försvinn

Fôrsvinn, or feed loss, refers to the portion of feed that does not contribute to the animal’s production, maintenance, or growth. It encompasses feed that is not eaten, feed that spoils or becomes damaged, and feed that is wasted during handling, storage, feeding, or sorting. Fôrsvinn is a practical measure of feed efficiency and is relevant across livestock sectors such as dairy, beef, pigs, and poultry.

Causes and components of fôrsvinn vary with species, housing, and management. Direct waste includes spillage and sorting by animals, overfilling troughs, and wind-blown or dust-bound feed. Storage losses arise from moisture, mold, heating, pests, and spoilage. Handling losses occur during transfer, grinding, mixing, or feeding procedures. Poor feed quality, incorrect particle size, and palatability issues can also increase intake variability and waste. Differences in feeding systems, such as individual versus group feeding, influence the extent of fôrsvinn.

Measurement and estimation can be done directly or indirectly. Direct methods involve weighing feed offered and refusals over a period to determine waste. Indirect approaches compare the actual feed offered with expected feed consumption based on maintenance and production, with residual differences attributed to fôrsvinn and measurement error. In practice, farms may estimate fôrsvinn from refusals, observed spillage, and storage losses, then use the result to adjust feeding practices.

Reduction strategies focus on precise rationing, improved feeding systems, and better storage and handling. Approaches include feeding with troughs designed to minimize spillage, using automated or more accurate feeders, regular cleaning and inspection of storage, ensuring feed quality and palatability, and monitoring intake and production to promptly address waste.