FEEDING METHODS
Introduction
Things to know The nutritional value of feeds Animal requirements of nutrients Nutrients intake Availability of feed ingredients
Supply Demand
Cont.
Energy content of the diet Balance among nutrients
Example:A 70 kg sheep loses ~ 1,600 Kcal as HP~ 1.2 kg/d of hay (medium quality, GE=5,300
Kcal) needed to cover this loss
“Maintenance requirement”
Energy requirements
Of this GE of 5,300 Kcal ~2,400 Kcal lost in feces ~600 Kcal lost in urine & fermentation
gases ~ 2,300 Kcal lost in HP
Another example: in a cow-calf system ~40% lost in feces ~10% lost in urine & gases ~ 45% lost in HP ~ 5% retained in the calf
Cont.
The purpose of nutrient utilization Maintenance Production
Growth (fat/muscle deposition) Milk production
The efficiency of ME utilization for maintenance Fed at Maintenance + energy tissue mobilization ~ 67%
Cont. Milk production
Relatively tight range: 0.56 (poor diet) to 0.66 (best quality) efficiency
Energy tissue (mobilization) utilization: ~ 0.84
Efficiency milk > meatQuick removal of the product
High producer > low producergenetic selection for more milk yield
Protein requirements
Crude protein (CP): N × 6.25 All N are presented in protein form All proteins contain 16% N
In reality; true protein & NPN Digestible CP
Endogenous N Proteins from intestine (e.g., enzymes)
Cont.
Rumen degradation of proteins can be determined: Solubility In vitro In saco Whole animal exp.
Essential AA: His, Ile, Lue, Lys. Met, Phe, Thr, Trp, Val
Rumen degradable (RDP) and un-degradable (RUP or UDP)
Metabolizable protein (MP)
Cont.
MP: digestible total AA from microbial proteins Feed proteins escaping rumen degradation
but digested & absorbed in the small intestine
Degradability is determined: Fraction A: soluble (or lost through the bag) Fraction B: potentially degradable (passage
rate & degradability rate) Fraction C: Undegradable N
Cont.
RDP = A + B [kd/(kd+kp)]RUP=100-RDPWhere RDP, RUP, fractions A, B & C are %
of CPKd & kp are %/hrDegradation of NPN=0.949Microbial CP(g/d) =130 × TDN intake (RDP
intake>1.18 × MCP)
Microbial CP(g/d) =0.85 × TDN intake (RDP intake<1.18 × MCP)
Cont.
Endogenous N (g/d) = 1.9 × DMI (kg/d)The efficiency with which MP is used for
Maintenance=0.67 Pregnancy=0.33 Milk synthesis=0.67
Efficiency of MCP to MP= 0.64 AA model: AA requirement, AA content,
efficiency Met & Lys 2.4 & 7.2% of MP or 1:3 ratio
Feeding Dairy cows
A minimum of ~ 17% CF (changes relative to production)
At least 5-6 feed items No undesired odor/color/taste associated w/
feeds Primiparous cows (1st lactation) : + 20%
maintenance energy (ME) Multiparous cows (2nd lactation) : + 10%
maintenance energy (ME) Multiparous cows (3rd lactation): mature
Heifers
b/w weaning & age at 1st calving (~24 month): 8-10 times BW gain
Physiologically, rumen performs near complete at 4 month old but not in terms of its capacity: ~ 12-14 month
~45% mature BW at 1st breeding Last trimester: ~ 40% fetus BW gain 20% addition of energy on top (if 1st
calving)
Feeding calves
Dip naval
~ 2 liters colostrum at birth ~ 2 liters within the next 12-24 h Continue for 3 d It works!!!! Passive immunity
~ 65% of operations do so by bucket or bottle
Cont.
Sometimes, it is more beneficial to use milk replacer More saving when higher milk price
Water at day 3Cocccidiostat in milk replacer
Weaning- traditional
Day 4 to weaning: Milk replacer (~13% DM) at 10% BW/d At least 20% CP & 15% fat Twice/d Calf starter (commercially available) Free choice 16-20% CP Not much forage
Cont.
Wean ~ 5-6 wk: when eating 0.5-0.7 kg starter/d for at least 3 consecutive d
Milk to 50% during 1st wk and totally in 2nd wk
Leave in individual pen/calf starter for 1-2 wk before moving to group pen/grain mix
~ 37% wean at wk 8; ~9% at wk 7; ~ 18% at wk 6; ~ 28% wean after wk 8
Calf starter intake and growth (Eastridge and Weiss; 2005)
Age, day Intake, lb/d
7 0.25
14 0.35
21 0.7
28 1.2
35 1.9
42 3
49 3.5
Age, day BW, lb
3 95
28 127
36 148
57 170
72 195
86 230
96 265
Weaning- accelerated growth At day 4, milk replacer
14-17% DM (more solids) 26-28% CP (more protein); same fat
content ~ 2-2.2 liters twice/d for wk 1 2.7-3.6 liters twice/d for wk 2 to wk 4-5 2.7-3.6 liters once/d for 1 wk at weaning
At day 4, calf starter 20-22% CP (more protein) Intake is ~ half vs. traditional weaning
Cont.
Wean at 6-7 wk; when eating ~ 1 kg starter/d for 3 consecutive d
Continue high quality calf starter to 10-12 wk age
Offer forage when eating 2.2 to 2.7 kg starter/d
Comparison between Accelerated vs. Traditional
Shorter time to breeding (20-30 d sooner)
Increased gain efficiency
Increased milk yield ??
Health & immune system ???
Increased feed costs
More loose feces Delayed rumen
development Intensive
management
Advantages Disadvantages
Growing heifers
To give birth ~ 23-24 months old Should reach certain BW (+ certain height)
Example: 8 mo ~500 to 575 lb (~ 43 in) 10 mo ~600 to 700 lb (~ 45 in) 12 mo ~700 to 780 lb (~ 47 in) 14 mo ~780 to 900 lb ( ~ 49 in)
Jersey: 14 mo 525 to 575 lb (~44 in))
Goal: (Holstein) ADG of ~1.7 lb/d; 1.2”/mo wither height (Jersey) ADG of~ 1.3 lb/d; 1.1”/mo wither height
Ideal BCS & its relationship with milk yield
Age, month
Ideal BCS
3 2.2
6 2.3
9 2.4
12 2.8
15 3.0
18 3.2
21 3.4
24 3.5
The relationship of BCS at first calving & 90-d milk yield (Waltner et al., 1993)
Dry matter intake of growing heifers
Age, month
Holstein Jersey
BW, lb DMI, lb/d BW, lb DMI, lb/d
3 250 7 165 4.6
5 350 9 240 6.6
7 450 11.3 320 8.3
9 550 13.4 400 10.6
11 650 15.4 480 12.1
13 750 17.5 560 13.7
Nutrient requirements (DM basis)
3-4 mo old
5-7 mo old
8 to pregnant
Pregnant to 60 d
pre-CP, % 18% 14.5-15 13-14 13-14
ME, Mcal/lb 1.25 1.1 1.1 1.0
TDN, % 73 68 64-65 62-65
NDF, % max
22 44
Ca, % 0.9 0.75 0.7 0.65
P, % 0.45 0.35 0.3 0.25
Dry matter intake of pregnant heifers
Age, month
Holstein Jersey
BW, lb DMI, lb/d BW, lb DMI, lb/d
15 850 20.9 620 16
17 950 22.6 680 16.9
19 1030 24 740 17.7
21 1150 25.5 820 18.3
23-24 1300 22 920 15.1
Close up- pregnant heifers
Need more protein vs. mature cows (15-16 vs. 12-14% CP)
First calving: + 20% energy Second calving: + 10% energy Feeding anionic salts: NOT
recommended for heifers
Lactating cows
Reduced DMI during early lactation Energy tissue mobilization Possibility of protein mobilization
1.35-1.75% of BW= forage intake: rest from concentrates
Not always feasible for high producers/early lactation
2-3% of DMI: minerals/vitamins
Cont.
Concentrate intake: Milk yield Milk composition (especially milk fat) Forage intake
Try to keep below 55-60% pH Forage fermentation Acidosis
Cont.
Phase I (wk 0-10): increase in DMI is lagging behind increase
in milk yield Negative energy (and some proteins + minerals)
balance Maintain 24-27% NDF High quality protein (UDP) Watch DCAD Promote feed intake
Cont.
Phase II (wk 10-20): Increased DMI relative to milk yield Highest dry matter in milk Promote extension of this period
Cont.
Phase III (wk 20-44): Increased DMI beyond milk yield Highest dry matter intake Watch for high BCS (BW gain) Replenishing used up stored nutrients Adjust concentrate
Cont.
Phase IV (wk 44-next parturition): No milk yield Gradual decrease in dry matter intake Last 2-3 weeks: ~30% reduction in DMI Mammary gland involution Mostly forages; inexpensive Set up a close-up ration (3-4 wk before
parturition) Close up: preparatory; b/w dry ration &
lactating ration to help feed intake, rumen performance, nutrient intake
General
For lactating cows: ~ 15-18% protein 60-70% TDN NEL=1.4 to 1.8 Mcal/kg ration DM Inert fat (rumen-protected fat) for high
producing cows after wk 9-10 Forage (effective NDF): rumen fermentation;
milk fat Increase nutrient density of the concentrate
not its consumption Mineral blocks
Examples
Controlled (cross) feeding Amount of concentrate amount of
milk yield ~2-3 kg concentrate (medium density) for
1 kg milk Rest: forage Old method; worked when cows produced
≤ 25 kg/d
If producing ≤ 25 kg/d, ~ 40% foragesIf producing ~40 kg/d, ~ 16 kg/d typical
concentrate; DMI for this cow ~ 17 kg/d …!???!?
Cont.
Early lactation: much need for concentrate Not enough forages Milk fat; poor rumen fermentation; acidosis Fatty liver-ketosis
Mid/Late lactation: possibility of over-conditioning
Cont.
Total mixed ration (TMR; complete diet) Everything mixed Can’t choose what item(s) to eat and what
to refuse Only how much to eat Similar ration for cows in a group Better to group cows (3-4 groups) More capital investment (mixer/feeder) Not so palatable feedstuff also in the mix More stable milk fat (less fluctuation)
Cont.
More stable rumen pH/fermentation Quality of the concentrate type feeds (no
more amount..!!!) it is all mixed Less laborious Works much better If a good reproductive
management in place (synchronized calving; easier grouping)
Difficult to group solely on milk yield Move cows based on yield/physiological
stage
Rumen pH
pH
5.5
6.0
6.5
pH
5.5
6.0
6.5
a. Feeding low concentrate
b. Feeding high concentrate
TMR
TMR
Cellulose degradation ceases
Cellulose degradation ceases
Cont.
Flat rate feeding Fixed amount of concentrate; variable
forage (mostly ad libitum) A simple method to execute Relies on stored energy tissue (body fat)
especially during early lactation During entire early lactation; high risk for
lower-than- needed concentrate (nutrient dens items)
During phase III, high risk for more-than-needed concentrate: over-conditioning
Cont.
Nutrient composition more important than amount fed
Early lactation: increase nutrient density of concentrate
High quality protein sources (UDP); protected fat
Late lactation: reduce nutrient density of concentrate
Cont.
Mechanical feeder (distributor) Feed individual cow based on milk yield Totally controlled on an individual basis High quality forage ad libitum Boss cows; too much concentrates; over-
conditioning Low fat milk
Feeding sheep
General Adaptable to relatively harsh condition Lower maintenance requirements Good fiber digestibility Diverse products (not seasonal) Great pasture-eater Faster investment turn-around (if fattening) DMI = 3.0-4.5% of BW
Cont.
Greater energy requirement when lactating (high fat milk)
Flushing: intensive nutrition program to promote/support twining
Transition period; 3-4 weeks pre- through postpartum Would help reducing BW losses, MG
development & milk yield if good quality proteins (RUP) are used
Always consider Vitamin E and Selenium
Lamb operations
Programmed weaning (6-10 wk) Takes ~ 100 days to 12 months 100-500 g/d ADG Milk replacers Creep feeding
Cont.
1) Early weaning/intensive fattening ~ 5-6 weeks on milk ~100 days Creep feeding 2-3 weeks old; start ad libitum
starter/high quality alfalfa/ grains Goal should be a FCR of > 3 60-80% concentrate: 20-40% forages Flushing
Cont.
2. Early weaning/moderate fattening Applied when pasture and/or crop
byproducts available Same procedures for weaning/milk
replacer Lower density grains/protein supplements Less expensive rations Longer time: 5-6 months Tubers; pulps; inexpensive by products;
NPN
Cont.
3) Late weaning Max BW Takes 9-12 months Pasture-based Last few weeks on concentrates (feedlot)
using good quality proteins (RUP) inexpensive rations
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