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.
The higher the N content, the higher the potential N in urine and N loss to water and atmosphere.
Pasture
Ryegrass/white clover dominant. North Is. and dryland South Is.
| DM | ME | CP | N content | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Pasture, spring | 12-18 | 11.5-12.5 | 18-35 | 2.9-6.1 | 35-45 | 7-25 | 2-4 | 3-6 |
| Pasture, summer | 15-20 | 9.5-10.5 | 14-22 | 2.2-3.5 | 42-52 | 7-25 | 4-8 | 5 |
| Pasture, summer dry | 20-30 | 8.0-9.5 | 9-14 | 1.4-2.2 | 52-65 | 7-25 | 7-15 | 4-8 |
| Pasture, autumn/winter | 13-18 | 11.0-11.5 | 15-20 | 2.4-3.2 | 40-47 | 7-25 | 2-4 | 3-5 |
Silage
| DM | ME | CP | N content | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Pasture, good | 23 | 10.0 | 17.0 | 2.7 | 45 | 22.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 |
| Pasture, poor | 38 | 9.0 | 15.0 | 2.4 | 55 | 15.0 | 8.0 | 3.1 |
| Barley | 33 | 9.8 | 11.9 | 1.9 | 57 | 19.9 | 100.0 | 2.9 |
| Lucerne | 30-40 | 9.5 | 20.0 | 3.2 | 51 | 16.7 | 45.0 | 3.5 |
| Maize | 33 | 10.3 | 8.0 | 1.3 | 49 | 35.1 | 100.0 | 3.1 |
| Pea | 33 | 8.8 | 13.1 | 2.1 | 59 | 18.3 | 100.0 | 3.3 |
| Wheat oat | 36 | 10.5 | 13.0 | 2.1 | 59 | 16.1 | 100.0 | 3.6 |
Hay
| DM | ME | CP | N content | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Pasture, good | 85.0 | 9.7 | 17 | 2.7 | 54.0 | 17.7 | 44.0 | 2.6 |
| Pasture, poor | 85.0 | 7.3 | 7 | 1.1 | 66.0 | 14.6 | 45.0 | 2.6 |
| Barley straw | 87.0 | 6.5 | 4.3 | 0.7 | 80.0 | 6.7 | 100.0 | 1.9 |
| Pea straw | 85.0 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 59.0 | - | - | - |
| Wheat straw | 89.0 | 6.3 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 79.0 | 7.8 | 100.0 | 1.8 |
Grazed crops*
| DM | ME | CP | N content | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Chicory | 8-19 | 12.5-13 | 20-26 | 3.2-4.2 | 30-38 | 4-9 | - | - |
| Fodder beet | 14-20 | 12.0-12.5 | 9-14 | 1.4-2.2 | 11-16 | 60-65 | 5 | - |
| Kale | 11-15 | 11.0-13.5 | 12-18 | 1.9-2.9 | 20-35 | 35-40 | - | 2.1 |
| Lucerne | 24.0 | 11.0 | 30.0 | 4.8 | 30 | - | - | 2.5 |
| Oats | 11-20 | 11.5 | 13.2 | 2.1 | 30 | 48 | 90 | 4.9 |
| Swedes | 9-12 | 11.0-13.0 | 12-20 | 1.9-2.9 | 16-30 | 45-50 | 0.1 | - |
| Tritcale | 32.0 | - | 13.8 | 2.2 | 59.7 | 68 | 67 | - |
| Turnips | 9-11 | 12.0 | 12-18 | 1.9-2.9 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 22.0 |
| Plantain | 9-20 | 11-12 | 16-18 | 2.6-2.9 | - | 11-17 | - | - |
Concentrate
| DM | ME | CP | N content | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Barley | 89.0 | 13.0 | 11 | 1.8 | 21.0 | 61.4 | 90.0 | 2.0 |
| Bran | 85.0 | 9.8 | 17.1 | 2.7 | 51.0 | 20.6 | 95.0 | 4.4 |
| Canola meal | 90.0 | 11.5 | 38 | 6.1 | 30.0 | - | 1.5 | 3.5 |
| Lupin | 89.0 | 12.0 | 34.2 | 5.5 | 33.0 | 22.0 | 90.0 | 5.5 |
| Maize grain | 89.0 | 13.6 | 8 | 1.3 | 9.0 | 75.1 | 99.0 | 4.3 |
| Oats | 89.0 | 11.5 | 13 | 2.1 | 31.0 | 47.5 | 90.0 | 4.9 |
| Peas | 87.0 | 13.0 | 24 | 3.8 | 23.0 | 46.0 | - | 1.8 |
| Soya bean meal | 90.0 | 12.9 | 50 | 8.0 | 14.0 | 27.0 | 90.0 | 1.4 |
| Soya bean hulls | 88.0 | 12.0 | 13.5 | 2.2 | 60.0 | 27.0 | 1.4 | - |
| Tapioca | 88.0 | 12.8 | 5 | 0.8 | 20.0 | 27.0 | 71.0 | 2.0 |
| Wheat | 89.0 | 12.6 | 11.3 | 1.8 | 14.0 | 70.0 | 90.0 | 1.9 |
| Whole cotton seed | 88.0 | 16.0 | 23 | 3.7 | 44.0 | 70.0 | 90.0 | 18.0 |
| Cotton seed meal | 89.0 | 12.0 | min 43 | min 6.9 | 20-23 | 70.0 | 1.5 | 0.1 |
By products
| DM | ME | CP | N content | NDF | SSS | Starch | Fat | |
|
|
% | ME/kgDM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %DM | %SSS | % |
| Apple pomace | 22.0 | 10.4 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 41.0 | 44.0 | 100 | 4.7 |
| Bread | 63.0 | 14.0 | 13.0 | 2.1 | 18.0 | 65.0 | 90 | 5.7 |
| Brewers grains | 24.0 | 10.0 | 23.0 | 3.7 | 49.0 | 11.2 | 100 | 7.3 |
| Cabbage | 8.0 | 13.2 | 19 | 3.0 | 29.0 | 60.4 | - | 3.4 |
| Carrots | 12.0 | 13.2 | 9.9 | 1.6 | 9.0 | 59.4 | - | 1.4 |
| Condensed distillers syrup | 42-45 | 15-17 | 15-17 | 2.4-2.7 | 1.0 | - | - | 4-8 |
| Dried distillers grains | 90.0 | 12-13 | 25-33 | 4.0-5.3 | 30.0 | 7.0 | 55 | 3.5 |
| Fishmeal | 92.0 | 11.7 | 66.7 | 10.7 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 90 | 10.5 |
| Kiwifruit ripe | 14.0 | 12.0-12.5 | 12-17 | 1.9-2.7 | 20.0 | 50.0 | 2-4 | 3 |
| Kiwifruit (hard) | 20.0 | 12.0-12.5 | 6-10 | 1.0-1.6 | 25.0 | 30.0 | 2 | 3 |
| Molasses | 75.0 | 12 | 4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 82.8 | 0 | 0.1 |
| Onion | 10.0 | 13 | 11.6 | 1.9 | 18.0 | 65.1 | 100 | 1.6 |
| Palm Kernel Extract | 90.0 | 11 | 14 | 2.2 | 70.0 | - | 5 | 8 |
| Potatoes | 23.0 | 13 | 10 | 1.6 | 7.6 | 77.2 | 100 | 0.4 |
| Pumpkin | 8.4 | 12.9 | 16 | 2.6 | 5.9 | 67.4 | 100 | 1.2 |
| Tallow | 99.0 | 31.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 99 |
| Urea | 99.0 | 0 | 281.0 | 45.0 | 0.0 | 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
