Relative Efficiency of Feed Conversion for Production in Different Farm Animals | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Relative Efficiency of Feed Conversion for Production in Different Farm Animals

Dry Matter Conversion

• The efficiency of feed conversion in animals involves converting dry matter, energy, and protein into animal products.
• Example: If it takes 2 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of live weight gain in broilers, the feed efficiency ratio is 2:1.
• Similarly, for pigs, it may take about 4 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of live weight gain up to a slaughter weight of 70 kg.
• However, comparing different diets for efficiency across species based on this method may not be accurate due to variations in nutritional characteristics of feeds.

Efficiency of Conversion of Gross Energy

• Another method involves assessing how efficiently the gross energy in feeds is converted into animal-origin foods.
• This method has limitations as animal foods are not primarily consumed for energy, which can be obtained from cheaper sources like wheat, maize, rice, and potatoes.

Nutritional Value of Animal Feeds:

• Conversion estimates by Maynard for different animal feeds into human foods:
  (i) Pork: 20%
  (ii) Milk (dairy cow): 15%
  (iii) Poultry meat: 5%
  (iv) Beef: 4%
• Protein supplements' rumen degradability affects protein quality.
• High-quality protein, minerals, and vitamins are crucial for animal nutrition.
• Protein supplements of plant origin have higher rumen degradability, leading to nitrogen wastage.
• Efforts to reduce protein degradability include physical or chemical treatments.

Processing of Protein Supplements:

• Differences in processing effects on ruminants compared to monogastric animals.
• Focus on the production impact of processing.
• Proteins from animal foods play a vital role in meeting nutritional requirements.

Energy and Protein Conversion

• Protein quality is more critical than energy content in animal nutrition.
• Protein supplements' degradability within the rumen influences nitrogen utilization.
• Enhancing protein supplements' efficiency through various treatments.

Processing of Compound Feed:

• Compounding animal feed involves processing raw materials.
• Feed ingredients like cereals, oil seed cakes, and meat meals undergo processing.
• Efficiency in producing calorie-protein index for different animal productions.
• Estimation of feed units required for calorie-protein index production.

Storage of Raw Materials:

• Proper storage methods to prevent physical losses and ensure quality control.
• Dairy production's efficiency compared to egg or pork production.
• Significance of dairy farming in mixed farming systems.