Precision feeding management: New approach for better and more sustainable livestock production

Abstract

The demand for livestock products increases continuously and cannot be avoided; on the other hand, the total livestock production is still lower than the demand. The problem has recently become more complex, as the demand for livestock production must produce not only enough quantity but also high quality and healthy products for the consumers, create welfare for the livestock, be safe and friendly for the environment, and be highly sustainable for our next generation. All of these demands must be strongly related to the efficiency of feed utilization by the livestock, as feed is the major input for the livestock to maintain its life and production processes. Hence, precision feeding management must become an excellent approach to overcome all of the problems. Precision feeding is an attempt to maximize feed utilization by livestock by supplying the most appropriate nutrients to the livestock. Thus, in this approach, livestock is expected to consume less feed, digests, and metabolizes the feed very much effectively, and then excretes less waste.  Those higher efficiencies of feed utilization by livestock must consequently give some advantages, including 1) minimize the amount of feed offered and reduce refusal feed by the livestock; hence the available feeds can be used to rear more the number of livestock to multiply livestock products, 2) increase livestock productivity with less feed cost, hence increase profit for the farmer, 3) reduce livestock waste including feces, urine and also ammonia and methane gas, hence make a better of environment, and finally, all of those advantages must lead more sustainable livestock production systems.