural and economical way to feed ruminant livestock like cattle, sheep and goats. Common pasture plants include:
| Grasses | Legumes |
|---|---|
| Bermuda | Alfalfa |
| Fescue | Clovers |
| Ryegrass | Lespedeza |
| Brome | Vetch |
High-quality pasture supplies most nutritional needs when actively growing. It should be well managed to improve forage quality and extend the grazing period.
Common Grains for Livestock
Grains are added to livestock diets to provide energy, protein and nutrients. The main grains used in animal feed are:
| Grain | Key Benefits |
|---|---|
| Corn | Energy source, fermentable carbs |
| Wheat | Energy, protein |
| Sorghum | Energy and protein source |
| Oats | Energy, fiber |
| Barley | Energy, protein, digestible fiber |
Grain inclusion rates depend on the animal’s energy needs. Ruminants benefit from grains that are processed or rolled to improve digestibility.
Common Hay and Silage for Ruminants
Ruminant livestock thrive when forages make up the base of their diet. Here are some top hay and silage choices:
| Forage | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Alfalfa hay | High protein, calcium, low fiber |
| Grass hay | Moderate protein, higher fiber |
| Cereal grain silage | High energy, moderate protein |
| Corn silage | High energy, low protein |
| Haylage | High moisture hay, good protein |
These forage feeds supply the bulk and fiber ruminants need. Their quality and nutritional value depends on factors like plant maturity at harvest.
Common Protein Feeds for Livestock
Protein supplements are added to balance rations when forages and grains are lacking. Here are some top proteins used:
| Protein | Details |
|---|---|
| Soybean meal | Processed from soybeans, high in protein |
| Canola meal | Byproduct of canola oil production |
| Cottonseed | Byproduct of cotton farming |
| Dried distiller’s grains | Byproduct of ethanol industry |
| Legume hays | Alfalfa, clover, etc. contain protein |
These feeds complement dietary protein from grains. Soybean meal is one of the most widely used sources.
Conclusion
There is no simple answer to “what do farm animals eat” – their