The feed ration is made up of several components:
- Corn silage is a forage for ruminant animals that is high in energy and digestibility. It is made by packing chopped corn crop into a pit so that oxygen pockets are squished out.
- Cob meal – is corn cobs and kernels processed into small pieces.
- Haylage – is a forage for ruminant animals that is high in energy and digestibility. It is made by packing the chopped hay crop into a pit so that oxygen pockets are squished out.
- Canola meal – is a byproduct of canola oil processing. It is a protein supplement in animal feed.
- Trace minerals balanced to cows’ specific needs.
The feed ration is mixed together and delivered to cattle fresh 12 times a day. The cattle ration should be the same every time they go to eat. Cows are ruminant animals which means they use a bacteria in their stomach to digest their food for them. If you change the cows’ food, then the bacteria in the cows stomach has to change too. One of the reasons cattle live in a barn is to keep their feed the same and provide a stable environment for them to flourish in.
source: Farmfood360, Agriculture In The Classroom