Compiled by: Alheit du Toit and Ronél Joubert, Feedtek (Pr.Sci.Nat.)

The main purpose of any livestock farming operation is the profitable production of marketable products. Feed costs can comprise up to 75% of the operating costs of an intensive livestock farm and have a direct effect on profitability. It is thus of utmost importance to keep feed expenses under control, but feed quality should never be compromised as a consequence. One of the easiest ways to limit feed cost is to produce the largest possible fraction of the feed ingredients on farm and to purchase only the remaining essential nutrients in the form of concentrates to balance the final feeds. 

What is specialist feed concentrates?

Those with experience in the production of animal feeds are familiar with the concept of micro-premix packs containing trace minerals, vitamins, flavourants and sometimes medicaments. These micro premixes normally comprise 0.2 to 0.5% of the total feed mixture. The other critically important nutrients that must be added to the energy and fibre-rich ingredients for a fully balanced ratio include calcium, phosphate, magnesium, non-protein nitrogen (NPN) products, salt, feed lime and natural protein.

It is unfortunately time-consuming to weigh all these different nutrients accurately and makes home-mixing at farm level unnecessarily complicated and in some instances even dangerous. However, macro premixes, or as Feedtek would like to call it, “specialist animal feed concentrates”, already contain these above nutrients and thus eliminate the individual purchase and accurate weighing of these ingredients.

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Unlike conventional high protein concentrates (HPCs), macro premixes do not contain any natural protein. Typically macro premixes comprise only 3 to 6% of the total feed, compared to 15 to 30% of common HPCs and thus leave maximum space for the inclusion of locally available raw materials.

Advantages of home-mixing

Apart from the potential cost savings due to no additional margin on feed ingredient costs, the biggest advantage of home-mixing is that the farmer is 100% in control of the feed ingredients used, their quality and correct inclusion in the final feed mixture.

In cases where farmers have access to good quality local feed ingredients or by-products at reasonable prices, it can easily be included in feeds by a Feedtek nutritionist. Home-mixing also enables the farmer to address specific deficiencies or nutritional needs more accurately at farm level with tailored feed formulations for specific conditions and desired production levels.

Why Feedtek specialist concentrates?

• These concentrates provide all critical micro ingredients for scientifically balanced feeds without any carriers, moisture or fiber.
• It is highly concentrated to minimize transport cost per unit of nutrient and ensure the lowest possible inclusion rate in the final feed, enabling the farmer to utilize locally produced feed ingredients to the maximum.
• Products contain the latest proven technology to optimally unlock the production potential of modern, genetically superior livestock. Feedtek products are therefore regularly reviewed to keep pace with global developments in the animal feed industry.
• The range is produced by a specialist premix manufacturer according to very strict quality assurance stardards, including FAMI-QS, an European quality standard.  The composition of each bag can therefore be guarenteed at all times. 

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Feedtek customers are supported by a personal and complete professional technical support service by a team of professional animal nutritionists and sales representatives across South Africa. The Feedtek range includes specialist animal feed concentrates for all farm animals including small stock, beef cattle, dairy, pigs, poultry and game. Home-mixing quality animal feeds has never been so easy!

For more information and examples of animal feed formulations, contact your nearest Feedtek representative, visit our website at www.feedtek.co.za or contact us at 086 111 5362 or info@feedtek.co.za