EPA Practical Task 1
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Assess Feed Supply — Quality & Quantity
Interactive one-page handout — Pass / Distinction criteria, checklists, quick quiz & cost calculator.
For Livestock Technicians
What you’re being assessed on
Check, describe and evaluate feed sources, link nutrition to KPIs and show financial viability.
PASS READY
toggle view:
Tick the feeds present on your unit (or add custom).
- Perennial ryegrass — common grazing grass
- Maize silage — main conserved energy feed
- Grass silage — conserved forage
- Compound concentrate — store-bought
- Protein meal (SBM) — bought-in protein
- Add custom feed
Quick checklist to demonstrate you know how to confirm feed quality.
- No mould / musty smell
- Correct dry matter (DM) — recorded
- Recent feed analysis (protein, ME, ash)
- Proper storage & minimal wastage
- Palatability / observed intakes
Enter estimated herd numbers and days of feed required to check sufficiency.
Total DM needed
0 kg
Silos / On-farm DM
Shortfall / Surplus
0 kg
Estimate cost per day and cost per kg gain to show financial viability.
Daily cost per head:
£0.00
Cost per kg gain:
£0.00
Tip: reference a feed analysis, DM figures and a KPI (e.g. DLWG or milk yield).
Distinction — review & improvements
Use this area to critically review current policy and propose changes to enhance performance.
Examples: adjust silage cut timing; add legume for protein; use feed analysis to rebalance rations; reduce waste via better trough design.
Quick quiz — show knowledge
1. Why is DM (dry matter) important when assessing silage?
2. Select an on-farm action to reduce feed costs:
Actions
Assessor checklist (quick)
- Identified feeds correctly
- Showed quality checks & evidence
- Quantity planning demonstrated
- Financial viability considered
- Distinction: policy review and improvements