Feed refusal: farm glossary
Feed refusal is the feed left uneaten after a stated feeding period. Subtracting leftover dry matter and spillage from the dry matter offered gives an intake estimate. Leftover feed can change in moisture content and composition as animals sort through the mixture. Its dry-matter content is needed to estimate actual dry-matter intake rather than just comparing wet weights.
Compiled from open-access scientific sources.
A farm example
Illustrative calculation: 400 kg of feed at 50% dry matter supplies 200 kg DM. A leftover 25 kg at 44% DM contains 11 kg DM. With no spillage, estimated group intake is 189 kg DM.
Everyday use
HerdMobile’s dated feed-use records and animal notes help follow the feeding carried out. These observations add farm detail alongside the quantities calculated in the ration plan.
How HerdMobile helps
Bring your animals, feed stocks and farm accounts together on your Android phone. HerdMobile keeps your daily work moving offline: record events, compare feed quantities and follow sales and payments in one place. Use your own feeds and herd information to prepare a ration, then keep a backup file under your control.
