greybeard
Herd Master
First, if Azieriel is feeding strictly a mineral supplement tub similar to Bovalix, it does not have salt added.
http://www.sweetlix.com/products/C11A22/mineral-vitamin-supplements.aspx
Hard to say with the info provided.
Does labeling accurately reflect if it's product contains low digestable fiber or filler? No. Virtually all feed has some filler in it, usually under the collective heading of "crude fiber".
There should be 2 different labels on a good feed. One is the guaranteed analysis like the one I posted above, and the other is an ingredient label, which is "supposed" to state where the feed is getting the components of that analysis. But, some manufacturers and mills choose to use a collective labeling in the ingredients instead of stating details and that's where problems arise with the end users.
Here's a sample label from Association of American Feed Control Officials using the collective option in the ingredients for feedlot cattle--it tells you very little:
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein, minimum ..............................12%
(This includes not more than 3.5% equivalent
crude protein from non-protein nitrogen)
Crude Fat, minimum ......................................2%
Crude Fiber, maximum .................................10%
Calcium, minimum .......................................0.8%
Calcium, maximum ......................................1.3%
Phosphorus, minimum ...............................0.65%
Salt, minimum ............................................11.0%
Salt, maximum ...........................................13.2%
Potassium, minimum .................................6.40%
Vitamin A, minimum ........................10,000 IU/LB
Ingredient Statement Ingredient Statement
Grain Products, Plant Protein Products,
Processed Grain By-Products, Urea, Calcium,
Lignin Sulfonate, Animal Fat, Vitamin A
Supplement, D-Activated Animal Sterol (source of
Vitamin D3), Vitamin E Supplement, Folic Acid,
Ethoxyquin (a preservative), Ground Limestone,
Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Copper Sulfate,
Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate,
Cobalt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium
Selenite.
That /\ doesn't tell you very much (especially if you are an organic farmer) . What kind of grain products? Processed grain by-products? What's that? Plant protein products???
This, is from Sweetlix:
Here's a different sample ingredient label for a different species (just happens to be rabbit feed) that tells you a lot more, and this is what I prefer to find on either a label or on a company's website:
Asking someone in a different part of the country to recommend a feed or supplement is going to generate 100 different answers. There is no "one size (or brand) that fits all. Create your rations in accordance to several different things.
1. A soil sample of your area--this is a good indicator of what is already available to your herd thru nature, as the plants uptake minerals and nutrients from the soil.
2. Since we are in the winter cycle, hay analysis is another good indicator of both protein, fiber, and fat. It and the soil sample test are about the least expensive cost associated with nutrition planning.
3. Check with local producers in your area to find out what is successful. What works here in E Texas may not work very well and in fact may create a train wreck in more Northern areas.But don't necessarily go by what the local feed store sells most of. People tend to cut costs on feed buying--check with local people who make their living raising beef (or any other species). These people neither waste $ or over spend.
http://www.sweetlix.com/products/C11A22/mineral-vitamin-supplements.aspx
Hard to say with the info provided.
Does labeling accurately reflect if it's product contains low digestable fiber or filler? No. Virtually all feed has some filler in it, usually under the collective heading of "crude fiber".
There should be 2 different labels on a good feed. One is the guaranteed analysis like the one I posted above, and the other is an ingredient label, which is "supposed" to state where the feed is getting the components of that analysis. But, some manufacturers and mills choose to use a collective labeling in the ingredients instead of stating details and that's where problems arise with the end users.
Here's a sample label from Association of American Feed Control Officials using the collective option in the ingredients for feedlot cattle--it tells you very little:
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein, minimum ..............................12%
(This includes not more than 3.5% equivalent
crude protein from non-protein nitrogen)
Crude Fat, minimum ......................................2%
Crude Fiber, maximum .................................10%
Calcium, minimum .......................................0.8%
Calcium, maximum ......................................1.3%
Phosphorus, minimum ...............................0.65%
Salt, minimum ............................................11.0%
Salt, maximum ...........................................13.2%
Potassium, minimum .................................6.40%
Vitamin A, minimum ........................10,000 IU/LB
Ingredient Statement Ingredient Statement
Grain Products, Plant Protein Products,
Processed Grain By-Products, Urea, Calcium,
Lignin Sulfonate, Animal Fat, Vitamin A
Supplement, D-Activated Animal Sterol (source of
Vitamin D3), Vitamin E Supplement, Folic Acid,
Ethoxyquin (a preservative), Ground Limestone,
Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Copper Sulfate,
Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate,
Cobalt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium
Selenite.
That /\ doesn't tell you very much (especially if you are an organic farmer) . What kind of grain products? Processed grain by-products? What's that? Plant protein products???
This, is from Sweetlix:
Still doesn't tell you where or which real world sources the particular feed or supplement gets it's ingredients from.
Here's a different sample ingredient label for a different species (just happens to be rabbit feed) that tells you a lot more, and this is what I prefer to find on either a label or on a company's website:
Asking someone in a different part of the country to recommend a feed or supplement is going to generate 100 different answers. There is no "one size (or brand) that fits all. Create your rations in accordance to several different things.
1. A soil sample of your area--this is a good indicator of what is already available to your herd thru nature, as the plants uptake minerals and nutrients from the soil.
2. Since we are in the winter cycle, hay analysis is another good indicator of both protein, fiber, and fat. It and the soil sample test are about the least expensive cost associated with nutrition planning.
3. Check with local producers in your area to find out what is successful. What works here in E Texas may not work very well and in fact may create a train wreck in more Northern areas.But don't necessarily go by what the local feed store sells most of. People tend to cut costs on feed buying--check with local people who make their living raising beef (or any other species). These people neither waste $ or over spend.
