GPP 5 – Ruminant NutritionGPP 5 – Ruminant Nutrition

Safely Meeting The Nutritional Needs of 4 – H & FFA

Youth Projects

The Ruminant AnimalThe Ruminant AnimalWhy Are They Different?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

The Ruminant GI TractThe Ruminant GI Tract

Why is It Different?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

The RuminantThe RuminantGI TractGI Tract

The Ruminant The Ruminant GI TractGI Tract

Nutrient RequirementsNutrient Requirements

Clean Water 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

EnergyEnergy

Requirements for growing/finishing cattle– NEm= 0.077 Mcal/BW0.75

– NEg = RE

– RE = 0.0635 BW0.75 EBG1.097 (Steers)– RE = 0.0783 BW0.75 EBG1.119 (Heifers)

Energy Sources– Grains

Corn, Sorghum, Oats, Barley

– Fats Yellow Grease

ProteinProtein

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

RoughageRoughage

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

MineralMineral

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

Vitamins & Vitamins & AdditivesAdditives

Fat Soluble A,D,E, and KB vitamins are water solubleIonophores

– Rumensin (30 g/ton)– Bovatec– Lasalocid

Antibiotics– Tylosin (10 g/ton)

OptaflexxOptaflexx

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

OptaflexxOptaflexx

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%

Show RationsShow 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

Sample Feed TagSample Feed Tag

Feeding Cattle & Bunk Feeding Cattle & Bunk ManagementManagement

Receiving Receiving PeriodPeriod

Increased energy and protein requirement

25 – 30% roughage14 – 16% CP2 – 3% of BW increase at 1.0 lb/hd/d

increments to reach full feed

Transition PeriodTransition 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

Growing PeriodGrowing 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

Finishing PeriodFinishing Period

12.5 – 14% CP3 – 15 % roughage

Bunk ManagementBunk 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

Digestive DisordersDigestive Disorders

BloatBloat

May be caused by – Weather– Overeating– Physical Obstruction– Diet

Treatment/Prevention– Good Bunk Management– Tubing– Polaxalene

AcidosisAcidosis

Common on highly fermentable high concentrate rations

Caused by overeatingMay be caused by variation in time of

feeding which can cause grain engorgement

Treatment/Prevention– Good bunk management– Maintenance of extensive feed records

Just About Home

Take Home MessageTake Home Message

Subject animals to growing periodMaintain intensive bunk management and

feed recordsMany 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