Cows – R – Cows and Pigs – R – Pigs!

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What do animals eat?

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What do feeds provide? • What is a nutrient? – Chemical substance that provides nourishment for the body

• What types of nutrients are there?

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What types of nutrients are there?

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Types of Nutrients… • Water – the MOST IMPORTANT – Animal’s body is 70% water – Important for nutrient transport, waste removal, and digestion – Supply CLEAN, FRESH SUPPLY daily!!!

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Types of Nutrients… • Carbohydrates – Provide ENERGY!! – Energy needed to grow and perform – Examples include grain, hays – Makes up over 80% of beef ration

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Types of Nutrients… • Protein – Needed for growth and development – Growing/finishing cattle will require between 12-15%

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Are animals different… • In how they use nutrients?

–YES! • In what we feed them?

–YES! • Why? Celina Johnson, CSU

Farm Animals

Simple Stomach System

Complex Stomach System

Non-ruminant

Ruminant

(Monogastric)

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Examples of Ruminants

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Let’s take a look at a ruminant!

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Digestive tract anatomy ABOMASUM

RUMEN MOUTH

CECUM

ESOPHAGUS LARGE INTESTINE OMASUM SMALL INTESTINE

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RETICULUM

So what does each part do? • Mouth: – Reduces food size (chewing)

• Esophagus: – Transport to stomach (swallowing) – Regurgitation (cud-chewing)

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So what does each part do? • Stomach: 4 compartments:

• Reticulum (honeycomb) • Rumen (fermentation) • Omasum (many plies) • Abomasum (true stomach)

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So what does each part do? • Reticulum (honeycomb) – Traps foreign material (nails, wire, etc.)

• Rumen (fermentation) – Largest of the 4 compartments – Contains microbes (bacteria, protozoa) – Microbes digest feeds Partners! – Animal digests microbes Celina Johnson, CSU

RUMEN

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HAY

RUMEN Celina Johnson, CSU

So what does each part do? • Omasum (many plies) – “Regulator” – Regulates flow from rumen to abomasum

• Abomasum (true stomach) – Similar to yours! – Begin digestion of microbes Celina Johnson, CSU

Celina Johnson, CSU

Ruminants… • Meant to eat grass! – Remember: partners with microbes! – Microbes digest “tough stuff” and animal digests microbes!

• What do steers eat? – Forage source • hay, silage, pasture

– Grain as well Celina Johnson, CSU

Nutrient Requirements • Your animal requires minimum amounts of the various nutrients • This amount varies based upon – Age, weight, breed, exercise/stress level, balance of the other nutrients, etc

• Important to know how your animal’s requirements change over the feeding period Celina Johnson, CSU

Growth Curve 4

3

market

2 puberty

Wt.

1. 2. 3. 4.

1

Time

Prenatal Rapid Growth Fat deposit begins Fat

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Growing Cattle Intake Requirements

Intake Requirements

(For large framed steers that will finish at 1250 lbs, gaining 3 lbs per day)

750

850

950

1050

1150

1250

Body Weight, lbs

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Units are POUNDS OF DRY MATTER PER DAY

Growing Cattle Energy Requirements

Energy Requirements

(For large framed steers that will finish at 1250 lbs, gaining 3 lbs per day)

750

850

950

1050

1150

1250

Body Weight, lbs

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Units are % OF DIET

Growing Cattle Protein Requirements

Protein Requirements

(For large framed steers that will finish at 1250 lbs, gaining 3 lbs per day)

750

850

950

1050

1150

1250

Body Weight, lbs

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Units are % OF DIET

Growing Cattle Ca/P Requirements

Mineral Requirements

(For large framed steers that will finish at 1250 lbs, gaining 3 lbs per day)

Calcium Phosphorus

750

850

950

1050

Body Weight, lbs

Units are % OF DIET

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1150

1250

Growing Cattle Requirements Summary

• As BODY WEIGHT INCREASES… – Dry Matter Intake INCREASES – Energy Needs INCREASE – Protein Needs DECREASE – Calcium and Phosphorus Needs DECREASE

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Important Terms • Starter/Grower – Fed from about 400 to 900 lbs (depends upon feed company instructions)

• Finisher – Fed from about 900 lbs to finish (depends upon feed company instructions)

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Important Terms • Supplement – Used in addition to locally available forages and grains (“supplements” other feeds)

• Complete Feed – Designed to be the only feed fed, includes all nutrients an animal needs (roughage included) Celina Johnson, CSU

Important Terms • Dry Matter (DM) – Feeds vary in water content • Fresh pasture can be 70% water • Corn or other grains are about 10% water

– By accounting for water content, feeds can be accurately evaluated for the other nutrients!

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Important Terms • TDN (total digestible nutrients) – A good way to estimate energy density of a feed – Growing beef animals require between 6575% TDN – Ask your feed dealer for this value (not on feed tag)

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Important Terms • CP (crude protein) – Estimates how much protein in a feed, but doesn’t tell how much can actually be used by the animal – Growing beef animals require between 1013%, show beef animals need 12-15% – Info on feed tag

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Some Feeding Guidelines • FRESH WATER AT ALL TIMES! • Include a good quality forage at all times (minimum of 3-5 lbs per day) to maintain health of digestive system

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Some Feeding Guidelines • Once on full feed, beef animal should have about 2.5 to 3 lbs of grain per 100 lbs of body weight – Ex: 700 lbs steer = ~ 17.5 to 21 lbs of grain – Ex: 1000 lbs steer = ~ 25 to 30 lbs of grain

• Follow the label directions!!! – Manufacturers include directions for a reason! Celina Johnson, CSU

Celina Johnson, CSU