animal feed Food material which can be used to meet nutritional requirements of animals, particularly livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_feed Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin. Fodder refers particularly to food given to the animals (including plants cut and carried to them), rather than that which they forage for themselves. It includes hay, straw, silage, compressed and pelleted feeds, oils and mixed rations, and also sprouted grains and legumes. food material