Feed Management Summary CNMP Core Curriculum Feed Management – Section 6.4

CNMP Development Core Training Curriculum These course materials have been developed as a cooperative effort between five land-grant universities and The Natural Resources Conservation Service. Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) Copyright © , Iowa State University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved. Copyright Information

Objectives Participants will have some take home best management practices to share with producers and a list of questions that they can ask for feed management discussions. An example check list is illustrated that they can use on farm.

Feed Management to Improve CNMP case study Estimating the contributions of grazing pasture on the diet is difficult! Feeding 0.36% P, cannot go lower with out potential problems –Spreading manure on 108 acres (50% of manure estimated to be collected) –Cows “spreading” on 50 acres of loafing area? –Little room for diet improvement for P

Feed Management to Improve CNMP case study Nitrogen may need to be evaluated –N (protein) contribution from pasture? –Can the RUP/RDP balance be improved? –Group cows? –Formulate diets more often with new feed ingredients, changes in dry matter intakes, climatic changes, etc. to meet nutrient requirements Evaluate using milk production, milk urea N, etc. Routine analysis of feeds for DM, N, P!

TSP Question to Producers What does the producer feed his animals? What types of animals are being fed? Are these feeds produced on the farm or are they purchased? Are by-product feeds used or will they be considered in the rations? How is the feed ration prepared (processed)?

TSP Question to Producers What is the feed sampling and analysis program on the farm? What is the laboratory analysis schedule for the feed management plan?

TSP Question to Producer How do you manage your forages? Buy or home grown? Are you maximizing the amount of home grown forages in the ration?

TSP Question to Producer Are the rations reformulated when there are different ingredient changes? Are rations changed at different stages in the production cycle? Is the operation currently grouping animals into separate sexes and feeding different rations?

Feed Management Education

Feed Management to Improve Efficiency Diet formulation and management –Evaluate diet content and reduce unnecessary feed ingredients or nutrient levels –Implement a routine chemical feed analysis program –Apply stringent quality control feed preparation and delivery to animals –Routinely check the dry matter content of wet feeds for ruminant diets

Feed Management to Improve Efficiency Minimize feed and water wastage –Install proper feeders/feeding systems –Adjust and clean feeders frequently –Check water system for leaks; test water routinely –Use good bunk management (ruminants) Adjust with changes in intake levels

Feed Management to Improve Efficiency Improve nutrient utilization –Formulate feed based upon digestible or biologically available nutrient basis –Select feeds with high digestibility; specialty ingredients (need to chemically analyze) –Supplement diets with ingredients, enzymes, etc that will increase digestibility –Consider processing feeds to enhance nutrient utilization

Feed Management to Improve Efficiency Feed Management Practices: –Group animals with similar production status or stage of production –Phase feed to reduce feed costs and excretion of nutrients –Split-sex feed animals –Adjust diets when introducing by-product feeds; consider the potential for increased nutrient excretion –Consider phytase use in non-ruminant rations