ANSC Feeds Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Adding fats to livestock diets serves a significant purpose in enhancing energy density. Fats are a highly concentrated source of energy, providing about 2.25 times more energy per gram than carbohydrates or proteins. This increased energy density is particularly beneficial for livestock that require higher energy intake for growth, reproduction, or lactation, as it allows for the provision of necessary calories without requiring large volumes of feed.

In addition, incorporating fats can help improve the overall efficiency of feed utilization, as animals can meet their energy needs more effectively. This method is often utilized in feeding programs, especially for high-performance animals such as dairy cows, beef cattle, and swine, where meeting energy demands is critical for optimal production outcomes. Thus, enhancing energy density through the addition of fats plays an essential role in livestock nutrition and performance.