Animal Feed Technology and Processing: Feeding Standards

Animal Feed Technology and Processing ASH 35503 Lecture 1

Feeding Standards for Ruminant and Non-Ruminant

By P.M. Dr Connie Fay Komilus PM Dr.CF Komilus ASH 35503/ASH26903

Definition of Feeding Standard

A feeding standard is a set of data recommendations based on numerous studies and live animal experimentation in a real-world environment. It is data-driven and specifies the amounts of nutrients required by particular animal species at certain age groups and body weights, considering physiological functions such as milk and egg production, body weight gains, pregnancy, and wool production.

Feeding standards are statements or quantitative descriptions of the amounts of one or more nutrients needed by animals.

Tables indicate the quantities of nutrients to be fed to various classes of livestock for different physiological functions like growth, maintenance, lactation, egg production, and wool growth.

Nutrient requirements are generally expressed in quantities of nutrients required per day or as a percentage of diet.

For dairy animals, nutrient requirements are generally expressed as separate body functions, while for poultry and pigs, combined requirements of maintenance and other body functions are given.

Nutrient allowance gives an extra allowance of nutrients over the requirement, providing a margin of safety. Nutrient requirement is the requirement for optimum level.

Major groups are based on principles of the standards:

(i) Comparative type

(ii) Digestible nutrient system

(iii) Production value type

Formation of Feeding Standards

Feeding standards are obtained after collecting data from field studies on actual animals.

This involves feeding animals specific nutrients, keeping the animals in separate groups according to varying protein levels, and observing growth performances, specifically the quality and quantity of milk and the animals’ body weights.

This is used to determine the requirements of protein amounts/minerals etc. needed by animals daily to produce to optimum.

Nutrients

Nutrients are end products of feed materials which are actual chemical products required from feedstuffs.

Types of Nutrients:

• Protein (Amino acids)
• Energy (From carbohydrates – Soluble and non soluble, fats, and protein)
• Vitamins
• Minerals (Metals & nonmetals)
• Water

Composition of Feed Materials

Feed material consists of water, dry matter, organic materials (protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins), and non-organic materials (ash) which include minerals, metals, and non-metals such as Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Magnesium (Mg), and Manganese (Mn).

Features of a Feeding Standard: Daily Nutrient Requirements of a Dairy Cow

Example of daily nutrient requirements for a 400 kg cow in second lactation:

Why Do We Need a Feeding Standard?

A feeding standard serves as a guide indicating how much of various nutrients are required for each animal species.

Feeding an animal without knowing the proper amounts of nutrients is wrong, uneconomical, wasteful, and does not lead the animal to its right destination, potentially being harmful and not profitable.

What Do You Do with a Feeding Standard?

A feeding standard allows one to formulate a proper feeding regime for animals to achieve better quality products at an economical cost.

With a feeding standard, one can create a feed concentrate suitable for a particular animal, and a daily feed ration for an animal, especially a ruminant, ensuring they receive the right amounts of fibrous material and proper concentrate feed.

Why the Requirements Are Different for Species

Different animal species have different requirements for milk, body gains, eggs, etc.

They also have different body weights and thus need different amounts of nutrients for maintenance and production.

Ruminants can make own nutrients, especially protein, to a certain extent.

Computing a Feed Concentrate Mixture (YUSIT-CFC)

Example calculation for a dairy cow with body weight of 400 kg and milk production of < 15 Liter, dated 15-Aug-08.

This section details various ingredients such as Rumput, molas, Jagung hancur, PKE, Dedak soya, soyabean hull, DCP, Garam, Kapur and Galian campuran with their respective percentages, fresh weight, fresh cost, dry matter content, nutrient content (DM) like CP, ME, Ca, P, and total nutrient (DM).

A comparison table shows nutrient requirements for concentrate versus achieved nutrient levels.

Computing a Complete Daily Feed Ration (CCDFR)

Example calculation for Kambing Pedaging (Pembiak) with ADG of 100 gram, body weight of 30 KG, dated 19-Aug-08.

This section details various ingredients such as Napier, Silaj pokok jagung, PKC, molasses and Galian, including their weight, cost, DM, nutrient content and total nutrients obtained.

A comparison table compares nutrient requirement per day versus achieved nutrient levels.

What Happens If Nutrients Are Deficient

Deficient nutrients mean that the animal is not receiving enough nutrients according to standards.

This results in:

• Low body gain
• Decreased milk production
• Low calcium in high milk producers can lead to milk fever, potentially fatal if neglected
• Low fiber for dairy cows will lower milk fat
• Low calcium in hens will produce soft shells
• Low phosphorus will reduce fertility
• Not enough water will decrease milk production

Excess Nutrients

Excess nutrients mean that the animal is receiving too much, which is also detrimental.

• Too much protein can cause urea toxicity and blood poisoning
• Too much copper can cause Jaundice and yellow eyelids
• Too much concentrates can cause Bloat, with not enough fibre. Ruminants should get > 18% fibre daily
• Too much molasses can cause diarrhoea. < 5% is recommended for ruminants daily
• Urea should only be used in feeds if there is enough carbohydrate – Max 2.0% only in concentrate mixture

How to Feed According to Feeding Standards

Meeting feeding standards requires using proper formulation techniques, such as:

• Pearson square method
• Simultaneous Equation method
• Commercial software (YUSIT-CFC), etc

Pearson Square Method

Example:

Soya waste (Pr. 28%): 14 parts

Sago waste (Pr. 2.0%): 12 parts

Desired Protein: 16% Pr.

\frac{14}{26} = 54.0 \text{%}
of the mixture should be Soya waste.

\frac{12}{26} = 46.0 \text{%}
of the mixture should be Sago waste.

Therefore, mixing Soya waste (54%) with Sago waste (46%) will yield a feed mixture having 16.0% protein.

Use Software

Examples of software:

• MIXIT – American original (US$20,000.00)
• YUSIT-CFC (Md Yusoff Sudin) – Together with Buku Pemakanan (DBP) – RM26.00 / book
• Create your own calculator in Excel

Feeding Standards for Ruminants

Tropical animal feeding requires understanding the symbiotic relationship between rumen micro-organisms and the host animal.

Strategies to improve the utilization of fibre-rich, low-protein forages and crop residues should aim to provide supplements to correct nutrient imbalances, and increase the availability of energy to rumen microbes.

The most limiting nutrients for rumen microbes are ammonia, sulphur, and phosphorus.

Find Me In Internet

Nutrient Requirements of Domesticated Ruminants draws on the most up-to-date research on the energy, protein, mineral, vitamin and water requirements of beef and dairy cattle, sheep and goats.

Feeding Standards for Non-Ruminants

Do your desktop study and we shall discuss in next lecture.