← Knowledge base

Reading feed labels

Who regulates labels

In Western Australia, stockfeed must be correctly labelled to reduce the risk of livestock being fed unsuitable feed; the requirements are in the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Agriculture Standards) Regulations 2013 [1]. DPIRD's factsheet Stockfeed labelling in Western Australia (October 2024) explains them for retailers and manufacturers [2].

Units

Feed reports give macrominerals in percent and trace minerals in parts per million (ppm) [3]. Energy may be given in MJ or in Mcal or kcal; 1 kcal is exactly 4.184 kJ [4].

As fed or dry matter

Values can be stated as fed or on a dry matter basis, so check which before comparing products [3, 5].

"Crude" values

Crude protein is calculated from nitrogen and doesn't distinguish true protein from non-protein nitrogen [3]. Crude fibre is an older measure that is inadequate for estimating nutritive value; hay tests usually give NDF and ADF instead [6, 5].

Vitamins in IU and mg

Vitamin E can be stated in IU or mg, and the conversion depends on whether it is the natural or synthetic form [7]. For vitamin A, 1 mg of beta-carotene equals 400 IU of active vitamin A for the horse [7]. For vitamin K3, 1 mg of vitamin K3 is counted as 1 mg of menadione [8].

See also dry matter, mineral ratios.

Sources

  1. 1. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. Stockfeed regulation and standards (web page). https://www.designsystem.dpird.wa.gov.au/businesses/biosecurity/agricultural-standards/stockfeed-regulation-and-standards/ (accessed 2026-11-07)
  2. 2. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. Stockfeed labelling in Western Australia (factsheet). October 2024. https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/ap_factsheets/5/ (accessed 2026-11-07)
  3. 3. A&L Canada Laboratories. Defining Analytical Constituents in Equine Feed Reports. Fact Sheet No. 234. London, Ontario. Revised February 2022. https://alcanada.com/Tech_Bulletins/Field_Crops/Forages/234-Defining%20Analytical%20Constituents%20in%20Equine%20Feed%20Report.pdf (accessed 2026-11-07)
  4. 4. National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Guide to the SI (Special Publication 811), Appendix B.9: Factors for units listed by kind of quantity or field of science. https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811/nist-guide-si-appendix-b-conversion-factors/nist-guide-si-appendix-b9 (accessed 2026-11-07)
  5. 5. Arispe S, Filley S. Understanding your forage test results (EM 8801). Oregon State University Extension Service. Revised October 2020, reviewed 2023. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-8801-understanding-your-forage-test-results (accessed 2026-11-07)
  6. 6. Van Soest PJ. Effect of environment and quality of fibre on the nutritive value of crop residues. In: Plant breeding and the nutritive value of crop residues. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Undated (references to 1987). https://www.fao.org/4/x5495e/x5495e06.htm (accessed 2026-11-07)
  7. 7. Liburt NR (peer reviewed by Boyle AG). Nutritional Requirements of Horses and Other Equids. MSD Veterinary Manual, Professional Version. Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ. Last full review February 2026. https://www.msdvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-horses/nutritional-requirements-of-horses (accessed 2026-11-07)
  8. 8. EFSA FEEDAP Panel (Villa RE, Azimonti G, Bonos E, et al.). Assessment of the feed additives menadione sodium bisulphite (3a710) and menadione nicotinamide bisulphite (3a711) (vitamin K3) for all animal species for the renewal of their authorisation. EFSA Journal 2025;23(12):e9792. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9792 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12699196/ (accessed 2026-11-07)

Last edited 7 Nov 2026, 1:48 am