TMR (Total Mixed Ration) or completely mixed ration is a food ration in which all the food and nutrients needed by animals, including concentrates (grains, supplements, flours), fodder (straw, alfalfa) and supplements (vitamins, minerals, etc.) are mixed together in a mixer feeder and prepared as a uniform and homogeneous ration.
Complete feed is prepared in bulk (mesh) and compressed (block and pellet) forms, which does not require a special device in bulk form, and ranchers can easily do it with manual or machine tools, but to prepare complete feed in block or pellet form, a special device is needed.
Advantages of pelleted complete feed
1- Uniform consumption: Due to the compactness of the feed components and their sticking together, it is not possible for the animal to separate these components from each other, and therefore all the components of the ration (palatable and non-palatable) are consumed by the animal.
2 – Increasing palatability: due to the addition of sticky pellet materials such as molasses, the palatability of the ration increases and therefore the animal consumes it with more appetite.
3- Reduction of the nature of dust: Complete pelleted feed has much less dust compared to non-compressed feed (mesh), which reduces the possibility of respiratory diseases for livestock and ranchers.
4 – Ease of transportation: Due to the compression and the possibility of packing this type of feed, it is easier to transport it in different livestock departments, and as a result, it will reduce the labor force and the worker will be more willing to work.
5 – Reduction of spillage: The spillage of pelleted feed in different parts of livestock farming, such as barns, feeding corridors, and mangers, is minimized.
6 – Reduction of the required space: the compression of the complete pelleted feed, which causes an increase in its volumetric mass, reduces the space required to store the feed (warehouse) throughout the year.
7 – Reduction of pathogenic and anti-nutritional factors: the high temperature of the feed pelleting process and the mechanical pressure caused by pressing the material while passing through the die cause the destruction of many pathogenic factors and also the destruction of existing anti-nutritional substances.
8- Reducing the activity of growth inhibitors: Harmful growth inhibitor substances usually lose their activity under pressure and heat.
9 – Increasing consumption: Livestock usually consume more pelleted feed due to its palatability and volume reduction compared to other feeds.
10 – Increase in growth rate: Increasing feed consumption usually causes an increase in growth, and therefore animals with daily consumption of more feed will have a higher daily growth, which, especially in fattening animals, will shorten the duration of the fattening period.
11 – Improvement of feed conversion factor: Due to the heating process by steam, which is carried out on whole feed components, especially grains, the nutritional value of feed is improved. This improvement will be in the form of increased digestibility of energy, amino acids and other nutrients. For example, as a result of the cooking process by steam, starch granules in cereals are gelatinized and are more affected by digestive enzymes, which results in an increase in digestibility of starch and metabolizable energy of feed.
12- Regulating rumen environment conditions: Another advantage is its effect on rumen acidosis. Consuming complete pelleted feed improves rumen environment and reduces acidity changes.
13- Increasing milk production: Milk production in dairy cows depends on various factors, including breed of dairy cow, age, season, health, stress and nutrition. Proper feeding of livestock makes it possible for livestock to provide the energy and nutrients necessary for milk production. When the animal is fed in the form of complete pelleted feed, the feed consumption and nutritional balance increases, and this causes the animal to produce more milk. Also, the quality of the milk improves in terms of the amount of fat, protein and lactose.
Feeding complete pelleted feed (TMR) can increase milk production by 1 to 2.5 kg per cow.
conclusion
When animals are fed complete pelleted feed (TMR), in addition to increasing milk production and improving milk quality, feed costs are also reduced. Because in this method, there is less food waste and cheaper and available food can be used. Also, with the decrease in the incidence of digestive diseases, the costs of medicine and doctors are also reduced. In addition, using feeder mixer devices,The need for manpower to feed cattle also decreases. As a result, it increases productivity and reduces livestock production and maintenance costs.
