Concentrate feed is rich in nutrients, but is expensive when purchased in a shop. Hence making a base mix that can be fed to all animals helps save time and money.
The importance of concentrate feeds on livestock and fish are they produce more milk, eat more, grow much faster and makes the animal become stronger.
Mix preparation
Two thirds of the base mix is made from grains, like paddy, maize, sorghum and millet. Each ingredients are stored separately. Grains are rich in starch and give animals energy. Millet is rich in fibre and makes the feed smell nice and have better taste. One third of the mix should be rich in protein and fat. Mill the base mix into a coarse flour. Fine flour gets into the animals lungs. Fine flour in fish hinders the bottom feeders from getting enough concentrate feed.
For sheep, goat and dairy cows add an equal amount of wheat bran or rice bran, for poultry and fish add dried fish powder. The base mix can be stored for up to four months. Feed should be kept off the ground to avoid it from being damp.
Groundnut cake can be replaced with coconut or sesame cake. Fish cannot be fed coconut cake as it contains lots of oils which when sprinkled in the water form an oil layer preventing oxygen from the fish.
