Storing animal feed properly is essential for maintaining the health and well-being of your livestock. The feed can spoil or become infested with pests if it is not stored properly, which can lead to illness and even death for your animals. In this article, we will discuss some important tips for storing it to ensure that it remains fresh and safe for your animals to consume.
Step By Step Guide to Storing Animal Feed
Here’s a guide for you to properly store animal feed:
Choose the Right Storage Container
First and foremost, it is important to choose the right storage container for your animal feed. The container should be made of a durable material that is resistant to moisture and pests. Plastic or metal containers with tight-fitting lids are a good choice, as they will keep moisture and pests out.
The container should also be large enough to hold the amount of feed that you need to store. Not so large that the feed will become packed down and difficult to access.
Store it in a Cool, Dry Place
Once you have chosen a suitable container for your animal feed, it is important to store it in a cool, dry place. Moisture and heat can cause the feed to spoil and become moldy. It is essential to keep it in a cool, dry area.
A shed or garage that is not directly exposed to sunlight is a good place to store animal feed. If you do not have access to a cool, dry storage area, you can use a dehumidifier or air conditioning unit to keep the feed from getting too moist.
Keep the Feed Away from Pests
In addition to choosing the right storage container and location, it is also important to keep your animal feed away from pests. Pests such as rodents and insects can easily infest it, making it unsafe for your animals to consume.
Store the feed in containers with tight-fitting lids and keep the containers off of the ground. You can also use pest-repellent products. Products such as mouse traps or insect repellent, keep pests away from your animal feed.
Regularly Check your Animal Feed
Finally, it is important to regularly check your feed and make sure that it is still fresh and safe for your animals to consume. Over time, the feed can lose its nutritional value and become stale. If you notice that your feed has changed color, smells bad, or has visible mold on it, it is time to throw it out and replace it with fresh feed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, storing it properly is essential for maintaining the health and well-being of your livestock. By choosing the right storage container, storing the feed in a cool, dry place, keeping it away from pests, and regularly checking for freshness, you can ensure that your feed remains safe and nutritious for your animals.
If you like to learn more about storage preparation, you can check out articles such as Preserving Eggs, Storage Sufficiency Survival, Food Storage Beans, Firewood Storage, and Bacon Long Term Storage.
Katy Willis is a writer, lifelong homesteader, and master herbalist, master gardener, and canine nutritionist. Katy is a preparedness expert and modern homesteader practicing everyday preparedness, sustainability, and a holistic lifestyle.
She knows how important it is to be prepared for whatever life throws at you, because you just never know what's coming. And preparedness helps you give your family the best chance to thrive in any situation.
Katy is passionate about living naturally, growing food, keeping livestock, foraging, and making and using herbal remedies. Katy is an experienced herbalist and a member of the CMA (Complementary Medical Association).
Her preparedness skills go beyond just being "ready", she's ready to survive the initial disaster, and thrive afterward, too. She grows 100% organic food on roughly 15 acres and raises goats, chickens, and ducks. She also lovingly tends her orchard, where she grows many different fruit trees. And, because she likes to know exactly what she's feeding her family, she's a seasoned from-scratch cook and gluten-free baker.
Katy teaches foraging and environmental education classes, too, including self-sufficient living, modern homesteading, seed saving, and organic vegetable gardening.
Katy helps others learn forgotten skills, including basic survival skills and self-reliance.
She's been published on sites such as MSN, Angi, Home Advisor, Family Handyman, Wealth of Geeks, Readers Digest, and more.