Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when you buy a bag of animal feed? Animal feed in every form is the result of a carefully crafted process designed to meet the nutritional needs of animals. Feed production is both a science and an art, combining knowledge of animal biology, ingredient quality, and precise formulation.

In this article, we'll break down the journey of animal feed manufacturing into five simple steps.

1. Requirements: Understanding Nutritional Needs

If we think about us as humans and the way we eat, we notice that a baby requires different nutrition than a young adult or an elderly person. Animals are the same.

Every animal species has unique nutritional requirements. Nutritional requirements within the same species can be influenced by factors such as:

·       Genetics 

·       Age

·       Weight

·       Production goals

·       Environmental factors such as temperature

·      Sex

For example, a broiler chicken needs a high-protein diet to support rapid growth, while a layer bird requires a feed rich in calcium and energy to sustain egg production and maintain strong eggshell quality

Feed manufacturers work closely with veterinarians, nutritionists, and farmers to determine these needs. They focus on essential nutrients such as:

• Proteins for growth and repair
• Carbohydrates for energy
• Fats for calorie-dense energy
• Vitamins and minerals for overall health
• Fibre for digestive health (especially for ruminants)

Understanding these requirements ensures animals are healthy, productive, and that they produce and perform efficiently.

2. Ingredients: Choosing the Right Raw Materials

Once nutritional needs are identified, the next step is to identify the best ingredients to meet those nutritional requirements. Common ingredients in animal feed include:

• Energy sources from like maize, wheat, and barley
• Protein sources such as soybean meal, fish meal, or sunflower cake
• Fats and oils for additional energy
• Minerals and vitamins like calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin A

Quality control is critical at this stage as it influences the overall feed quality and performance. Raw materials that are moulded or show any signs of contamination should be disregarded in this stage.  Nutritionists evaluate the nutritional contribution of the raw materials towards the overall requirements of the animal and then select the raw materials included in the formulation.

3. Formulation: Creating the Perfect Mix

This step is where science meets art. Formulation involves calculating the exact amounts of each ingredient to meet the animal's nutritional requirements while keeping costs in mind. Feed manufacturers use software to balance:

• Nutrient levels to avoid deficiencies or excesses, making sure not too little nor too much of an ingredient is supplied
• Digestibility to ensure animals can absorb the nutrients efficiently
• Palatability to make sure animals will eat the feed

A carefully formulated feed maximises growth, health, and productivity while minimising waste and cost.

What is formulated is called a balanced feed or a balanced ration meaning that the recipe meets the requirements in a cost-effective way.

4. Production: Turning the Formula into Feed

With the formula finalised, it’s time for production. The process involves several key stages:

• Grinding: Ingredients are ground into a consistent size to ensure even mixing.
• Mixing: All ingredients are blended thoroughly to ensure uniformity.
• Pelleting: The feed is compressed into pellets, crumbles, or mash, depending on the target animal. Not all animal feed is required to go through this process. U-MIX feeds, for example, are all fed as a mash and do not require pelletising. 
• Cooling and drying: If the feed is pelleted, pellets are cooled and dried to ensure they retain their shape and have a long shelf life.

Feed production can take place in an automated manner with machinery. Alternatively, the feed can be mixed in smaller quantities using simpler solutions such as manual mixing or using smaller, simple mixing machinery.

5. Presentation

The final step is presenting the feed to the animals for consumption. This step is critical to the production of the animals. The right type of feed needs to be presented to the animals in the right quantities, at the right time, in the right way. Careful attention needs to be paid to ensuring animals have adequate access to clean, fresh feed in the right quantities.

Conclusion

The journey from raw materials to a bag of high-quality animal feed is complex but essential. By understanding these five steps—requirements, ingredients, formulation, production, and presentation—you can appreciate the science and care that go into ensuring animals receive optimal nutrition.

Whether you’re a farmer, agripreneur, or curious reader, the next time you see a bag of feed, you'll know the expertise that went into its creation—and the vital role it plays in livestock production success.

Can Smallholder Farmers Make Their Own Feed?

Yes! At U-MIX we are dedicated to assisting smallholder farmers to make their own feed. We strive to help them overcome the obstacles in these steps such as formulating feed and accessing raw materials such as vitamins and minerals in the small quantities they require.

To find out more about the U-MIX Solution watch our demonstration video here or read about our products here.