DELIVERY METHOD AND SUPPLEMENT CONSUMPTION BY GRAZING RUMINANTS - A REVIEW

The effectiveness of supplementation programs is affected by the abili ty to reduce intake variation and to meet target supplement consumptio n. A review was made of factors affecting variation in individual anim al consumption of supplement by grazing cattle and sheep, including su pplement type and feeding method, animal dominance and social interact ions, and forage availability. The effects of palatability were not in cluded. The proportion of animals not consuming supplement is increase d by Limited trough space, small supplement allowance, self-fed supple ments, neophobia to feed or feed delivery devices, and group feeding s ituations. Variation in individual animal supplement intake is increas ed by excessive trough space, limited supplement allowance, self-fed s upplements, feed and feed delivery equipment neophobia, and individual feeding of supplements. Factors influencing the percentage of animals consuming the target amount of supplement need to be more clearly ide ntified. There seems to be an optimum level of feeding competition tha t reduces intake variation and improves the proportion of animals cons uming adequate amounts of supplement, but this optimum varies with the feeding situation.