Question

What is the difference between roughage and concentrates in cattle feed? Name one source of each for dairy animals.

Answer 1

• Roughage is simply referred to as dietary fiber. It is the indigestible portion of the food. Roughage do not provide any nutrient to our body but play an important role in digestion and more water uptake.

• Concentrate is low fiber, high energy feeds. They may be low medium or high protein. Most often they are fed to raise the energy level for dairy cattle and compensate for any other deficiencies.

Source of roughage - sugarcane bagasse

Source of concentrate - barley, wheat etc.