Ways To Feed Animals

Ways to Feed Animals
T HE WAYS in which animals are fed

can determine how fast they grow,
affect their health status, reduce prob-
lems associated with pregnancy or
other diseases, and even make man-
agement easier. Choosing the right
feeding methods can be beneficial to
sound animal production. The wrong
choices can cause major losses in
weight gain, permanent injury, or even
death. All animal producers should
understand how to feed animals prop-
erly and explore methods that may ben-
efit their management programs.
Objective:
þ Explain the ways animals are fed.
Key Terms:
Ñ free-access feeding
full feeding
limit feeding
scheduled feeding
supplemental feeding
Proper Means of Feeding Animals

Many different ways have been developed to feed animals. Some animals, such as pigs, do
quite well without much restraint from overeating. However, they will become extremely fat,
costs of production will increase, and overall productivity may be reduced. On the other hand,
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cattle will easily consume too much feed and eventually become ill, permanently damage their
rumen, or even die.
The five most common ways of feeding domesticated animals are scheduled feeding, limit
feeding, full feeding, free-access feeding, and supplemental feeding. Producers must train their
animals through routine and gradual adjustments before switching from one feeding method
to another. A professional, such as a veterinarian or a feed salesperson, should be consulted
when determining the proper feeding methods to use.
SCHEDULED FEEDING
Scheduled feeding is providing feed to animals at approximately the same time(s) each
day. Feeding may be done once, twice, or even three times daily.
The purpose of scheduled feeding is to train the animals to arrive at the feeding area at the
time feed will be distributed. This allows large groups of animals an equal chance to consume
the same amount of feed as their pen mates.
Many people teach their house pets to be fed on a schedule. For example, someone who
works long days and can allow his or her dog outside only during early morning and late eve-
ning will feed the dog on a schedule. This better facilitates the dog’s house training and allows
its digestive system to be most
active when the animal has access
to the outdoors for waste
excretion.
Some beef producers experi-
ment with feeding their pregnant
cows on a schedule during the
calving season. When the cows
closest to calving are fed in the
late evening, they are more likely
to give birth during the daylight
hours. This method is not 100
percent reliable but does con-
dense the births to a smaller time
frame when ideally more labor is FIGURE 1. This farmer has trained his cows to arrive at a specific location for
a scheduled feeding. (Courtesy, USDA)
available to provide assistance if
needed.
LIMIT FEEDING
Limit feeding is providing only enough feed to animals to meet their minimum needs.
Animals on a limit-feeding diet should not be expected to lose or gain weight. The method is
designed to maintain the animals in good health but not change any of their physiological
functions.

The majority of adult companion animals and zoo animals should be on limit-feeding diets.
They typically utilize the same amount of energy each day, and extra feed converts to excess
fat.
Animal caretakers must be cautious in using limit feeding when extreme weather changes
occur. If the animals are kept outside, they will need an increase in feed to stay warm. Other-
wise, necessary fat and muscle will be broken down, eventually resulting in death. Animals
kept inside or in a protected environment should be given only a slight increase during
inclement weather.
FULL FEEDING
Full feeding is manually providing animals with all the feed they can consume at one or
two feedings. This is sometimes called hand feeding because it requires carrying the feed to the
animals and distributing it.
Full feeding is commonly used with animals that are on a finishing diet and approaching
harvest weight. Animals on full feed will gain weight rapidly and will eventually produce high-
quality carcasses.
A diet fed using the full-feeding method is typically a high concentrate feed with possibly
some supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, added. Animals must be slowly built up to
the full-feeding method. Feed should be gradually increased over several weeks, and all feed
should be cleaned up within a few hours after feeding.
FREE-ACCESS FEEDING
Free-access feeding is allowing animals to eat feed any time they want. It is sometimes
called free-choice feeding.
Basically, a large amount of feed is readily available to the animals, and they go to the feed-
ing system any time they wish to eat. This type of system is extremely beneficial in areas where
the climate is very hot during the day and cool at night. Animals will rest in cool areas during
the day and access the feed during the night when the temperature is lower.
Market pigs and many pets are fed using the free-access method. It works well for market
pigs, as overeating will usually not cause bodily harm. On the other hand, pets with free-access
feed tend to overeat regularly and, without appropriate exercise, will put on excess fat. This can
cause bodily harm and major health problems later in life.
SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING
Supplemental feeding is providing additional feed to animals that hunt or graze for
their main diet. Sheep, cattle, goats, and wildlife in captivity are commonly fed using the sup-
plemental-feeding method. The supplemental-feeding method may provide additional nutri-
ents, such as protein, energy, vitamins, or minerals.

Often, grazing animals struggle
to consume enough vegetation
during the dry months of sum-
mer and heavy snowfall months
of winter. These are the most
common times for supplemental
feeding.
Some producers use supple-
mental feeding to train their ani-
mals. The feed can be used to lure
the animals into a capturing pen
or into a smaller proximity for
evaluation.
FIGURE 2. Horses grazing on a short pasture such as this should be fed using
the supplemental-feeding method. (Courtesy, USDA)
Summary:
2 The five most common ways of feeding domesticated animals are scheduled feed-
ing, limit feeding, full feeding, free-access feeding, and supplemental feeding. Each
is designed for specific production methods and should be carefully evaluated
before being adopted into a production system. Animals can become ill and experi-
ence long-term damage or even death if a feeding method is not implemented
slowly or is not appropriate for the situation.
Checking Your Knowledge:
´ 1. List the five most common ways of feeding domesticated animals, and briefly
explain each.
2. Why would a producer select the scheduled-feeding method?
3. When should a limit-fed animal’s diet be adjusted?
4. With what type of animals is full feeding commonly used?
5. Explain why free-access feeding should not be used with pets.
6. What are the most common times for supplemental feeding?
Expanding Your Knowledge:
L Take a field trip to an animal or pet food store. Speak with someone knowledgeable
of how to feed animals properly. Interview the individual about feeding a particular
species. (Be sure to pick a common species, such as cattle, swine, horses, sheep,
dogs, or cats.) Ask which method would work best for a specific type of feed.

Inquire about implementing the feeding method and about signs that may indicate
overfeeding or underfeeding.
Web Links:
: When Your Dog or Cat Eats Like a Bird

http://www.workingdogs.com/vcdogeatlikebird.htm
To Feed or Not to Feed Wildlife?

http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/urban_wildlife_our_wild_neighbors/
to_feed_or_not_to_feed_wildlife.html
Free Information About Anorexia in Cats

http://www.petcaretips.net/anorexia_cats.html
Agricultural Career Profiles

http://www.mycaert.com/career-profiles


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Ways to Feed Animals

T HE WAYS in which animals are fed

þ Explain the ways animals are fed.

Proper Means of Feeding Animals

E-unit: Ways to Feed Animals

E-unit: Ways to Feed Animals

E-unit: Ways to Feed Animals

Checking Your Knowledge:

Expanding Your Knowledge:

E-unit: Ways to Feed Animals

: When Your Dog or Cat Eats Like a Bird

To Feed or Not to Feed Wildlife?

Free Information About Anorexia in Cats

Agricultural Career Profiles

E-unit: Ways to Feed Animals

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