Minerals play an important role in animal feed — for growth, health and productivity. But the mineral ingredients used must qualify as feed ingredients. This is where the term feed grade matters.
What is feed grade?
Feed grade refers to ingredients produced and tested for use in animal feed. What sets them apart from technical grade is not just purity, but also limits on impurities that are harmful to animals — such as heavy metals — and the quality documentation that comes with them. A technical-grade material that looks chemically identical should not be used as a substitute.
Example: feed grade magnesium sulphate
Magnesium sulphate (MgSOâ‚„) is used in feed formulations as a source of magnesium and sulphur. The Magnesium Sulphate Feed Grade we supply contains 98% MgSOâ‚„, with the remainder being about 1% potassium sulphate, about 0.5% calcium sulphate, and water. The full specification can be downloaded from the product page.
Other minerals such as potassium can also be added to feed formulations, for example as feed grade potassium chloride.
Principles of proper use
- Follow the formulation set by an animal nutritionist. Mineral requirements differ by species, age and production goal. Too much of a mineral can be as harmful as too little.
- Use the recommended dosage, and do not swap one ingredient for another without recalculating the formulation.
- Mix evenly. Minerals are used in small amounts, so uneven mixing leaves part of the feed with too much and part with too little. Ingredients are often blended into a premix first.
- Store in a dry, closed place so that the material does not cake or become contaminated.
- Ask for quality documents such as a Certificate of Analysis for every batch, and make sure the ingredient complies with the applicable feed regulations.
Need feed grade ingredients?
We supply chemicals to the feed industry, complete with specifications and quality documents. Contact our team for a quotation that fits your formulation.
