Staying in Balance

How do we make sure our homegrown feeds provide our animals with a good, balanced diet? Well, variety is the spice of life, and it’s also the key to a balanced diet. Commercially compounded animal feeds are usually a total mixed ration (TMR) intended to supply all the necessary nutrients. But in nature, no single plant or animal food supplies everything. So balance your animals’ diet like you balance your own — with variety! Just like humans, animals need:

• CARBOHYDRATES, such as potatoes and mangels, for energy;

• PROTEINS & FATS, readily available from seed crops such as sunflowers and tromboncinos;

• FIBER, present in all these vegetable crops, and in pasture plants; and

• MICRONUTRIENTS — vitamins and minerals — something your homegrown garden feeds will be bursting with!