What is an example of an energy feed?

December 12, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the USDA Economic Research Service, corn accounts for more than 95% of total feed grain production and use in the United States, making it a prime example of an energy feed. This category of feeds provides the essential calories needed for animal maintenance, growth, and reproduction.

Quick Summary

Energy feeds are low-protein, high-calorie sources that provide energy to animals, primarily from carbohydrates and fats. Common types include cereal grains like corn and barley, along with high-energy byproducts and fat sources used in balanced rations.

Key Points

Cereal Grains: Common energy feeds include corn, barley, oats, and wheat, which are rich in starch and carbohydrates.
By-products: Cost-effective energy feeds can be derived from industrial by-products like distillers' dried grains (DDGS), molasses, and wheat middlings.
Fats and Oils: These are the most energy-dense nutrients, offering over twice the energy of carbohydrates, and can be added carefully to boost calorie concentration.
Purpose: Energy feeds provide the fuel necessary for all animal bodily functions, including maintenance, growth, reproduction, and lactation.
Ration Balancing: The choice of energy feed depends on the animal species, its physiological state, and cost, requiring careful formulation of rations.

What Defines an Energy Feed?

Energy feeds are feedstuffs with a high concentration of available energy and typically less than 20% crude protein. Unlike roughages, which are high in fiber, energy feeds are dense sources of calories, crucial for fueling all metabolic processes in livestock, including maintenance, growth, and reproduction. A balanced diet for livestock must provide adequate energy to prevent poor health and decreased productivity. The primary sources of energy in these feeds are non-fibrous carbohydrates, such as starches and sugars, and lipids (fats).

The Role of Cereal Grains as Energy Feeds

Cereal grains are the most common and widely used examples of energy feeds worldwide. Their high starch content makes them a readily available source of carbohydrates that can be efficiently digested by many types of livestock. While the nutrient profile can vary slightly, all grains offer a significant energy boost to an animal's diet.

Here are some of the most prominent cereal grains used as energy feeds:

Corn (Maize): A staple in livestock diets, particularly for poultry and swine, because of its very high energy content. Yellow corn is also a good source of vitamin A.
Sorghum (Milo): A drought-tolerant grain that serves as an excellent energy source, similar to corn, and is a key feedstuff in many regions.
Barley: Often used in beef cattle rations to provide both energy and a moderate amount of protein.
Oats: Valued for their balanced protein and energy content and are a good choice for horses and other animals.
Wheat: Provides high energy, but caution is needed when feeding to ruminants in large quantities due to rapid fermentation, which can cause digestive issues.

High-Energy By-products and Liquid Feeds

By-products from industrial food processing provide economical and effective energy feeds. They offer a diverse range of nutrients and can be a valuable component of animal rations.

Distillers' Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS): A byproduct of ethanol production, DDGS is an excellent source of energy and protein for swine and cattle.
Molasses: A liquid feed derived from the sugar refining process, used to increase the palatability of rations and provide a source of readily fermentable sugars.
Wheat Middlings (Midds): A byproduct of flour milling, midds provide energy and protein and are a popular feed ingredient.
Dried Bakery Waste: An energy-dense feedstuff with highly digestible starch, sugars, and fats, making it suitable for pigs and dairy cows.
Rice Bran: Offers moderate energy and some fat, and is a valuable byproduct, especially in poultry diets.

Fats and Oils as Concentrated Energy

Fats and oils are the most energy-dense nutrients, containing about 2.25 times more energy per unit of weight than carbohydrates. They are used in livestock rations to increase energy density without adding bulk, which can be beneficial for high-performing animals like lactating dairy cows.

Sources of fat include:

Animal Fats: Such as tallow or lard.
Vegetable Oils: Including soybean, canola, or corn oil.
Oilseeds: Like whole cottonseed, which is high in both fat and protein.

Careful management is required when incorporating fat into diets to prevent digestive upset. The maximum recommended fat levels in cattle diets are typically 4–6%, depending on the animal's age and stage of production.

Energy Feed Profile: Grains vs. By-products


Characteristic	Cereal Grains (e.g., Corn, Barley)	Industrial By-products (e.g., DDGS, Molasses)
Primary Energy Source	Starch	Starch, Sugars, Lipids, Fiber
Protein Content	Moderate (8-12%)	Variable (can be moderate to high)
Fiber Content	Low, especially when processed	Variable, often higher than grains (e.g., DDGS)
Palatability	High	Variable, can be improved with additives like molasses
Cost-Effectiveness	Can vary based on market price and availability	Often cost-effective alternatives to whole grains
Nutrient Consistency	Relatively consistent	More variable, depends on the processing source

Conclusion: The Key to Balanced Rations

Selecting the right energy feed is a fundamental component of effective animal nutrition. While corn remains a preeminent example due to its high energy and availability, a range of other grains, by-products, and fats offer viable alternatives. The best choice depends on factors like animal species, age, production stage, and feed cost. By understanding the diverse options and their nutritional profiles, producers can formulate balanced rations that maximize animal performance and health. For more insights on beef cattle nutrition, you can consult extension resources from reputable universities and agricultural organizations.

Optimizing Energy Feeds: An Informational Guide

Corn as a staple: Corn is the most widely used example of an energy feed, valued for its high caloric content.
Feeds for different animals: Different animals have varying energy needs and digestive systems; corn is ideal for poultry and swine, while barley is common for cattle.
Balancing rations: A nutritionist can help balance rations to meet specific animal needs, especially during critical life stages like growth or lactation.
By-products for cost: Industrial by-products like DDGS and molasses can be a cost-effective alternative to whole grains.
Fats for density: Adding fats and oils can dramatically increase the energy density of a feed without increasing bulk.
Energy feed considerations: Monitor forage quality, animal health, and the economics of different feeds to optimize your feeding program.
Digestive health: Avoid abrupt changes in an animal's diet, especially when introducing new grains, to prevent digestive upset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Energy feeds are characterized by a high content of digestible energy from sources like carbohydrates and fats and are typically low in crude protein (under 20%). Protein feeds, conversely, are rich in crude protein (over 20%) and are used for muscle development, growth, and milk production, though they also contribute some energy.

No, corn is just one common example. While it is a dominant feed grain in many regions, other grains like barley, oats, and sorghum are also excellent energy feeds. Additionally, by-products like molasses and fats provide concentrated energy.

Energy feeds are essential for meeting the high caloric demands of livestock for basic bodily functions (maintenance), growth, and production activities like milk yield and reproduction. Inadequate energy can lead to reduced weight gain, poor health, and fertility issues.

Yes, excessive consumption of high-energy feeds, particularly grains, can lead to serious digestive problems like acidosis in ruminants. It can also cause obesity and other metabolic issues. Feeds should be introduced gradually and fed in balanced proportions.

Non-grain energy feeds include liquid feeds like molasses, high-fat sources such as animal fats and vegetable oils, and industrial by-products like dried distillers' grains and bakery waste. For ruminants, high-quality forages and silages also provide significant energy.

Yes, an animal's energy requirements are influenced by its species, age, body size, and physiological state. For example, a lactating dairy cow requires a significantly higher energy intake than a mature beef cow that is not lactating.

To increase energy, you can incorporate high-energy grains like corn or barley, add supplemental fat from sources like vegetable oil or tallow (with caution), or use by-products such as dried distillers' grains or wheat middlings. Proper processing, like grinding, can also improve digestibility.