Animal nutrition · the basics
Animal Nutrition Basics
A practical starting point for understanding feed, asking better questions, and building a feeding plan around the animal.
For poultry, horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. Other species need separate guidance; examples are labeled by species.
In this guide
Six nutrient classes. One feeding plan.
Water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals are the basic nutrient classes. A balanced poultry ration supplies all six. [1]
Energy is a property of the diet, rather than a separate ingredient or nutrient class. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins can supply it. Horse feeding plans commonly express requirements using digestible energy. The energy guide explains why that number differs from gross energy. [2]
From the bag to the animal
Protein illustrates the journey: the animal eats feed, digestive processes release smaller products, amino acids and small peptides are absorbed, and those building blocks enter body metabolism. An amount present in the bag is only the beginning of that journey. [3]
Read the intended species, purpose, directions, and cautions before comparing numbers. A nutrient guarantee marked “minimum” sets a lower bound; it is not an exact analysis of every bag. The label and the animal’s feeding plan belong together. [4]
Start with the animal you have
Sheep and goat feeding depends on forage and production stage: growth, late pregnancy, milk production, or adult maintenance. [5]
For horses, age, work, body weight, growth, and reproduction help determine nutrient needs. A forage analysis is a useful starting point. Ask a qualified nutritionist to consider the whole ration, rather than matching a bag’s protein percentage alone. [6]
Choose your starting point
Start with water for the daily routine, protein for the barrel illustration, or feed analysis if you are comparing labels. Read the energy guide alongside carbohydrates and fat.
Bring your feed tags, supplement labels, forage report, and a description of your animals to our nutritionist. For illness, unexplained weight loss, or poor appetite, involve your veterinarian. Plan pregnancy and lactation feeding with qualified help.
Sources
Original Tucker Milling guide, informed by these primary sources. The cited institutions do not endorse Tucker Milling. Follow the current product label.
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Accessed October 8, 2026.
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Nutrient Requirements for Horses ↩
Accessed October 8, 2026.
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Accessed October 8, 2026.
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Feed Inspector’s Manual: labeling ↩
Model guidance; state rules vary. Accessed October 8, 2026.
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Nutrition and feeding for sheep and goats ↩
Reviewed 2025. Accessed October 8, 2026.
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Accessed October 8, 2026.