Fôrråvarer

Fôrråvarer (feed ingredients) are the raw materials used to produce animal feeds. They include crop products, by-products from agriculture and food processing, and other plant-based materials chosen to provide energy, protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamins in formulated diets for livestock, poultry, and other farm animals.

Fôrråvarer are commonly categorized as forages and concentrates. Forages include silage, hay, straw, and grazing materials. Concentrates provide higher energy or protein and include cereals (such as wheat, barley, maize), seed meals (rapeseed meal, soybean meal), and by‑products (distillers dried grains, beet pulp).

Quality characteristics influence feed value: energy content, crude protein, fiber (NDF/ADF), digestibility, palatability, and mineral composition. Moisture, storage stability, and presence of contaminants (mycotoxins, pesticides) affect safety and performance. Anti-nutritional factors may require processing or treatment.

Preservation and processing include drying, ensiling, grinding, crimping, or pelleting to improve storage, handling, and mixing. Fôrråvarer are integrated into ration formulations by feed manufacturers or farmers, with consideration of the animal species, production stage, and production goals, ensuring balanced nutrition and efficient resource use.

Regulations and quality systems govern labeling, traceability, and safety. Markets for fôrråvarer are global, with seasonal production, import dependencies, and price fluctuations. Sustainable sourcing and reduced environmental impact are increasingly emphasized in feed planning.