An equally, if not more important measure is feed "quality"; feed "quality" is the energy value of feed. It is measured by the amount of usable or metabolisable energy (ME) in a given weight of feed. In New Zealand the energy value of feed is referred to as the megajoules of metabolisable energy per kilogram of dry matter (MJME/kg DM) or M/D for short.
The higher the M/D value the better the feed. For example autumn grass, with a M/D value of 11 has a higher energy value per kg dry matter than good meadow hay with a M/D value of 8.
Pasture
Ryegrass/white clover dominant. North Is. and dryland South Is.
| DM | ME | CP | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Pasture, spring | 12-15 | 11.5-12.5 | 20-30 | 35-45 | 7-25 | 2-4 | 4-6 |
| Pasture, summer | 15-20 | 9.5-10.5 | 14-22 | 42-52 | 7-25 | 2-4 | 3-5 |
| Pasture, summer dry | 20-30 | 9.0-10.0 | 9-14 | 52-65 | 7-15 | 2-4 | 2-4 |
| Pasture, autumn/winter | 13-18 | 11.0-11.5 | 15-20 | 40-47 | 7-25 | 2-4 | 3-5 |
Silage
| DM | ME | CP | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Pasture, good | 30-35 | 11.0 | 17.0 | 45-50 | 3-5 | 7 | 3.0 |
| Pasture, poor | 33-40 | 9.0 | 12-14 | 53-57 | 3-5 | 8 | 3.1 |
| Baleage | 35-45 | 9.5-11.0 | 12-17 | 50-55 | 5-10 | 2-4 | 3.0 |
| Barley | 30-35 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 52-60 | 20 | 100 | 2.9 |
| Lucerne | 30-50 | 9.0-11.0 | 19-23 | 36-48 | 4-6 | 1-3 | |
| Maize, high grain | 33-38 | 10.8-11.0 | 8.0 | 42-45 | 35 | 75-80 | 3.1 |
| Maize, low grain | 28-40 | 10.0-10.5 | 8.0 | 45-50 | 30 | 70-80 | 3.1 |
| Pea | 33 | 9.0-8.5 | 13-16 | 59 | 20 | 35 | 3.3 |
| Whole crop silage * | 35-40 | 9.0-10.5 | 8.0-9.0 | 55-60 | 16-30 | 75-80 | 3-6 |
Hay
| DM | ME | CP | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Pasture, good | 85 | 9-10 | 15-20 | 50-58 | 10-15 | 2-4 | 2.6 |
| Pasture, poor | 85 | 7-8 | 5-10 | 60-70 | 5-10 | 2-4 | 2.6 |
| Barley straw | 87 | 6-7 | 4-5 | 80 | 5-8 | 100 | 1.9 |
| Pea straw | 85 | 7-8 | 6 | 59 | - | - | - |
| Wheat straw | 89 | 6-7 | 3-4 | 79 | 7-9 | 100 | 1.8 |
Grazed crops *
| DM | ME | CP | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Kale | 11-15 | 11.0-13.5 | 12-18 | 20-35 | 35-40 | ||
| Swedes | 9-12 | 11.0-13.0 | 12-20 | 16-30 | 45-50 | ||
| Turnips | 9-11 | 12.0 | 12-18 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 2 |
Concentrate
| DM | ME | CP | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Barley | 86-89 | 13.0 | 11-12 | 16-21 | 60 | 90 | 2.0 |
| Bran (wheat) | 89 | 10.0 | 17 | 51 | 20 | 95 | 4.4 |
| Maize grain | 87-89 | 13.5 | 8 | 9 | 75 | 99 | 4.3 |
| Oats | 89 | 11.5 | 13 | 31 | 48 | 90 | 4.9 |
| Peas | 87 | 13.0 | 24 | 23 | 46 | - | 1.8 |
| Soya bean meal | 90 | 12.5 | 47-53 | 15 | 27 | 90 | 1.5 |
| Wheat | 86-89 | 13-13.5 | 13 | 11-14 | 70 | 90 | 1.5-2.0 |
By products
| DM | ME | CP | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Apple pomace | 22 | 10.5 | 5.4 | 41 | 44.0 | 100 | 4.7 |
| Brewers grains | 20-25 | 10.5 | 20-25 | 55 | 11.2 | 100 | 7.3-8.0 |
| Broll (wheat middds) | 85 | 10.5 | 11-14 | 12 | 22 | 90 | 5.0 |
| Carrots | 12-13 | 13.0 | 9-10 | 20 | 40 | 25 | |
| Fishmeal | 92 | 11.7 | 70-73 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10.5 |
| Kiwifruit ripe | 14 | 12.0-12.5 | 12-17 | 20 | 50 | 2-4 | 3.0 |
| Kiwifruit (hard) | 20 | 12.0-12.5 | 6-10 | 25 | 30 | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| Molasses | 75 | 11.6 | 4-6 | 0 | 65 | 0 | 0 |
| Palm Kernel Extract | 90 | 11.0 | 14.0 | 70 | 5 | 8.0 | |
| Potatoes | 20 | 13.0 | 11.0 | 5 | 77.2 | 100 | 0.4 |
| Proliq | 32-40 | 9.0-11.2 | contact supplier | ||||
| Sweetcorn silage | 20 | 9.5-10.5 | 8 | 40 | |||
| Tallow | 99 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 99.0 |
| Tapioca | 88 | 12.5 | 3 | 15 | 65-70 | 90 | 1.0 |
| Urea | 99 | 0.0 | 281 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: The average ME has been rounded to the nearest 0.5 ME. Quality of forages may be outside the range depending on the level of pasture/crop management. ME=metabolisable energy, CP=crude protein, NDF=neutral detergent fibre, SSS=soluble sugars and starch.
* Higher values South Island
