Supplementary feeding: extra feed on pasture
Supplementary feeding is extra feed given on top of pasture or the main forage, planned by feed type, stage of the animal and daily amount per head, to cover the needs that grazing alone leaves short.
When does a farm need supplementary feeding?
For example, in late summer pasture growth slows, so a group of ewes gets a set amount of concentrate per head each day on top of grazing. Put that daily amount into the ration, and the extra feed cost shows up in the total for the period.
Questions from the farm
Is supplementary feeding the same as a full ration?
No. A supplement adds to forage and the main ration, while a full ration meets every nutrient need on its own.
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.
HerdMobile adds supplementary feeds to the ration as daily amounts, so the cost per head per day and the nutrient totals cover the whole feeding plan, not just the pasture. When the forage changes, update the supplement amount and your plan and costs stay in step.
