Dedicated to Dr. Ghorbani from Mohammad Golkar

Poulo Qoehlo In the poem Love is easy, Hate is wrong But In real life Hate is easy, love is wrong Poulo Qoehlo

Manure evaluation In Dairy Herds

introduction Evaluation of manure is one of the simplest methods to evaluate site & extent of digestion/fermentation in cattle With other cow observations can help diagnose areas for improvement in both ration formulation and management

Notice: Manure evaluation isn’t a precise science but it merely gives the nutritionists or farm manager a hint of what might be happening during digestive process .

If the rumen is functioning properly , hindgut fermentation is minimize . If the rumen isn't functioning properly, hindgut fermentation can be extensive .

There is good biological basis as to way manure looks the way it does

When rumen function isn’t properly???? 1. During bout of ruminal acidosis 2. During bout of some disease 3. During underfeeding of eNDF Symptoms associated with sub clinical acidosis includes : Low ruminal pH Rumen hyper motility Reduced ruminating Great daily variation in DMI (individual animals mayn’t be noticed in groups ) Feces foamy ,with gas bubble & varies from consistency Appearance of mucin & increased fiber particle (> 0.5 “) Appearance of undigested fiber / undigested ground grain (<1.4 “) Reduced feed efficiency

HOW TO EVALUATION ?

Mature cattle pass feces approximately once every 1 Mature cattle pass feces approximately once every 1.5-2 hours & excrete a total of 50 or more kg’s every day that vary due to feed & water intake & DMI . Standard averaging amount of manure excrete by cow (kg/day per 1000 kg’s BW)1 Groups Lactating None lactating Growing & rep. cattle. Manure weight (kg/day) 60 25 27 1- 1997 –ASAE standard from Dairy Science.

When animals receive the same ration = they have similar looking manure unless: 1- they are sorting their feed 2-individiual characteristics therefore about 5% of the cows will have manure that differs from the majority of the animals in their group and this can be accepted normal. A well mixed TMR Feed sorting A PMR (Partially Mixed Ration). The long pieces of green chopped forage make this ration impossible to mix uniformly. 

It’s important that when you evaluated manure examine the cows such as : proportion of cows are ruminating . BCS, general appearance, presence of water, feed bunk condition (space, mixed, sorting, est. ) cow comfort, also examine the individual feeds (moldy, spoilage, -& other problems.

Three c ‘s of manure observation: color consistency content رنگ قوام رقم محتویات

Color influenced by: & passage rate of feed feed type, bile concentration , & passage rate of feed

fresh grazing dark green hay ration darkness to brown olive TMR –GRAIN Yellow olive diarrhea gray drug treatment difference hemorrhaging in GI tract mycotoxin dark or bloody coccidiosis bacterial infections diarrhea –yellow

Content: Ideally, fecal samples should indicated uniform digestion & utilization of the majority of feeds & nutrients offered to animal. If you notice large proportion of undigested grain & long forage particle(>.5”) it maybe an indication of poor rumen fermentation & more hindgut fermentation is occur or ruminating isn't properly or that rumen passage rate is increased.

Physical analysis: Use strainer with 7” diameter& 4” deep Take 4or 5 sample of feces from individual cow pies. (make sure the sample are not contaminated with feed ) Rinse the sample gently until the water runs clear What do you see? Fiber more than .5” long? Cottonseed with linter? Dose the feed retain it’s color?( hay steel green- orange pulp orange- est.) is there much whole grain in the sample? All above suggested that :

Feed is not being retained in the rumen , fore a Sufficient period may be related to low PH, low eNDF, high producing cow, bad process food Enlargement of manure particles from diet low in effective NDF. Enlargement of manure particles with undigested whole corn.  

Manure with whole grain

Mucin casts may be found in the manure Mucin casts may be found in the manure. These represent damage to the walls of the hindgut, possibly caused by low pH from an extensive hindgut fermentation. If the gut is damaged, the cow secretes mucin or fibrin to cover the area. Intact casts resemble tubes. These casts may be found in manure of any consistency.  

Presence of mucin suggest that acidosis is occurs. Isolated mucin casts. 

Consistency : . Largely depends on water content & is a function of feed moisture content & the amount time feed remain in the animal. Normal fecal material has a medium porridge-like consistency. Dome shaped 1-2 “ high. 1-2”(optimom1.5”)

1-2”(optimom1.5”)

Manure scoring is a good tool for evaluation of manure consistency .

Manure scoring can be excellent tool to answer such question as: Are ingredients being well utilized? Are water &salt intakes appropriate? Is the ration lacking total or degradable? Is the ration excessive on fiber, protein, or starch?

Manure scoring tables scoring appearance Nutrition factors 1 2 Very loose, runny, pea soap, no ring, (puddle) Excessive RDP, low fiber, high starch, acidosis 2 Loose, pile form, appearance of ring, Same as1 –lush pasture 3 Porridge consistency,1-1.5”high -4-6 rings Balance ration 4 Thick- piles up –not easily stick boot. Low RDP or starch or low salt –high fiber 5 Firm- very dry- 2-4 high. Same 4- dehydration.

Notice: through lactating manure score may also shift as: Group Manure score Freshing 2-2.5 Early lactating 2.5-3 Late lactating 3-3.5 Far of dry cow 3-4 Close up 2.5-3.5

Score 2

Score 4

Score 1.5

Score 2.25-2.5

Score 3

Score 3

Score 3.5- 3.75

Score 4.5

Score 4.75

Insert flower in pie up

Good manure with 4-5 rings

manure with white starch

Acknowledgment: Thanks to: Also Dr. Ghorbani for disturb his times. Dr. Alikhani for his kindness. Also Dr. Ghorbani for disturb his times. My friends Mr.Tabatabai (M. sc), Mr. Basere & Mr.pourabedini. & every one help me.

THANK YOU For your listening & silent Good luck