Animal Feeds

Animal Feeds buying guide

Veldkraft lists 178 animal feeds, priced from R13 to R3 135, from brands including Drakensberg, Westerman's, DeBird, Epol Animal Feeds. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Match the feed to the animal and stage

Choose cow feed, pig meal or any other livestock feed by species first and production stage second, because rations differ in protein, energy and minerals. This category includes cattle feeds such as Molatek Beesvet 33, pig feeds such as Epol Sow and Boar Meal, balancer pellets, poultry mash, grains, dog food and bird seed. Read the bag for the species and stage the feed is formulated for, and follow its feeding guide.

Concentrates, balancers and licks

Concentrates and balancers add protein, energy, vitamins or minerals to what animals already eat rather than replacing roughage. Balancers such as Capst LifeTime Balancer 25% and All Phase Balancer Pellets are fed alongside grazing or hay, while lick blocks such as the Voermol Game Block with Aloe let animals self-feed in the veld. Supplement needs change with the season and the quality of the grazing, so match the product to your veld conditions.

Poultry mash and whole grains

Drakensberg Red Bag mash is listed as starter mash and laying mash: feed starter to young birds and laying mash to hens in lay. Straights such as whole yellow maize suit scratch feeding and home mixes, but grain on its own is not a complete ration for laying or growing birds. Use it as a supplement to a formulated mash. Buy grain in quantities you can store dry and use before it attracts weevils or rodents.

Dry dog food for adult dogs

Choose dog food by your dog's life stage, size and activity. Tails Up Regular Adult and JOCK Value Adult are dry foods formulated for adult dogs of all breeds. Feed according to the guide on the bag for your dog's weight, and change foods gradually over about a week to avoid stomach upsets. Store dry food sealed and off the floor to keep it fresh and away from rodents.

Bird seed for wild and caged birds

Pick bird seed by the birds you feed. Drakensberg Green Bag Wild Bird and Garden Bird mixes suit outdoor feeders and bird tables, while the Blue Bag Budgie Mix and Cockatiel Mix are blended for caged birds. The Blue Bag range also includes unshelled peanuts. Keep feeders clean and dry, offer fresh water, and buy quantities you can use before seed goes stale or attracts pests.

Do you need a silage inoculant?

A silage inoculant adds live bacteria to forage when it is ensiled, to help it ferment quickly and keep well. EnsilaBac-L is a live bacterial silage inoculant sold as a 4 litre unit. Apply it as the label directs when you fill the pit or bunker, store it as instructed because live cultures are sensitive to heat, and use it before the expiry date on the pack.

Animal Feeds: common questions

What should I feed my cows?

Cattle need roughage such as grazing, hay or silage as the base of the diet, with concentrates, balancers or licks added to fill gaps in protein, energy and minerals. The right cow feed depends on whether animals are growing, finishing, pregnant or in milk, and on veld quality. Read each bag for its intended use, and ask a vet or animal nutritionist for a ration plan.

Can I feed cattle feed to goats or sheep?

Only if the bag states that it is suitable for them. Feeds are formulated for specific species, and mineral levels that suit cattle may not suit small stock; sheep are particularly sensitive to copper. Read the label for the species listed, and use a product formulated for goats or sheep where cattle feed does not include them.

Is maize enough to feed chickens?

No. Whole maize is a useful energy-rich scratch feed, but it lacks the protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals that laying hens and growing birds need. Feed a formulated starter or laying mash as the main ration and offer maize as a supplement, with clean water and grit available.

How should I store animal feed?

Store feed bags off the floor on pallets, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated shed, sealed against rodents and birds. Damp feed can grow mould, and some moulds produce toxins that harm livestock and pets. Use older bags first, check the date on each bag, and discard feed that smells musty or shows mould.

How much does a bag of animal feed cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 178 animal feeds priced from R13 to R3 135. Price depends on bag size, the type of feed and how concentrated it is. Small bags of grain and bird seed cost least, 40 kg livestock feeds sit in the middle, and large balancer bags and silage inoculants cost more.

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