Glossary
Definitions of common cattle-feed and nutrition terms.
A
- ADF— Acid Detergent Fibre measures the cellulose + lignin fraction of cattle feed - the most indigestible portion of plant cell walls. Higher ADF means lower digestibility and energy density.
- AIA— Acid Insoluble Ash is the silica-and-sand fraction of cattle feed that doesn't dissolve in hydrochloric acid. AIA is the standard test for detecting adulteration with sand, soil, or silica fillers - BIS limit is 2.5%.
- Anti-nutritional factor— Anti-nutritional factors are natural compounds in feed ingredients that reduce nutrient utilization or cause harm. Major examples include gossypol in cotton seed cake and glucosinolates in mustard cake.
B
- Bypass fat— Bypass fat is dietary fat engineered to pass through the rumen without disturbing fibre digestion, providing concentrated energy for high-yielding lactating cows and buffalo. Two main types: prilled hydrogenated and calcium soap.
- Bypass protein— Bypass protein is dietary protein engineered to pass through the rumen intact and be absorbed in the small intestine, delivering amino acids directly for milk production in high-yielding cattle and buffalo.
C
- CP— Crude Protein is the standard measure of total nitrogen-containing compounds in cattle feed, calculated as nitrogen × 6.25. Includes true protein plus non-protein nitrogen, with regulatory minimums set by BIS.
D
- DCP— DCP is the portion of crude protein that is digestible and available for absorption, used as a primary protein metric in cattle ration formulation.
- DM— Dry Matter is the part of feed remaining after all moisture is removed. All nutrient comparisons in cattle nutrition are made on a DM basis to allow fair comparison between wet (silage, green fodder) and dry (concentrate, hay) ingredients.
E
- EE— Ether Extract is the standard measure of crude fat in cattle feed, determined by extracting the feed with petroleum ether. EE is critical for energy density and milk fat synthesis, especially for buffalo.
M
- ME— Metabolisable Energy is the energy in cattle feed that the animal can actually use, expressed in MJ/kg of dry matter. ME is the European-standard energy measure and is closely related to TDN.
- Mycotoxin— Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by moulds on crops and feed. Aflatoxin is the most regulated mycotoxin in Indian cattle feed. Mycotoxins reduce milk yield, hurt reproduction, and can contaminate milk.
N
- NDF— Neutral Detergent Fibre measures total cell wall content in cattle feed - hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. NDF is the modern standard fibre measure, more accurate than crude fibre for predicting intake and digestibility.
- NEL— Net Energy for Lactation is the energy in cattle feed actually available for milk production after all metabolic losses. NEL is the most refined energy metric and is used in high-production dairy formulations.
- NPN— Non-Protein Nitrogen is dietary nitrogen from non-protein sources (mainly urea) that adult ruminants can convert to microbial protein. NPN is cheap and useful but dangerous to young animals, sheep, goats, and camels.
P
- Palatability— Palatability is how readily a cattle feed is eaten and how much the animal consumes. High palatability supports intake and milk yield. Affected by smell, taste, texture, moisture, and freshness.
- Premix— A premix is a concentrated blend of vitamins, trace minerals, and additives diluted with a carrier, added to cattle feed at low inclusion (0.5-2%) to deliver essential micronutrients precisely.
R
- Ration— A ration is the total daily feed offered to a cattle or buffalo. A balanced ration provides protein, energy, fibre, minerals, and water in the right quantities for the animal's production level.
- RDP— Rumen Degradable Protein is the fraction of dietary protein broken down by rumen microbes to ammonia, used to build microbial protein. Adequate RDP is essential for healthy rumen function and fibre digestion.
- RUP— Rumen Undegradable Protein is the fraction of dietary protein that passes through the rumen intact and is absorbed in the small intestine. High RUP is the defining feature of bypass protein supplements.
T
- TDN— TDN is the standard measure of digestible energy in cattle feed - sum of digestible crude protein, digestible fibre, digestible nitrogen-free extract, and 2.25x digestible fat. Higher TDN means more energy per kg.