FEED
REFERENCE
STANDARDS
CHAPTER V
NUTRIENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
BEEF CATTLE, GOATS, SHEEP AND DAIRY CATTLE
Ruminant animals have the same nutrient needs as swine and poultry. However, there are some unique features in ruminants that differentiate them from swine and poultry in terms of how they can get their required nutrients. In the ruminant stomach, particularly in the rumen and reticulum, there are billions of microorganisms which can digest and ferment cellulose in the feedstuffs. In the process of fermentation, by-products namely acetic, propionic and butyric acids (collectively called volatile fatty acids or VFA) are produced which can be used by the ruminant animal as source of energy.
Likewise, microorganisms can utilize non-protein nitrogen (e.g. urea) for synthesis of microbial protein which eventually can be digested by the ruminant animal. Therefore, microorganisms in the rumen provide the ruminant animal with energy from the food they ferment and protein from the microbial protein they synthesize. In addition, microorganisms in the rumen are capable of synthesizing vitamin B complex and vitamin K, hence, the vitamins required by the animal are partially met.
NUTRIENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Beef cattle, sheep and goats
The daily nutrient requirements of beef cattle, sheep and goats
are presented in Tables 53, 54 and 55, respectively. These are based on
the data summarized by Kearl (1982) for the nutrient requirements of ruminants
in developing countries. Take note that the requirements for dry matter,
total digestible nutrient (TDN) or metabolizable energy (ME), total protein,
calcium and phosphorus are expressed as amount of nutrients required per
day. In feeding ruminants, itisnecessaryto meettherequirementfordry matterwhich
mustcontainthe required energy (TDN or ME), protein, Ca and P. The requirements
for salt and trace minerals can be met by providing salt block or a concentrate
mixture containing salt and trace mineral premix. The requirements for
vitamins A, D and E are met by using injectables, while the B complex vitamins
are supplied through microbial fermentation in the rumen.
Dairy cattle
The requirements for dairy cattle are based on the recommendations
of NRC (1988). Table 56 presents the daily dry matter intake requirements
for maintenance, milk production and normal liveweight gain of dairy cattle
during mid- and late lactation. The equation for calculating 4 percent
fat corrected milk (FCM) is as follows:
4%FCM = (0.4)(kgofmilk)+(15)(kgoffat)
Table 57 shows the daily requirements of lactating and pregnant dairy cattle for protein, ME, TDN, Ca and P. The amount of nutrients required is the surn of the requirements for maintenance and milk production. The latter is affected by the amount of milk produced and the fat content of milk.
The recommended nutrient concentrations in the dietary dry matter for dairy cattle are presented in Table 58. For lactating cows with liveweight ranging from 400 to 800 kg, five columns of milk yields are listed. For milk yields below the lowest levels, use the nutrient concentrations in the first column and for yields above the highest level, use the values in the fifth column. During the first three weeks of lactation, all cows should be fed a diet containing nutrients listed for "Early lactation" regardless of liveweight and milk yield. It is also important to satisfy the fiber requirement of the diet because of its effect on the fat content of milk.
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FEED REFERENCE STANDARDS
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