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Feed Processing and Manufacturing Terminology
Table of Contents
General Terms |
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Carrier:
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An edible material to which ingredients are added, facilitating uniform distribution of the ingredients into a feed mixture. |
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Drug:
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Substance of mineral, plant or animal origin used for pain relief or cure of disease. |
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Emulsifier:
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A material added to products to enable fat or oil to remain in liquid suspension; commonly added to milk replacers. |
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Feed Grade:
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Term to describe the quality of feedstuffs suitable for animal, but not human, consumption. |
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Ingredient:
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Any constituent of a feed mixture. |
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Iodized:
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Treated with iodine or iodide. |
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Micro-Ingredient:
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A vitamin, mineral, antibiotic, drug or other compound normally required in small amounts and added to diets in milligrams or micrograms. |
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Particle Size:
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Refers to the diameter of granular feed materials. (e.g., grains, pellets, mineral particles) and/or the length of roughage fragments. Particle size can affect mixing of feed ingredients and digestion rate. |
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Reservative:
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A substance added to protect, prevent or retard decay, discolouration or spoilage of a substance during storage or use. |
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Products added to basic feed mixes to improve the rate and/or efficiency of gain, prevent disease, or preserve feeds. A partial listing includes:
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Anthelmintic (Wormer):
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Drug used to control infections of multi-celled parasitic worms (helminths-e.g., flukes, tapeworms, roundworms). |
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Antibiotic:
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A class of drug usually produced by living organisms (molds, bacteria or green plants), which can inhibit or kill undesirable bacteria. Examples: penicillin streptomycin. |
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Antioxidant:
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A compound added to feeds to prevent the oxidative rancidity of fats. |
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Beta Carotene (Provitamin A):
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A pre-cursor of vitamin A provided by green pigment in forages, but can be added in a synthetic form to feed mixtures. Claims include improved reproductive efficiency and decreased uterine and mammary infections in dairy cows. |
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Buffer:
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A substance added to a solution to help resist changes in acidity (pH). Used in livestock rations to maintain a desired rumen pH of 6.2 - 6.5, which is optimal for digestion of feeds and rumen microbial protein synthesis. Examples: sodium bicarbonate, bentonite, magnesium oxide. |
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Choline:
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A water soluble vitamin closely associated with fat metabolism and transport; commonly added to swine and poultry rations. Ruminants generally synthesize adequate amounts, but choline may be added to diets of early lactation dairy cows. |
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Coccidiostat (Anticoccidial):
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Drug used to control coccidial infections. Coccidia are microscopic protozoa that live in the intestinal lining of livestock and poultry, causing severe diarrhoea or unthriftiness. |
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Direct Fed Microbials (Probiotics):
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A live microbial feed supplement that beneficially affects the host animal. Claims include reduced early mortality, increased growth rate, improved feed conversion, egg quality and animal health (e.g., prevent disease and/or aid recovery from illness). Lactic acid producing strains (e.g., Lactobacillus and Streptococcus) are common components of bacterial DFMs. |
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Enzyme:
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A complex protein compound produced in living cells that speeds up chemical reaction without being changed or destroyed itself. Enzymes are added to animal feeds to supplement low enzyme production or to improve utilization of poorer quality feeds. |
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Ionophore:
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A carboxylic polyether antibiotic that affects ion transport across cell membranes, inhibits the growth of some gram positive bacteria, and promotes growth. Depending on the level fed, an ionophore may also act as a coccidiostat. Three ionophores are currently registered for use in Canada:
Monensin sodium - trade names: Rumensin, Coban Salinomycin sodium - trade names: Posistac, Coxistac |
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Lysine:
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An essential amino acid for protein synthesis. It is the first limiting amino acid in corn-soybean based swine diets. Can be added in a synthetic form to diets. |
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Melengestrol Acetate (MGA):
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A hormone added to diets to suppress estrus cycling and improve feed efficiency and growth rate in feedlot heifers. It is not to be used in animals kept for breeding purposes. |
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Methionine/Protected Methionine:
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A sulfur-containing amino acid essential for protein synthesis; a limiting amino acid in many ruminant diets. The term "protected" means resistant to rumen digestion. |
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Niacin:
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A water soluble B vitamin involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. It is essential in monogastric diets, but not for ruminants and non-ruminant herbivores. Niacin has a beneficial role in controlling energy use and ketosis in dairy cattle, especially in early lactation. |
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Yeast/Yeast Culture:
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A single cell fungi that improves feed digestion by stimulating microbial activity and stabilizing rumen pH. Products packaged as "yeast" consist of cells only; "yeast culture" includes live yeast cells, growth media and yeast metabolites. Live yeast products are also classified as Direct Fed Microbials. |
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Byproduct:
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Feeds produced as a result of industrial manufacturing, plant or animal processing. Examples: brewers grains, distillers grains, beet pulp, meat and bone meal, fish meal, soybean meal. |
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Chaff:
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Husks or other seed coverings and other plant parts separated from seed during harvest or processing. |
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Chelated Mineral:
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A compound formed between an organic molecule and a mineral. Increases mineral bioavailability. |
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Complete Feed:
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A thoroughly blended mixture of different feed ingredients formulated to meet specific nutrient requirements. It allows for greater efficiency in feeding and provides better control of nutrient intake. A complete feed may or may not include the roughage portion of the ration. |
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Concentrate:
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A classification of feedstuffs high in energy and low in fibre; usually further divided into energy and protein concentrates. Often used interchangeably with supplement. Examples: corn, barley, soybeans. |
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Formula Feed:
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Two or more ingredients combined, mixed and processed according to specifications. |
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Liquid Protein Supplement (LPS):
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A protein product that usually contains molasses, urea, added vitamins and trace minerals: particularly useful in pasture feeding. |
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Medicated Feed:
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Any feed that contains drug ingredients intended for the cure, treatment or prevention of animal disease, enhancement of feed efficiency or promotion of growth. |
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Milk Replacer:
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A substitute for fresh whole milk, fortified with vitamins, minerals and sometimes antibiotics: used as a nutrient source for young animals. |
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Mineral Supplement:
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A rich source of one or more mineral elements. |
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Premix:
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A uniform mixture of one or more microingredients and a carrier, used to facilitate uniform dispersion of micronutrients into a larger mixture. NOTE: A mineral premix contains higher fortification of trace minerals and vitamins than a mineral supplement. |
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Protein Supplement:
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A feed or mixture of feeds containing 20% or more protein or protein equivalent. Examples: soybean meal, canola meal. |
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Pulp (Pomace):
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Solid residue remaining after juice extraction from fruit, vegetables, roots or stems. Examples: apple pomace, beet pulp. |
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Screenings:
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Small, imperfect kernels, broken grains, hulls, weed seeds and other foreign material obtained from the cleaning of grain. |
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Sweet Feed:
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A commercial feed sweetened with molasses to improve palatability. |
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Supplement:
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Feed or feed mixtures used to improve the nutritional value of basal feeds. A supplement is rich in one or more of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals or antibiotics, and is combined with other feeds to produce a more complete feed. Often used interchangeably with concentrate. |
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Block:
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One or more feeds compressed into a solid form, usually weighing l5-25 kg. |
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Cake:
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Residue remaining after pressing seeds, meat or fish to remove oil, fat or other liquid. |
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Crumbles:
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Pelleted feed that has been broken into smaller granular pieces. |
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Cubes:
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Long or coarsely cut hay compressed into high density cubes to facilitate transportation, storage and feeding. |
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Fines:
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Any materials that pass through a screen whose openings are immediately smaller than the specified minimum particle size. |
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Mash:
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A mixture of ingredients in meal form. |
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Meal:
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A feeding ingredient having a particle size similar to flour. |
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Scratch:
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Whole, cracked or coarsely cut grain. |
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Wafers:
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Fibrous materials compressed into a form having a cross section measurement greater than its length. Exact dimensions and bulk density of wafered feeds will vary according to the processing equipment used. |
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Physical or chemical changes in feedstuffs that influence their nutritional value. A partial listing of different processing terms includes:
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Ammoniated:
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Combined or impregnated with ammonia or ammonium compounds. |
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Blended:
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Two or more feed ingredients combined. NOTE: Blending does not imply a uniformity of dispersion. |
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Chopped:
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Particle size reduced by cutting with sharp-edged instruments. i.e., knives. |
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Cleaned:
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Undesired materials removed using screens, magnets or forced air. |
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Condensed:
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Reduced to a more dense form by removing moisture. |
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Cracked:
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Particle size reduced by a combined breaking and crushing action. |
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Crimped:
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Feed rolled using grooved rollers. |
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Cured:
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Feed preserved by drying, chemical additives or other preservation methods. |
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Dehulled:
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Grains, fruit or nuts whose seed coat or outer shell has been removed. |
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Dehydrated:
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Moisture removed by heat. |
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Ensiled:
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lant materials preserved by anaerobic fermentation. |
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Exploded:
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Grain kernels swollen to several times their original size by first steaming under pressure to force moisture into the kernels, and then exposing to air. |
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Extracted:
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Fat or oil is removed by heat and mechanical pressure (mechanically extracted) or by organic solvents (solvent extracted). |
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Extruded:
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Feed forced through narrow openings under pressure. |
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Fermented:
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Feed subjected to an aerobic or anaerobic process in which yeast, molds or bacteria act to produce alcohol, acids, B complex vitamins or antibiotics. |
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Flaked:
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Feed rolled or cut into flat pieces with or without prior steam conditioning. |
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Ground:
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Particle size reduced by mechanical shearing, wearing or impact. |
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Irradiated:
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Feed treated, prepared or altered by exposure to a specific level and duration of radiation. |
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Micronized:
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Feed subjected to dry heat by microwaves emitted from infrared burners, followed by rolling. |
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Mixed:
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Feeds combined by agitation to a specified degree of dispersion. |
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Pearled:
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Process of reducing dehulled grains into smaller smooth particles by machine brushing or abrasion. |
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Pelleted:
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Feed compressed into a circular or cubic mass, forced through die openings by a mechanical process and cut at predetermined lengths. |
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Popped:
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A commercial process to improve appearance and palatability of beans; promoted as a method to improve protein digestion. |
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Rendered:
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The process of removing and/or clarifying one substance (i.e.. fat, water) from another, either through the use of heat or by pressing and draining a solid residue of cooked material. |
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Roasted:
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Feed heated to a desired temperature in an oven for a period of time. Roasting increases the availability of carbohydrates and may reduce protein breakdown in the rumen. |
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Rolled:
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Grain passed between a set of rollers splitting the coarse outer grain shell. |
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Shredded:
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Similar to chopped, except feedstuffs are cut longitudinally rather than cross-wise. |
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Steamed:
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Ingredients treated with steam to alter physical and/or chemical properties. |
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Steeped:
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Feed soaked in water or other liquid. |
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Textured:
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A ration containing fine materials in a pelleted form, mixed with coarser ingredients. |
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Bran:
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Coarse outer grain coating, separated during processing. |
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Endosperm:
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Starchy portion of seed. |
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Flour:
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Soft, finely ground meal consisting mainly of starch and gluten. Obtained during grain milling. |
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Germ:
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The seed embryo. |
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Gluten:
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Tough nitrogen containing substance remaining after the flour is washed free of starch. |
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Grain:
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Seed from cereal plant, e.g., oats, corn, wheat. |
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Grits:
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Coarsely ground grain from which the bran and germ have been removed. |
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Groats:
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Cereal seeds with hulls removed. |
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Middlings:
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A byproduct of milling. Consist of granular particles containing differing proportions of the grain, erdosperm, bran and gluten. |
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Mill By-Product:
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A secondary product obtained in addition to the principal milling product. |
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Mill Dust:
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Fine feed particles of unspecified origin resulting from feed handling and processing. |
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International Unit (IU):
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A standard unit of potency of a biological agent )e.g., vitamin, hormone, antibiotic, antitoxin). Also called a USP unit. |
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Micro:
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A prefix used in the metric system to represent 1/1,000,000. |
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Milli:
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A prefix used in the metric system of measurement to represent 1/1,000. Example: 1 mg = l/l,000 g. |
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Parts per Million (ppm):
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A measurement used for nutrients present in very small quantities (e.g., microminerals): ppm = milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) or millilitre per litre (ml/l). |
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