RUMINANT NUTRITION. Andy Macdonald and Chris Kneale with thanks also to Colin Morgan SAC Animal Nutritionist

Transcription

1 RUMINANT NUTRITION Andy Macdonald and Chris Kneale with thanks also to Colin Morgan SAC Animal Nutritionist 1

2 Ruminant Nutrition Aims: To understand the basic processes and terms used in ruminant nutrition To be able assess feed quality from feed labels and feed analysis To understand the basic principles of rationing for beef and sheep To be understand how to alter feeding to manipulate finishing periods and timing 2

3 Workshop Topics 1. Basic Principles of Ruminant Nutrition 2. Assessing Feed Quality 3. Feeding Suckler Cows 4. Feeding Ewes 5. Feeding Lambs 6. Feeding Beef Cattle 3

4 1. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF RUMINANT NUTRITION 4

5 RUMINANT DIGESTIVE TRACT 5

6 RUMEN - MICROBIAL DIGESTION (Volac/KW Alternative Feeds) 6

7 ENERGY SOURCE FOR MICROBES AND HOST Host animal provides microbes with ideal continuous fermentation conditions nutrients, water, waste removal Microbes ferment fibre, starch etc to produce energy, building blocks for new cells and byproducts are volatile fatty acids, carbon dioxide and methane VFA absorbed by host and used to supply energy or for fat or glucose synthesis 7

8 Dry Matter why is it important? Know what you are feeding, and how much you need to feed Most breakdowns of feed quality (energy, protein etc) measured in terms of dry matter All animals feed intake capacity relates back to dry matter Dry matter content will also affect feed intakes, especially fresh and preserved forage 8

9 METABOLISABLE ENERGY (M.E.) ME essential information for rationing! Energy in food (released when it is burnt) minus energy in faeces minus energy in urine minus energy in methane Used with varying efficiencies according to use (maintenance, growth, milk) To supply energy that the animal actually uses Units Megajoules MJ/kgDM (1 MJ = 240 calories= 1 Twix!) D Value %: digestible organic matter in the dry matter 9

10 TYPICAL METABOLISABLE ENERGY VALUES OF FEEDS (MJ/kgDM) Barley 13.2 Hay 8.5 Wheat 13.6 Silage 10.5 Oats 12.0 Straw 6.5 Rapeseed meal 12.0 Draff 11.1 Soyabean meal 13.8 Pot ale syrup 14.2 Molasses 12.7 Malt dist grains 12.2 Wheat dist grains 13.5 Ewe nuts 12.5 Beans 13.3 Dairy cakes Peas 13.5 Beef nuts

11 DIGESTION OF PROTEIN RUMINANTS (MLC) 11

12 METABOLISABLE PROTEIN SYSTEM TERMS 1 Effective Rumen Degradable Protein (ERDP) - protein captured by rumen bugs Fermentable Metabolisable Energy (FME) for bugs =ME - ME from fat ME from ferm. acids Undegradable Dietary Protein (UDP) - protein which escapes rumen degradation and passes into small intestine for digestion 12

13 METABOLISABLE PROTEIN SYSTEM TERMS 2 Digestible Undegradable Dietary Protein (DUP) Metabolisable Protein (MP) - total protein absorbed from the small intestine to meet animal s requirements and = Digestible Microbial Protein + DUP Protein type Some feeds more degradable than others - urea 100%; RapeseedM 75%; SoyabeanM 65% 13

14 ERDP REQUIREMENT Requirement for rumen microbial growth Calculated as g ERDP/MJ FME Deficiency results in insufficient supply for rumen microbes reduced microbial activity reduced digestibility and intake reduced performance SO IS ESSENTIAL IN ALL DIETS Extreme deficiency, very low protein diets, straw - little or no rumen microbial activity and can cause death due to rumen impaction 14

15 PROTEIN COMPOSITION OF RUMINANT FEEDS Feed FME ERDP DUP ERDP DUP MJ/kg g/kgdm g/kgdm DM r = 0.05 r = 0.08 (Intensive diet) Silage Hay Barley Rapeseed meal Soya bean meal

16 METABOLISABLE PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS Microbial protein usually supplies enough MP But if MP from microbes not sufficient then need to supply more as DUP because MP = digestible Bug protein + DUP DUP required in diets for animals producing high protein output high yielding dairy cows rapidly growing young animals ewes in late pregnancy and lactation 16

17 2. ASSESSING FEED QUALITY FROM ANALYSIS AND LABELS 17

18 Silage Analysis 18

19 Silage Analysis What to Look For Dry Matter (DM) can vary widely depending on time of cutting, wilting, age of grass, weather, etc. Target usually 25-35% M.E. very important, can also vary widely 7-12 MJ/Kg DM Protein important, and again can be variable. 103g/Kg DM = 10.3% D value digestibility, range from

20 Silage Analysis What to Look For ph, VFA, Lactic Acid measure of fermentation. VFA indicates poor fermentation and risk of spoiling in pit NDF amount of fibre high indicates older/later cut grass, likely to be lower D value PAL potential acid load risk of acid load in rumen 20

21 Silage Analysis Scottish Pit Silages (2008) Average Range DM g/kg ME MJ/kgDM CP g/kgdm Big Bale Silages (2008) DM ME CP

22 Feed Labels What to Look For 22

23 Feed Labels Know What to Look For Why are you buying the feed - energy or protein? Protein usually stated in freshweight e.g. HiPro Soya 50% fresh = 56% dry ME rarely stated on label - be careful! Label ingredients ordered by decreasing inclusion rate. Used to be highest to lowest, now in range of % Oatfeed, palm kernel expeller, shea nut, etc lower energy and palatability- often used as cheap filler, but may contribute to protein 23

24 Feed Labels Know What to Look For Be aware of urea as an ingredient and contribution to protein content not true protein High fibre and ash contents can indicate lower digestibility, cheaper feeds depends on end use as well may be appropriate for situation Watch label allowances 4 ingredients with a protein content of less than 16% can t give a compound with 18% protein!!! 24

25 FEED PRICES AND RELATIVE VALUES Barley 140/tonne; Rapeseed meal 300/tonne. Values based on NE and UDP with RDP allowance Price Relative Value Wheat Oats Hipro soya Wheatfeed Beans Peas Beet pulp

26 3. Rationing Suckler Cows 26

27 Rationing Suckler Cows OBJECTIVES produce viable calf at birth maintain cow health maximise reproductive efficiency high calf growth rates - milk least cost DRIVEN BY CONDITION SCORE 27

28 Condition Scoring Simple Assessment of body condition from 1 (thin) to 5 (fat) Assessment of subcutaneous fat levels 2 main sites on body to assess C.S. 28

29 Condition Scoring 29

30 Condition Scoring Condition score 1 - The individual spinous processes are sharp to the touch and easily distinguished. Condition score 2 - The spinous processes can be identified individually when touched, but feel rounded rather than sharp. Condition score 3 - The spinous processes can only be felt with very firm pressure and the areas on either side of the tail head have some fat cover. Condition score 4 - Fat cover around the tail head is easily seen as slight mounds, soft to the touch. The spinous processes cannot be felt. Condition score 5 - The bone structure of the animal is no longer noticeable and the tail head is almost completely buried in fatty tissue. 30

31 Target CS for Spring Calvers 31

32 Spring Calver Feed Requirements Weaning to calving CS 3.0 at weaning, target 2.5 at calving, lose 0.5CS over 120d Flat rate feeding over last 16 weeks of pregnancy Cow weight kg weight change kg/d MJME/d Alternatively, feed at 80-85MJ until last 8 weeks, then reduce if necessary to avoid over-fat cows at calving Post calving - as for autumn calver 32

33 Example Diet for Spring Calver 75 MJ energy requirement 28 Kg average silage (ME 10.5MJ/Kg, 25% DM) 75 MJ Plus minerals Autumn calver in November needs 120 MJ per day, spring calver 75MJ 45 MJ difference = 17Kg silage, or 4Kg barley 33

34 Rules of Thumb Maintenance 0.11xW MJME/d Milk 5 MJME/kg milk Pregnancy (last 8 weeks) 15 MJME/d Weight loss 30 MJME/kg First calved heifer gain 0.3kg/d(10MJ) Dry Matter Intake 2% liveweight 34

35 CS Body Condition at Calving and Reproductive Performance Calving interval (d) Calves weaned per 100 cows to bull Below to to Over

36 Suckler Rations Try to group cows according to condition Take particular care with 1 st and 2 nd calvers, and shy feeders CS2.5 at calving = 7.7% assisted calvings. CS 3.5 at calving = 14.3% assisted calvings! Autumn calvers timing of energy demand very different to spring calver -120MJ/day in winter compared to for spring calver 36

37 4. RATIONING SHEEP 37

38 NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF PREGNANT EWES Maintenance Pregnancy foetus and placenta Condition score (weight) change 38

39 BODY CONDITION SCORE Hill Ewes Body Condition Score Targets Upland Ewes Lowland Ewes At Weaning At Tupping Mid- Pregnancy At Lambing At Weaning Hill Upland Lowland 39

40 BODY CONDITION SCORE Monitor condition regularly Group according to CS at weaning Lean group get priority grazing 8 weeks of good grazing will raise CS by 1 Younger ewes will recover BC faster than older ewes. High energy/high intake feed blocks can help thin ewes or where limited quality grazing available to boost lambing % 10-20% 40

41 EARLY & MID PREGNANCY Early Pregnancy Minimise stress Maintain plane of nutrition for at least three weeks post ram removal. Mid-Pregnancy Ewes should not gain or loose more than half a BCS (5% of Body weight 3-4kg) 41

42 TARGETS FOR PREGNANT EWES Grass grazing 4-6cm Ideal. 1 unit CS = 0.13 x weight 70kg ewe, 1 unit=9.1kg, 0.5 units/56d=0.08kg/d weight loss 65kg ewe = 8.45kg 75kg ewe = 9.75kg. 80kg ewe = 10.4kg 42

43 FEEDING LEVELS(70kg lowland ewe BCS 3) Weeks before lambing: Silage (11MJ/kg DM) 18% CP compound (kg/day) Single Twin Triplet Silage (10MJ/kg DM) 18-20% CP compound (kg/day) Single Twin Triplet Silage (9MJ/kg DM) 18-20% CP compound (kg/day) Single Twin Triplet

44 FEEDING LEVELS Concentrate inputs should start 2 weeks earlier and be 0.2 kg/day higher than those shown in the above table when ewes are in poor condition poorer quality silage is offered 44

45 FEEDING LEVELS(70kg lowland ewe BCS 3) Weeks before lambing: Hay (9MJ/kg DM) 18-20% CP compound (kg/day) Single Twin Triplet

46 CONCENTRATES FOR PREGNANT EWES Compound feeds Minimum 12MJ ME/kgDM Protein content of 18%CP no indication of quality (ERDP & DUP) DUP good for colostrum quality and can lower worm burdens. Good quality: cereals, cereal by-products, maize gluten sugar beet pulp, soya hulls. Poor quality: oatfeed, olive pulp, shea nut, cocoa shells, coffee residues List on the label: descending order of inclusion Poorer quality feeds will result in extra feed being required which may compromise forage intake. 46

47 CONCENTRATES FOR PREGNANT EWES Home mixes (kg/t): 18% 21% Barley Molassed s. beet pulp Soya bean meal Peas Min/vit supplement

48 MINERALS FOR EWES Trace Element When to sample Copper Swayback ill-thrift Ewes pre tupping Lambs at weaning Cases of ill thrift Blood 7-10 Liver -3 Cobalt ill-thrift Poor fertility Neonatal Losses Ewes pre tupping and pre lambing Lambs at weaning Cases of ill thrift Blood 10 Liver -3 Selenium ill thrift Poor fertility High Barren rate Still births White muscle disease Ewes pre tupping and pre lambing Lambs at weaning Cases of ill thrift Blood 3-5 Liver -3 Iodine Helps new born lambs to control body temperature and prevent hypothermia Speak to vet Forage samples will also help 48

49 MINERALS FOR EWES Lamb vigour Vitamin E & Selenium shown to increase lamb vigour at birth. Moist grain diets increase demand. Iodine essential to the newborn lamb to help control body temperature and avoid hypothermia Blood sampling provide the most effective guide to situation. Energy intake and avoiding acidosis Introduce slowly 0.25kg/d, increasing by 0.05 to 0.1kg/d No more than 0.45kg/feed Whole grains (except silage diets) Worm Burden will reduce uptake of nutrients and minerals. 49

50 FEED BLOCKS Type and typical intake 60g hard poured bucket Cost per tonne Labour cost of feeding % of daily energy Req. for maintenance % of daily min & Vit req. 620 V Low kg standard block 430 V Low kg premium energy block 460 Low l liquid feed 290 Mod kg lifeline bucket 675 V Low

51 FINISHING LAMBS 51

52 FINISHING LAMBS Short keep Medium Keep Long Keep 35kg kg <30kg 30-40days days 70 days g DLWG g DLWG g DLWG Energy Energy & Protein Energy & Protein Whole cereals 14-16%CP mix 17/18%CP Mix Intakes of concentrate feeds will be 1-1.5kg/hd/day build gradually risk of bloat & death. FCR vary from 6:1 10:1 Animal health should be good Worms/feet/ventilation 52

53 FINISHING LAMBS % inclusion Whole Barley SB pellets Soya Peas Beans 10 Mins % CP ration. 53

54 6. FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 54

55 PHASES OF GROWTH Three phases of growth Rearing birth to 200kg target is for a well grown, weight for age with no severe health challenges. Growing /500kg target is for a well framed beast ready to be finished kgDLWG Finishing the last 60-90days target DLWG 1-1.5kg to maximise weight grade and KO% 55

56 TARGET GROWTH RATES DLWG (Kg/day) Birth to Weaning (suckled) Winter (pre-summer grazing) Summer grazing Finishing period Lower rates for heifers and earlier maturing breeds Higher rates from steers and continental breeds Avoid interruptions to steady growth rates can delay finishing, reduce carcass and meat quality. 56

57 CREEP FEEDING Increase calf weaning weights Typical FCR of approx 4:1 120kg creep=30kg lw gain. Improve cow condition Wean calves from thin dams earlier. More efficient to feed calf than cow 11-15%CP mineralised high energy ration. 57

58 Concentrates for Weaned Calves Immature under-developed rumen Used to digesting milk (and creep), not well suited to digesting long forage Will take many weeks for rumen to develop fully 58

59 RATION GUIDELINES Growing Cattle Finishing Cattle Dry Matter intake 2.3% of body weight 2% of body weight DLWG kg/day >1.4kg/day Dry matter 30-60% 30-60% Crude Protein (CP) 14-16% 12-15% ME (MJkg/DM) >12.2 NDF (neutral detergent fibre) >40% >25% Fat <3% <6% Starch & Sugar <20% >33% Calcium 0.8% 0.6% 59

60 Concentrates for Weaned Calves Constant Increasing Decreasing 1 st 50 days (Kg/hd/day) nd 50 days (Kg/hd/day) rd 50 days (Kg/hd/day) Start weight (Kg) Finish weight (Kg) Total concentrates Total silage (t) % silage at turnout

61 Concentrates for weaned calves When turned out to grass, the animals on a 90% forage diet will have a rumen well suited to digesting forage no check in growth Works best where calves have been creep fed prior to weaning If using decreasing pattern, introduce GRADUALLY 61

62 Suckler Calves - Heifers Common issue with finishing suckler heifers too small and too fat at slaughter Can be breed and genetic effects, and from weaning 10 months is key Target diet to approx 0.6 Kg/day liveweight gain Frame growth until Kg liveweight 62

63 S ummer G ai n (kg/ day) Compensatory Growth Wi nter gai n (kg/ day) 63

64 Compensatory Growth Winter gains and 0.8kg/day for 127days Difference in LWt at turnout - 43kg After 4months grazing - 50% compensation After 7months grazing - only 68% compensation Compensation hardly ever complete for grass finished cattle Length of grazing season major factor Target winter gains kg/day 64

65 GROWTH FROM GRASS Sward height/cm Conc Kg/d Conc kg/d Grass DMI (kg/d) DLWG (kg) KO%

66 GROWTH FROM GRASS 66

67 GROWTH FROM GRASS Quality and quantity of concentrates fed determined by silage quality. Feed a max of 0.5kg cereals/compound per 100kg LW per single feed to reduce risk of acidosis. 67

68 SILAGE QUALITY vs CONCENTRATES 68

69 FINISHING CATTLE ON SILAGE BASED DIETS IMPLICATION Point at which adding more cereals to silage diet : not beneficial may even reduce performance (substitution) increase risk of acidosis etc Safer and more effective to ad lib concentrates and feed straw i.e. barley beef When concentrates make up 65-70% diet DM - i.e. 7-8kg concs/day 69

70 SILAGE QUALITY Silage ME (MJ/kg DM) Conc (kg/hd/day) Silage DMI (kg) DLWG (kg) KO% Carcass gain (kg) Increase in carcass weight

71 SILAGE QUALITY Silage ME (MJ/kg DM) Conc (kg/hd/day) Silage DMI (kg) DLWG (kg) KO% Carcass gain (kg) Increase in carcass weight Days to grow 100kg(lw) Cost 100kg gain

72 DUNG SIGNALS What does Manure look like Loose manure Diarrhoea Foamy manure or mucin casts (pieces of gut lining that indicate gut damage) Large particles of undigested feed Possible dietary causes (not disease) High protein (total or soluble); pasture Insufficient fibre in ration Spoiled, mouldy feed or silage Ruminal acidocis Increased hindgut fermentation Ruminal acidocis Increased hindgut fermentation Cattle sorting feed, slow feeding Not enough chewable fibre/forage/feed Ruminal Acidosis Manure variable in group Cattle are sorting feed; feeding slowly Spoiled, mouldy feed or silage If rumen is working well, you should see: Few feed particles over 1.5cm long, little recognisable feed, 80% of cattle not sleeping, eating or drinking should be ruminating 72

73 Intensive Beef SYSTEM Ad-lib high energy concentrates and straw cattle eat about 13% DMI as straw long straw increases LWG by 0.1kg/day High average LWt gains kg/day Finish at months of age Good FCR Was/is Low cost/kg LWG? know your costs! 73

74 Intensive Beef Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Quality of ME (energy) most important, DO NOT overfeed protein. Barley 90% 40% 34% Wheat 40% 38% HiPro Soya 10% Peas 28% Beans 20% plus intensive min/vit supp. 74

75 Intensive Beef Cereal processing important minimum processing roll to half or a third original thickness some whole grain in dung 75

76 Protein sources for intensive beef 450kg steer gaining 1.5kg/d Clean, long straw to appetite Barley Soya Rapeseed Wheat DG Maize DG Beans Peas plus intensive min/vit supp. 76

77 INTENSIVE BEEF Barley/wheat/oats - high starch foods lowest FCR, lowest cost/kg LWG 2 week minimum build-up to ad lib intake start with 16-17% protein - helps with adaptation 2 feeds of 2kg/day introduce a third midday feed increase quantities until feed left fill hoppers and if hoppers get empty, start again In last 8 weeks before slaughter, reduce protein in ration to encourage fat deposition 77

78 MAXIMISE DM INTAKE Smooth, clean surface Eating surface about 10cm above hoof Brisket board to prevent pulling though of feed Clear away refused food x3 week Careful siting of water 78

79 FEED SUPPLEMENTS 79

80 LIVE YEAST SUPPLEMENTS Mop up oxygen Stabilise rumen ph Increase rate of fibre digestion Provide growth factors for microbes Boost protein supply Reduce methane production 80

81 YEAST and PERFORMANCE Harper Adams UC: Bulls & heifers barley/soya Yea-Sacc Control Start wt kg Slaughter wt kg Days to slaughter LWG kg/d Feed intake kg/d FCR Cost/kg gain p/kg

82 Yeast and Other Supplements Yeasacc, Biotal, Crina, etc Check inclusion rates and cost If with minerals, likely to be more expensive and less accurate for both supplement and minerals include separately Blocks with minerals and/or supplements NOT suitable for finishing diets (or any other diet?) 82

83 TAKE HOME MESSAGES 1. Know your stock Weights and condition 2. Know your feeds Quality of available feeds 3. Set targets and ration accordingly Maximise animal performance Value. 83

84 MINERAL & VITAMINS Major Minerals Trace elements Vitamins Calcium (Ca) Cobalt (Co) A Phosphorus (P) Copper (Cu) D Magnesium (Mg) Iodine (I) E Potassium (K) Iron (Fe) Sodium(Na) Manganese (Mn) Sulphur (S) Selenium (Se) Zinc (Zn) 84

85 MINERALS FOR CATTLE Trace Element Copper Cobalt Selenium Essential in enzyme function Energy Metabolism Immune function Poor growth Scouring Infertility Reduced pigmentation Lethargy/weak Poor appetite Ill thrift Infertility Iodine Energy Metabolism Foetal development & growth Weak newborns Retained afterbirths Close interaction between most vits and mins. Speak to vet Blood sample to confirm deficiency. Forage samples will also help 85

86 MINERAL & VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION Always needed with home-grown feeds or un-mineralised blends or straights Use of compound feeds reduces or eliminates need Mixed and varied diets less likely to be deficient than single feeds Free-Access Minerals: very variable intake 86

87 MINS & VITS - SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS Urea treated grain or ammonia treated straw need Sulphur Brassicas need Copper, Iodine, Selenium Intensive diets - Ca:P>2:1; P<4.6g/kgDM; Mg<2.3g/kgDM Hypomagnesaemia extra available Magnesium at risk periods 87

88 MINERAL RATES Ration A Ration B Silage 18kg 16kg Barley 2kg 4kg Min/vit 100g 100g 100/2=50g/kg 100/4=25g/kg 50kg/tonne 25kg/tonne 88

89 TRACE ELEMENT SUPPLEMENTATION Free Choice Minerals Cost - Effectiveness Ease of Use * *** In Feed Minerals ** *** Drench ** ** Injections *** ** Bolus *** * Top Dressing Pasture * ** 89

90 END 90