Animal feed - Definition and Overview

In agriculture, fodder or animal feed is any foodstuff that is used specifically to feed livestock, such as cattle, sheep, chickens and pigs.

Most animal feed is usually from plants but some fodder is of animal origin. Although most animal foodstuffs are considered safe, mad cow disease spread due to prion contamination of meat and bone meal, a common feed ingredient.

Common plants specifically grown for fodder

• grass (as grazing pasture and for cropping and storage as hay and silage)
  • rye grass
  • bermuda grass
  • timothy
  • danthonia
• wheat
• millet
• soybean
• oats
• alfalfa (lucerne)
• sorghum
• clover
  • red clover
  • white clover
  • subterranium clover
• maize (corn)
• brassicas
  • chau moellier
  • kale
  • rapeseed (Canola)
  • swedes (rutabaga)
  • turnips
• birdsfoot trefoil

Types of fodder

• hay
• silage

See also

• forage