Types Of Concentrates Feeds

Animal Feed Concentrates: A Complete Farmer’s Guide

What Are Concentrate Feeds?

At Afrimach Animal Feeds, many farmers ask us about the different types of concentrate feeds and how to use them effectively. Concentrate feeds are specially prepared feeds that contain high levels of energy, protein, minerals, or vitamins in a small quantity. This means animals get more nutrients without having to eat a large volume of feed.

They are different from forages like grass, hay, and silage, which are bulkier and contain more fibre but fewer nutrients per kilogram. Farmers use concentrates to boost growth, improve milk production, strengthen body condition, support reproduction, and enhance overall performance in livestock. They are especially important when pasture quality drops during dry seasons or when animals have higher nutritional needs—such as dairy cows in milk, fast-growing calves, beef cattle in fattening programs, pigs, layers, and broilers.

Concentrates help by supplying nutrients that forage alone cannot provide. For example, pasture may fill the stomach but often lacks enough protein, energy, or minerals for maximum productivity. By adding the right concentrate feed, animals grow faster, stay healthier, and produce more milk, meat, or eggs.

Below are the main types of concentrate feeds in Kenya, explained simply so farmers can choose what suits their animals best.

Energy Concentrates

These are feeds rich in carbohydrates and easy for animals to digest. They provide quick and efficient energy that supports milk production, weight gain, and daily activity. Energy concentrates are usually low in fibre, which makes them ideal for mixing with other feeds. Common examples include maize meal, wheat bran, barley, molasses, and sorghum. Farmers use these to keep animals active, maintain body weight, and improve production, especially during dry seasons when energy in pastures is low.

Common examples include:

• Maize germ

• Maize bran

• Wheat bran

• Pollard

• Molasses

• Oats and barley by-products

Protein Concentrates

Protein concentrates support muscle development, body maintenance, and milk protein content. They are essential for dairy cows, growing calves, goats, poultry, and pigs. These feeds help animals build strong bodies and maintain good health. Examples include soybean meal, cottonseed cake, sunflower cake, canola meal, and fish meal. Protein concentrates are especially important when forage quality is poor, because grass alone may not meet protein needs.

Common examples include:

• Cottonseed cake

• Sunflower seed cake

• Soya meal

• Fish meal

• Lucerne meal

Mineral Concentrates (Mineral Premixes)

Animals require minerals for bone strength, immunity, fertility, and overall wellbeing. Mineral concentrates supply essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, copper, and zinc. Even if animals graze on good pasture, they may still miss key minerals, making supplementation important. Mineral premixes help prevent deficiencies, improve growth, and support healthy pregnancies in livestock.

Common examples include:

• Dicalcium phosphate (DCP)

• Lick minerals

• Salt

• Calcium supplements

Vitamin Concentrates (Vitamin Premixes)

Vitamins play a huge role in immunity, metabolism, and reproduction. Vitamin concentrates contain essential vitamins such as A, D, E, K, and B-complex. These are especially useful for livestock kept indoors, during long dry seasons, or when feeding highly processed feeds that may lack natural vitamins. Vitamin premixes keep animals healthy and productive by strengthening their immune system and helping them fight diseases.

Common examples include:

• Vitamin premixes

• Multivitamin powders

• Vitamin ADE supplements

Compound Concentrates (Commercial Feeds)

These are ready-made feeds that combine energy sources, proteins, minerals, and vitamins into a balanced formula. They are convenient because farmers don’t have to mix ingredients themselves. Examples include dairy meal, calf starter, pig growers, and poultry layers mash. These feeds are scientifically formulated to meet the exact nutritional needs of specific animals at different stages of growth.

Examples include:

• Dairy meal

• Pig finisher meal

• Layer mash

• Broiler starter and grower feeds

• Beef fattening meal

By-Product Concentrates

These are feeds made from leftover materials from food processing industries. Even though they are by-products, they are still rich in nutrients and cost-friendly. Examples include maize germ, wheat pollard, rice bran, brewers grain, and molasses-based products. Farmers love them because they improve feed efficiency while lowering feeding costs.

Common examples:

• Maize germ

• Wheat pollard

• Rice bran

• Brewers grain

• Molasses-based products

Specialty Concentrates

These include special formulations designed for boosting milk yield, enhancing fertility, improving growth rate, or supporting recovery from sickness. They are not used daily but are added when animals need extra support. Examples include production boosters, mineral blocks, and performance supplements.

Examples:

• Production boosters

• Mineral blocks

• Performance supplements

Animal Feed Concentrates

Understanding the types of concentrate feeds helps farmers make informed decisions that improve productivity, reduce feeding costs, and support animal health. Whether you raise dairy cows, goats, poultry, or pigs, the right balance of concentrates ensures steady growth, strong immunity, and better returns on your farm.

This guide is brought to you by Afrimach Animal Feeds, committed to providing high-quality feeds and practical advice for Kenyan farmers.