Journal of Fisheries & Livestock Production
Open Access

Abstract

Precision feeding is the concept of providing feeds in amount and composition that match the requirements of animals according to their needs for maintenance and production. It evolved and is now well established in monogastric species and is becoming popular also in the cattle industry. Low feed costs/high feed efficiency and positive environmental impacts are the main benefits of the system. The concept should be applied to small ruminant production systems, as well. Intensive systems of dairy sheep and goats depend heavily on supplementary and expensive feeds to attain high productivity; however, animals are usually fed rations in excess of their requirements. The latter results in low feed efficiency and health/welfare related problems. Therefore, appropriate grouping strategies and lead factors for ration formulation, according to age and production stage, are a prerequisite to success, especially when accelerated breeding schedules are adopted. Less intensive or even extensive systems should not skip our attention, either. Such systems rely mainly on grazing natural pastures and their output depends on grass/shrub production and composition that is affected by climatic conditions. The application of precision feeding in these systems would greatly increase their efficiency and productivity and decrease health and welfare issues. Research focused on genotype x environment interactions is needed to quantify both the true nutrient requirements at different production stages and the effect of various management and nutritional strategies. Feeding an ever increasing human population with limited natural resources is a challenging task; precision feeding of farm animals and sustainability are inextricably connected.

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