Ingredients

The key to producing good animal feeds is obviously the selection of the very best ingredients. This is a truism that has escaped much of the Animal Feed Industry over the last 20 years. Careful selection of ingredients with regard to source, palatability, animal and human health and nutritional value has always been the cornerstone of our feed formulation policy.

Here is a selection of the major ingredients used in our feeds:

Barley: 

(Oil 2.5%, Crude Protein 11%, Fibre 5%, Met Energy 12.8 Mj/kg)

This is a widely grown cereal in the UK. Ideal as a ruminant feed. High in energy in the form of starch. Encourages milk protein and fast growth. Moderate protein level of average quality, with Lysine being particularly low.

Barley is the major ingredient at MF Feeds and is sourced entirely from our own farm or from neighbouring farms.

Oats: 

(Oil 4%, Crude Protein 10%, Fibre 12%, Met Energy 11.5 Mj/kg)

Another widely grown cereal crop in the UK. An excellent ruminant feed, particularly for horses. High in fibre, due to the husk coating and this ensures safe and slow rumen digestion. Higher in oil and lower in energy than other cereals.

A major MFF ingredient in horse feeds and young stock feeds. Again this ingredient is sourced from our own farm or neighbouring farms. 

Sugar Beet Pulp:

(Oil 0.5%, Crude Protein 10%, Fibre 15%, Met Energy 12.5 Mj/kg)

Sugar Beet is a root crop, grown in the eastern counties. It is crushed to extract sugar and the remaining pulp is dried and provides an excellent animal feed.

The pulp is high in digestible fibre (mainly cellulose like grass). This is suited to ruminants as it maintains rumen condition and encourages acetate production. The pulp is high in sugars and energy and very palatable.

Our sole suppliers of Sugar Beet Pulp are Trident Feeds (British Sugar Company). The product is sourced from the Beet Processing Plants at Newark, Kings Lynn and Bury-St-Edmonds.

Malt Residual Pellets: 

(Oil 2.2%, Crude Protein 24%, Fibre 12%, M.E. 11.5 Mj/kg)

Made from the chitted barley roots and malt screenings from the malting process.

They contain a good protein supply and have an average energy level. They are ideally suited for growing and adult diets.

Our Malt Residual Pellets are sourced from 2 local Maltsters.

Distillers Dark Grains: 

(Oil 11%, Crude Protein 28%, Fibre 8.5%, M.E. 14.5%)

Distillers Dark Grains can be made from Barley, Wheat or Maize. They are produced during the Scotch whisky making process. The process used by each distillery is slightly different and therefore the Dark Grains vary in feed value from distillery to distillery. Our own supply is sourced from a single distillery in Edinburgh, which produces a Maize Dark Grains with a low copper content and from a non-GM source. These can be feed to both cattle and sheep.

Dark Grains are a superb natural ruminant feed. They are high in digestible fibre, very high in oil and energy and very high in good quality protein which is reasonably undegradable. They are also very palatable.

Dried Lucerne Pellets: 

(Oil 3%, Crude Protein 18%, Fibre 23%, M.E. 11.2 Mj/kg)

Lucerne (or Alfalfa) is a perennial legume with many leaves and is grown specifically for animal feed. It can grow on drought prone soils and, being a legume, fixes all its own nitrate needs from atmospheric nitrogen.

Lucerne is palatable and has several nutritional benefits for ruminants. It is high in digestible fibre, high in undegradable protein, high in natural vitamins and calcium, and a particularly good source of beta carotene.

Our supply of Dried Lucerne is source from one local farm, which grows and dries this product.

Flaked Maize:

(Oil 4%, Crude Protein 9%, Fibre 2.5%, Met Energy 15 Mj/kg)

Maize for grain is grown only as far north as mid-France. 

Maize contains the highest oil and energy content of all cereals, but it is lower in protein, fibre and minerals. Flaked Maize is produced by the process of cooking and flaking, called micronisation. This process makes the product more easily digested by calves and lambs before their rumens have properly developed. It is perhaps the most palatable of all animal feeds

Flaked Maize is used extensively in calf and lamb rations and also in the very best pedigree and show stock mixes, where palatability and outstanding growth rates are required. We source our micronised products from one local supplier.

Micronised Peas:

(Oil 1.5%, Crude Protein 25%, Fibre 7%, Met Energy 14.5 Mj/kg)

A legume crop grown on the lighter soils in the U.K.

High in sugar and starch, making them suitable for ruminant rations. Peas contain a useful level of protein, albeit of average quality In their micronised form, Peas are ideal for inclusion in pre-ruminant baby calf and lamb rations.

Micronised Beans:

(Oil 3%, Crude Protein 28%, Fibre 9% Met Energy 14.5%)

Another legume crop grown on the heavier soils in the U.K.Beans are a ideal protein source with good levels of energy. They are palatable when micronised and are used in calf and lamb diets.

Cane Molasses: 

(Oil 0.2%, Crude Protein 6%, Fibre 0, M.E. 12.7 Mj/kg)

After harvesting, sugar cane is crushed and the juice removed by soaking in warm water. Sugar is crystallized from this syrup, leaving the thick, sticky residue of Molasses.

Molasses contains 50% sugars and although it is a viscous liquid, it contains 75% dry matter. It is an ideal feed for ruminants, since it is the simplest form of energy available to stimulate the rumen. It is a good source of natural minerals.

We use Molasses as a sticky coating on all our Coarse Mixtures. It adds a wonderful aroma and palatability to Coarse Mixtures.