This document discusses the importance of balanced diets for optimizing animal production. It defines key terms like balanced diet and animal productivity. It explains that animals cannot synthesize minerals and must obtain them through diet, but feed and fodders alone do not provide all required minerals. The document outlines various nutrients needed in animal diets and how balanced rations are necessary to meet nutritional needs as sole feeding of one ingredient is insufficient. Balanced rations can lead to greater returns through improved health, fertility and productivity. The consequences of imbalanced feeding like reduced growth and milk production are also described.