1. GPP 5 – Ruminant Nutrition Safely Meeting The Nutritional Needs of 4 – H & FFA Youth Projects

2. The Ruminant Animal Why Are They Different? The main difference between ruminants and other domestic meat animals is their special GI tract and their symbiotic relationship with micro-organisms (eg. bacteria, fungi, and yeasts) which allows them to convert large amounts of feedstuffs that are of little nutritional value to humans into an energy dense product

3. The Ruminant GI Tract

4. Why is It Different? The difference lies in the upper GI tract specifically the three pre-gastric fermentation chambers; the reticulum, the rumen, and the omasum These precede the abomasum which is considered the true stomach

5. The Ruminant GI Tract

7. Nutrient Requirements

8. Clean Water Cheapest and most abundant of nutrients 60 – 75% of birth weight 45 – 60% of mature weight Sources – Drinking Water Cattle Require 8 – 16 gallons/day (22 in hot weather) Sheep require 1 – 4 gallons/day – Water in feedstuffs – Metabolic water

9. Energy Requirements for growing/finishing cattle – NE m = 0.077 Mcal/BW 0.75 – NE g = RE – RE = 0.0635 BW 0.75 EBG 1.097 (Steers) – RE = 0.0783 BW 0.75 EBG 1.119 (Heifers) Energy Sources – Grains Corn, Sorghum, Oats, Barley – Fats Yellow Grease

10. Protein Crude Protein – N x 6.25 Requirements – 12.5 – 14% depending on age and gender Protein Feedstuffs (>20% CP) – Soybean Meal – Cottonseed Meal – Urea (NPN) Can be included up to 1.5% of diet

11. Roughage Requirements – 3 – 15% (Finishing Cattle) – 25 – 30 % (Receiving Cattle) Sources – Hay Alfalfa, Sorghum Sudan – Silage Corn, Alfalfa – Haylage Oat, Wheat – By-Product Straw, Cottonseed Hulls

12. Mineral Macro-Minerals – Maintain proper Ca:P ratio – Excess can interfere with other minerals – Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, and S Trace-Minerals – Usually met with good trace mineral package – Do not feed TM package for cattle to sheep – Co, Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Se, and Zn

13. Vitamins & Additives Fat Soluble A,D,E, and K B vitamins are water soluble Ionophores – Rumensin (30 g/ton) – Bovatec – Lasalocid Antibiotics – Tylosin (10 g/ton)

14. Optaflexx Ractopamine hydrochloride – Need to ensure that YOU (youth leaders) use the product according to label directions Mix and handle products properly and according to label directions Administer at proper rates Administer during the proper phase of growth Use only for the species being approved Maintain proper nutrition and animal management practices Consult professional experts regarding proper use of products

15. Optaflexx Increase weight gain and improved feed efficiency at 8.2 to 24.6 g/ton (90% DM basis) – Approved only during the final 28 to 42 days prior to harvest Improved live weight gain by 10 to 21 lbs Increases hot carcass weight by 6 to 18 lbs Improves feed efficiency by 14 to 21%

16. Show Rations There are many good pre-manufactured show rations available for use Proximate analysis are provided on feed tags that are attached to the feed sack

17. Sample Feed Tag

18. Feeding Cattle & Bunk Management

19. Receiving Period Increased energy and protein requirement 25 – 30% roughage 14 – 16% CP 2 – 3% of BW increase at 1.0 lb/hd/d increments to reach full feed

20. Transition Period Working cattle to 90% concentrate ration Working cattle up on feed should take about 14 – 21 days to reach a 90% concentrate ration from a 70% concentrate ration Approximately 5 – 7 day intervals for each 5% concentrate added

21. Growing Period Necessary to add frame growth to small framed calves Extensive – Cattle grazed or maintained on forage to ~750lbs Intensive – Calves fed high concentrate ration and programmed to gain 1.75 – 2.0 lb/d

22. Finishing Period 12.5 – 14% CP 3 – 15 % roughage

23. Bunk Management Slick bunk – Feed bunks should be clean at time of morning feeding – If bunks are clean for 2 – 3 d add 1 – 1.5 lbs/hd – If not clean estimate amount left and reduce that day’s feeding by that amount – When bunks are slick again the greatest amount previously eaten should be fed Ad – Lib – 115% of average intake for prior 3 days

24. Digestive Disorders

25. Bloat May be caused by – Weather – Overeating – Physical Obstruction – Diet Treatment/Prevention – Good Bunk Management – Tubing – Polaxalene

26. Acidosis Common on highly fermentable high concentrate rations Caused by overeating May be caused by variation in time of feeding which can cause grain engorgement Treatment/Prevention – Good bunk management – Maintenance of extensive feed records

27. Just About Home

28. Take Home Message Subject animals to growing period Maintain intensive bunk management and feed records Many good show feeds are pre-manufactured and it is likely a good idea to use these feeds if ration formulation knowledge is limited If feed additives and growth promoters are used, use only according to label directions