Definition
Concentrates are incomplete mixed feeds that require WHOLE MAIZE to make them nutritionally balanced for the relevant livestock. Concentrates are formulated to be exactly the same after mixing with WHOLE MAIZE as straight feeds (pellets or mash). Maize is the primary source of energy in stock feeds. Concentrates are designed to cater for the price conscious farmer who has access to good quality but affordable WHOLE MAIZE.
At Profeeds we only use grades A & B MAIZE for our feeds, to ensure a high quality product.
Cheap is Expensive
In an attempt to save costs some farmers fall in the trap of replacing WHOLE MAIZE with cheaper maize by-products such as Hominy Chop, Maize Bran, Maize Offals and even grinding mill sweepings. Grinding mill sweepings are not to be confused with WHOLE MAIZE as they can include anything from bran, rotting maize, dirt, grease, rat droppings, weevils and other unknowns. Maize by-products do not have the same nutritional composition as WHOLE MAIZE. Their processing involves extracting some parts of the MAIZE grain thus reducing their nutritive value. This means that using Maize by-products in the place of WHOLE MAIZE throws the feed off balance and unfortunately, Profeeds cannot guarantee the resultant substandard feed.
Livestock Grade Maize
If your Maize is not fit for human consumption, then it’s also not fit for your livestock. Rotting, weevil/moth infested or poorly stored maize turns mouldy and these moulds produce mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are poisons that affect the productivity of livestock and in severe cases do lead to mortalities. Replacing WHOLE MAIZE with maize by-products and grinding mill sweepings to save costs is self-defeating and ultimately costly as it will result in losses from poor performance to high veterinary bills.
How to make good use of Concentrates
1. At the grinding mill ask the operator to straight run the WHOLE MAIZE through a 3mm sieve to prevent separation after mixing.
2. Always mix the concentrate and the milled WHOLE MAIZE according to the recommended ratios on the tags
3. Remember to mix by weight and not by volume as different raw materials have different densities. For example, 2 Parts Concentrate to 3 Parts WHOLE MAIZE, should be mixed as follows 50kg Concentrate to 75kg milled WHOLE MAIZE.
4. The weighed concentrate and the weighed milled WHOLE MAIZE are to be mixed thoroughly until a uniform mix is achieved. Uneven mixing will result in poor uniformity which makes life difficult at market time.
Contact the technical team at Profeeds or specifically the author Raymond Murombedzi, on 0772407820 and also on raymond@profeeds.co.zw
#PartnerWithPerformance