Salt-limited byproduct feeds

Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.

Salt Institute

Salt and Trace Minerals newsletter

Summer 2006 (Vol. 38, No. 2)

The supply of byproduct feeds is expected to increase rapidly in the future. Most byproduct feeds will be priced on their energy value relative to corn. Because most byproducts are high in fiber, the efficiency of digestion is greater with ruminants than monogastric animals. When used as a supplement for high-forage diets, their energy value can be as high as 125% of corn. Energy is often the first limiting nutrient for grazing animals. Hand-feeding byproducts to grazing animals has significant management and labor challenges. Since salt-limited supplementation of grazing animals is a proven technology, producers should examine the opportunities of combining salt-limited supplementation with byproduct feeding to improve the profitability of grazing animals.