Editing Cattle feeding (section)

==Types of cattle feeds==
{{See also|Fodder}}

Many distinct types of feed may be used, depending on economics, cattle type, region, etc. Feed types may also be mixed together, such as with [[total mixed ration]].

===Grass-fed===
Grass and other forage compose most or the majority of a grass-fed diet. There is debate whether cattle should be raised on diets primarily composed of pasture (grass) or on a concentrated diet of grain, [[soy]], and other supplements.<ref name=grassvgrain>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/29/grass.grain.beef.cookinglight/ |title=The grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef debate |last1=Cross |first1=Kim |date=29 March 2011 |website=cnn.com |publisher=Cooking Light |access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref> The issue is often complicated by the political interests and confusion between labels such as "[[free range]]", "[[organic food|organic]]", and "[[natural food movement|natural]]".

[[File:African boy transporting fodder by bicycle edit.jpg|thumb|Cut [[fodder]] being transported to feed cattle in [[Tanzania]]]]

Cattle reared on a primarily forage diet are termed grass-fed or pasture-raised; meat or milk may be called "grass-fed beef" or "pasture-raised dairy".<ref name="WaPo" /> The term "pasture-raised" can lead to confusion with the term "free range" which describes where the animals reside, but not what they eat. Thus, cattle can be labelled free-range yet not necessarily be grass-fed, and vice versa, and organic beef can be either or none. Another term adopted by the industry is grass-finished (also, 100% grass-fed<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/grass-fed-beef-label-fake_l_5d309f0ce4b020cd99405605|title=Not All Grass Fed Beef Is Legit. Here's What To Look Out For.|date=2019-07-24|website=HuffPost Canada|language=en|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref>), for which cattle are said to spend 100% of their lives on grass pasture. The [[Agricultural Marketing Service]] of the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] previously had a regulated standard for certification as "Grass Fed" meat, but withdrew the standard in 2016. However, producers must still apply the USDA's [[Food Safety and Inspection Service]] for the right to put "grass fed" on a label.<ref name="WaPo">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/your-grass-fed-beef-may-have-not-have-come-from-a-cow-grazing-in-a-pasture-heres-why/2018/12/13/7e65ebb2-fc91-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html|title=Perspective {{!}} Your 'grass-fed' beef may not have come from a cow grazing in a pasture. Here's why.|last=Brissette|first=Christy|date=December 19, 2018|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2019-02-14}}</ref>

[[Image:Cattle sale 1.JPG|thumb|200px|Grass-fed cattle at a [[Walcha, New South Wales|Walcha]], [[New South Wales]] sale]]

===Corn-fed===
Cattle called corn-fed, grain-fed or corn-finished are typically raised on [[maize]], [[Soybean|soy]] and other types of feed. Some corn-fed cattle are raised in [[concentrated animal feeding operation]]s known as feed lots.

In the United States, dairy cattle are often supplemented with grain to increase the efficiency of production and reduce the area needed to support the energy requirements of the herd.

A high-energy diet increases milk output, measured in pounds or kilograms of milk per head per day.<ref name="pollan"/>

===Barley-fed===
In [[Western Canada]] beef cattle are usually finished on a [[barley]]-based diet.<ref name=Ontario>{{cite web|url=http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/beef/news/vbn0804a3.htm |work=Virtual Beef Newsletter |title= Corn or Barley for feeding Steers |publisher=Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food |date=August 20, 2004 |access-date=November 8, 2009}}</ref>

===Flax===
{{Main|Flax#Fodder}}
In some parts of the world [[flax]] (or [[linseed]]) is used to make [[linseed oil]], and the substance is mixed with other solid cattle feed as a [[Dietary supplement|protein supplement]]. It can only be added at low percentages due to the high fat content, which is unhealthy for [[ruminant]]s.<ref name=Maddock1>{{cite web | last=Maddock | first=Travis D. | author2=Anderson, Vernon L. | author3=Lardy, Greg P. | title=Using Flax in Livestock Diets | url=http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/beef/as1283w.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222030813/http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/beef/as1283w.htm | archive-date=February 22, 2012 | publisher=North Dakota State University | pages=53–62}}</ref> One study found that feeding flax seeds may increase [[omega-3]] content and improve [[marbled meat|marbling]] in the resultant beef, while another found no differences.<ref name=Maddock1/><ref name=Maddock2>{{cite journal | last=Maddock | first=T D | author2=Bauer, M L | author3=Koch, K B | author4=Anderson, V L | author5=Maddock, R J | author6=Barceló-Coblijn, G | author7=Murphy, E J | author8=Lardy, G P | title=Effect of processing flax in beef feedlot diets on performance, carcass characteristics, and trained sensory panel ratings | journal=Journal of Animal Science | date=June 2006 | volume=84 | issue=6 | pages=1544–1551 | issn=1525-3163 | pmid=16699112 | url=http://www.journalofanimalscience.org/content/84/6/1544.long| doi=10.2527/2006.8461544x | url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Other===
There are many alternative feeds which are given to cattle, either as a primary or supplemental feed. These range from [[alfalfa]] and other forages, [[silage]]s of diverse plants, crop residues such as pea regrowth, straw or seed hulls, residues from other production such as oilseed meal cake, [[molasses]], [[whey]], and crops such as [[beet]]s or [[sorghum]].<ref name=lardy15>{{cite report | last1=Lardy |first1=Greg P. |last2=Anderson |first2=Vern L. |last3=Dahlen |first3=Carl |date=October 2015 |title=Alternative feeds for ruminants |url=https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/livestock/alternative-feeds-for-ruminants/as1182.pdf |publisher=[[North Dakota State University]] Extension Service |page=1–28 |docket=AS1182 (Revised) |access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref>

===Drought fodder for extensive rangeland agriculture===
[[Image:Bag_with_bush-based_animal_fodder_pellets_(2).jpg|thumb|Bags of pelleted cattle fodder made from [[Woody plant encroachment|encroacher bush]] in Namibia]]
Drought events put rangeland agriculture under pressure in semi-arid and arid geographic areas. Innovative emergency fodder production concepts have been reported, such as bush-based animal fodder production in Namibia. During extended dry spells, farmers have turned to use woody biomass fiber from [[Woody plant encroachment|encroacher bush]] as a primary source of cattle feed, adding locally available supplements for nutrients as well as to improve palatability.<ref>Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (2018). Report on the Bush-to-Feed Pilot Projet in the African Wild Dog Community Forest. http://www.forestry.gov.na/documents/32982/937523/NAFOLA+Report+on+bush/8be204be-eb4f-4156-bac7-610ae9c35315?version=1.0<br /></ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-11-30|title=Manual on how to produce animal feed from local encroached bush launched|work=Namibia Economist|url=https://economist.com.na/40365/agriculture/manual-on-how-to-produce-animal-feed-from-local-encroached-bush-launched/|access-date=2020-06-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-10-18|title=Turning bush to feed in face of drought|work=The Namibian|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/157045/archive-read/Turning-bush-to-feed-in-face-of-drought|access-date=2020-06-22|archive-date=June 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625070201/https://www.namibian.com.na/157045/archive-read/Turning-bush-to-feed-in-face-of-drought|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last1=Mupangwa |first1=Johnfisher |title=Utilising Encroacher Bush in Animal Feeding |date=2023 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2427-1_14 |work=Towards Sustainable Food Production in Africa: Best Management Practices and Technologies |pages=239–265 |editor-last=Fanadzo |editor-first=Morris |access-date=2023-10-13 |series=Sustainability Sciences in Asia and Africa |place=Singapore |publisher=Springer Nature |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-981-99-2427-1_14 |isbn=978-981-99-2427-1 |last2=Lutaaya |first2=Emmanuel |last3=Shipandeni |first3=Maria Ndakula Tautiko |last4=Kahumba |first4=Absalom |last5=Charamba |first5=Vonai |last6=Shiningavamwe |first6=Katrina Lugambo |editor2-last=Dunjana |editor2-first=Nothando |editor3-last=Mupambwa |editor3-first=Hupenyu Allan |editor4-last=Dube |editor4-first=Ernest|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

[[Image:Feeding hay.JPG|thumb|200px|Stud Murray Grey cows receiving supplementary feeding during a drought]]