ANN 111: Principles of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology (2+1)

REQUIREMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION

Requirement

• Because of efficient recycling, requirement of iron for most of the farm animals is very low @ 25 –100 mg kg ^–1 dietary dry matter.
• In laying hens the iron requirement is more, since egg production represents a considerable drain on the body reserves.
• Increased during pregnancy, haemorrhages, young one when they are maintained on milk diet. Higher growth rate demands 125 ppm in piglet diet and 40 ppm to calves

Supplementation

• Feeds of animal origin, such as meat, blood and fishmeals, are excellent sources of iron
• Legume and oil seed meal are rich in iron.
• Cereals straw and bran are rich in iron
• Ferrous sulphate salts and iron dextran