What is a mixture of feedstuffs designed to provide nutrients to animals called?

A mixture of feedstuffs designed to provide nutrients to animals is best described as a diet. A diet encompasses all the components that make up an animal's overall nutritional intake, including various feedstuffs balanced to meet the specific dietary requirements of the animal. This term emphasizes the combination of ingredients that together fulfill the nutritional needs, whether it be for maintenance, growth, reproduction, or lactation.

While other terms like ration, feed, and meal may seem similar, they refer to specific aspects that do not capture the full idea of a designed mixture. A ration typically refers to the specific amount of feed allocated for an animal over a specified time, focusing more on quantity rather than the nutritional content. Feed is a more general term encompassing all materials consumed by animals for nutritional purposes, without necessarily implying a balanced mix. Lastly, the term meal usually refers to a single serving or component of feedstuffs, which does not convey the comprehensive approach that a diet implies.