Supplementary feeding for production
Management Activity
Supplementary feeding for production is practiced when the quality and quantity of pasture is insufficient to support stock, but where production can be enhanced by providing additional amounts of the limiting dietary components. For example intensively grazed dairy cattle are commonly supplemented with hay, silage, grains, cottonseed, protein meals and molasses.
The direct impacts of supplementary feeding for production may include:
- Increased animal production
- Nutrient rich animal waste production resulting in:
- Soil nutrient build up in areas of concentrated manure eg. around dairies and watering points
- Increased water faecal contamination and increased water nutrient load if manure is washed into waterways.
Last updated: 04 November 2008