Good animal nutrition does not necessarily begin with more feed, but rather with providing the right nutrients at the right time. Veld conditions, the quality of available grazing and the animal’s stage of production determine which supplements are required. The composition of a lick therefore plays an important role in an effective feeding programme.

A lick is also much more than simply a collection of ingredients mixed together. Every component serves a specific purpose. Some provide protein or phosphate, others contribute minerals and trace minerals, while characteristics such as palatability, binding properties and moisture resistance can also be important.

Feedtek’s Ecovite range offers different products that can be used as raw materials in licks and other feed mixtures. Ecovite Drimol, Ecovite Dripro 64 and Ecovite Drifos P12 each fulfil a specific role, giving farmers the opportunity to formulate supplements according to the nutritional objectives of the mixture.

Ecovite Drimol: More than just the taste of molasses

Molasses has long been associated with animal feed, particularly because of its palatability. Ecovite Drimol takes this familiar raw material a step further.

Drimol is a dark to golden-brown, spray-dried molasses by-product in powder form, suitable for the diets of all animal species. It provides minerals and trace minerals, as well as moderate levels of protein and energy in the form of sugars.

However, the product’s value extends beyond the nutrients it provides. It can also play a practical role in the manufacture and handling of feeds and licks.

Drimol acts as a binding agent for pellets and feed blocks. When included at sufficient levels, it can improve the water resistance of supplements. The product enhances palatability and gives feed a pleasant molasses flavour.

Its fine particle size helps Drimol distribute evenly throughout feed mixtures and can also help prevent ingredients in licks and other loose feeds from separating.

This makes Drimol a useful building block for farmers who consider not only the nutritional value of an ingredient, but also the physical characteristics of the final mixture.

Drimol contains no non-protein nitrogen (NPN) sources, such as urea, and does not contain growth promoters or other medication. According to the product information sheet, it is safe for horses and game. It is packaged in 25 kg PPPE bags with plastic liners.

Dripro 64: When protein is part of the plan

While Drimol provides a versatile ingredient for different diets, Ecovite Dripro 64 focuses specifically on protein supplementation for ruminants.

Dripro 64 is a versatile, weather-resistant protein concentrate that can be mixed with salt and other raw materials to produce weather-resistant protein licks for ruminants.

According to the product specifications, Dripro 64 contains a minimum of 645 g/kg crude protein, a large proportion of which is protein equivalent derived from NPN. It also contains minerals, trace minerals and vitamins A and B.

One of its practical advantages lies in the formulation of licks intended for outdoor use.

Dripro 64 helps reduce the risk of NPN poisoning by improving the weather resistance of licks. It is palatable to encourage adequate lick intake, mixes easily into lick formulations because of its fine particle size, and helps prevent ingredients in feed mixtures from settling or separating. The product can also be used as a binding agent for lick blocks.

The product information sheet provides several example formulations in which Dripro 64 is combined with ingredients such as salt, oilcake, maize meal and Drifos P12 to produce different maintenance and transitional licks.

There is, however, an important distinction: Dripro 64 contains NPN sources. It must therefore be mixed and fed strictly according to the instructions for use.

Farmers should follow the urea warning on the bag and, where necessary, consult a nutritionist or Feedtek agent regarding the correct formulation and use of the product.

Drifos P12: Phosphate in a practical form

Protein is only one component of supplementary nutrition. Ecovite Drifos P12 provides a way to incorporate phosphorus into a feeding programme.

Drifos P12 is a weather-resistant phosphate concentrate manufactured by combining Ecovite Drimol with high-quality monocalcium phosphate, minerals and trace minerals. It is a versatile product that can be used as a phosphorus source in the diets of farm animals.

The phosphorus is supplied in the form of highly available monocalcium phosphate (MCP). Drifos P12 also contains other macrominerals, has a low calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and includes a balanced range of essential trace minerals.

Drifos P12 is a concentrate and must therefore be mixed with other ingredients. When mixed with an equal quantity of salt, it forms a weather-resistant phosphate lick containing 6% phosphorus.

One of the product’s interesting characteristics is that it forms a seal when it comes into contact with moisture. This seal helps protect the supplement against rain damage and associated losses.

The product is also palatable to encourage adequate intake. The P6 mixture can be converted into a phosphate block by adding 10% water during the mixing process.

For a simple P6 lick, the product information sheet recommends mixing two 25 kg bags of Drifos P12 with one 50 kg bag of feed-grade salt.

The recommended daily intake of this P6 lick is:

  • Cattle: 100 to 200 g per animal per day.
  • Sheep: 17 to 34 g per animal per day.

Drifos P12 contains no NPN sources, such as urea, and does not include growth promoters or other medication. According to the product information sheet, it is safe for horses, goats and game and has a shelf life of 24 months.

Three products, different purposes

The value of the Ecovite range lies precisely in the fact that Drimol, Dripro 64 and Drifos P12 are not simply three versions of the same product.

Drimol offers the characteristics of a dried molasses product and can contribute energy, minerals and trace minerals while supporting palatability and binding.

Dripro 64 provides a concentrated protein option for formulating ruminant licks, while Drifos P12 can be used as a concentrated phosphorus source.

This means farmers can select a product according to the purpose of the supplement. The products can also be combined with other raw materials to develop a specific lick formulation.

This is particularly important because animals’ nutritional requirements do not remain the same throughout the year.

The answer therefore does not lie simply in placing a lick in front of the animals, but in understanding what that lick is intended to achieve.

Feedtek’s Ecovite range provides the building blocks; the correct formulation determines how they are brought together.

Get expert advice

Because raw materials, veld conditions and nutritional objectives differ, farmers should consult a nutritionist or their nearest Feedtek agent for further advice and suitable feed formulations.

This is particularly important when using products containing NPN sources, such as Dripro 64.

For more information or to contact your nearest Feedtek agent, visit Feedtek’s website, call 086 111 5362, or email info@feedtek.co.za