Similar to humans, you can split livestock nutrition into numerous distinct groups and needs: carbohydrates and proteins to provide energy, fats to increase the density of that energy, vitamins to maintain a functioning body, and minerals to support general health and growth.

Though the proportion and literal amount of each are going to depend upon the specific animal, what remains true across all your livestock is the need for a balance of each nutritional category. If your animals do not have enough of even one food group, it is just a matter of time before health problems and illnesses start to creep in.