Feedipedia: An on-line encyclopedia of animal feeds - this looks useful

Marjory Wildcraft

Feedipedia is an open access information system on animal feed resources that provides information on nature, occurrence, chemical composition, nutritional value and safe use of nearly 1400 worldwide livestock feeds.Feedipedia: An on-line encyclopedia of animal feeds

https://www.feedipedia.org/

Feedipedia is a joint project of INRAE (formerly INRA-Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, French National Institute for Agricultural Research), CIRAD (Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, French Agricultural Research Center for International Development, AFZ (Association Française de Zootechnie, French Association for Animal Production) and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).

The main objective of Feedipedia is to provide extension and development workers, planners, project formulators, livestock farmers, science managers, policy makers, students and researchers with the latest scientific information to help them identify, characterize and properly use feed resources to sustainably develop the livestock sector. This is particularly important in emerging and developing countries where feed resources available locally are often under-utilized due to lack of information. Providing global knowledge on feed resources, including unconventional and lesser known ones, contributes to the development and use of innovative and appropriate feeding options and strategies.

Feeds datasheets contain the following information:

• Feed names, including vernacular and scientific names
• Description of the plants or plant parts/products used as feed
• Feeding recommendations for the main livestock species: cattle, sheep, goats, camels, poultry, pigs, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
• Tables of composition and nutritive value
• Illustrations, including photos and processing charts
• Distribution and basic agronomic information
• Forage management
• Processes for improving nutritional value
• Potential constraints such as presence of anti-nutritional and toxic factors
• Environmental impact of the production and use of feeds

Efficient use of feed resources is of paramount importance for a responsible livestock sector. Tables of feed composition and nutritive value are used to formulate balanced diets that meet animal requirements. In many industrialized countries, national feed tables have been available since long and are being updated on a regular basis. More recently, public and private feed databases have also been made available. In many emerging and developing countries, the consumption of animal products is increasing at a high rate. This demands accurate information on nutritional value of feed resources to formulate balanced rations. Although a large body of research data is published every year, it is rarely collated, analyzed, summarized and made available to potential users. The users in subtropical and tropical regions often have to rely on data obtained in temperate countries or use obsolete and unreliable sources. Also, feed resources found in tropical regions are different from those in temperate regions and, moreover, chemical composition and nutritive value of a given feedstuff when grown in temperate and tropical regions differ substantially.

Feedipedia is a world-wide compendium of up-to-date information on feed resources. The project covers feeds mainly available in tropical, subtropical and Mediterranean regions but also includes common feeds used in temperate countries.

LaurieLovesLearning

@Marjory Wildcraft I will certainly check this out.

I found it interesting that I could hear (in my head) & understand the French without reading the English portion of the names. I guess that means I must still be retaining something from highschool. 😆

LaurieLovesLearning

This is what it said about comfrey use with animals. I looked up "medicinal herbs" as well as "herbs."

https://www.feedipedia.org/node/92

This addresses feeding tomato greens to livestock (both positive & negative). Who knew ruminants could eat that? It would still make me nervous to do so!

https://www.feedipedia.org/node/694

Black soldier fly larvae for livestock (clicked on "insects" in the main menu):

https://www.feedipedia.org/node/16388

It will take some time to figure to how to use this site, but it appears as though there could be some useful information on it if you can find it.

vickeym

This does look interesting. Can't wait to spend some time learning how to use this site.

Michelle D

Wow, there is a lot of information here! It will take some time to master navigating the site, but it seems like it will be well worth it.