Managing the Feeding Program

1. Managing the Feeding Program

2. Goal of Feeding Programs for all animals Meet their needs for energy, protein (amino acids), minerals and vitamins to optimize their health, growth, and performance

3. Animals need certain amount of each nutrient Feed Intake governs the concentration of each nutrient needed in the diet

4. Managing or Optimizing  Feed Intake

5. Feed Intake Measured as dry matter intake (DMI) To calculate dry matter intake Feed intake multiplied by dry matter percent divided by 100 DMI smaller than as fed amount

6. Animals fed to maintain weight and body condition DMI such that needs for maintenance meet Examples Mature Dogs and Cats Mature horses with little exercise

7. Performance Animals-- Rapidly Growing Lactating/egg laying Optimize, often times maximize, dry matter intake

10. Feed Intake

11. Feed intake changed by…. Animal factors Environmental factors Diet Factors Feeding practices

12. Animal Factors Govern DMI Social hierarchy Timid animals eat less than boss animals unless management intervenes Age of growing animals Very Young animals eat less than slightly older animals

14. Animal Factors Govern DMI Level of performance Higher producing animals eat more than lower producing animals Body weight of animals Genetics – lean lines of pigs and poultry

15. Environmental Factors Temperature/Humidity Hot/humid weather --- decrease dry matter intake Cold weather --- dry matter intake increases Ventilation Temperature and Odor control

16. Diet Regulates Intake Palatability of diet Energy density of diet

17. Diet Regulates Intake Ruminants--- Forage Quality – Relates to digestibility of forages Legumes > grasses Higher fiber contents – decrease DMI Endophyte-infected Fescue Improperly formulated diets decrease DMI

18. Feed Storage Length of storage Keep dry – do not allow to “sweat” Storage environment – keep out of sun and weather Rodent control Medicated feeds– feed to appropriate species and obey withdrawal time periods

19. Feeding Practices Most Important…. Under control of the Animal Owner

20. Feeding Practices Rations fed to Animals 1st…. Ration formulated by nutritionist 2nd …Ration fed by the animal owner 3rd … Ration consumed by the animal 4th … Nutrients absorbed and available to the tissues for growth, milk production, egg laying etc.

21. Feeding Practices Measure actual feed intake Actual feed consumed not amount fed Then adjust to meet animals needs Records for feed purchases and feedout times

25. Feeding Practices Adequate space to eat and drink water Easy access to feed and water

26. Feeding Practices Access to feed Ad lib intakes versus limit feeding (Performance level vs maintenance) Group by size or stage of productivity

27. Feed Intake Guidelines - Poultry Chickens Laying Hens 0.25 lbs feed per day

28. Feed Intake Guidelines  -- Swine 10-25 lb pigs 0.75- 1 lbs as fed/day 25-50 lb pigs 2 lbs Grower- 50-120 lbs 3.5-4 lbs Finishing- 120-250 lb 6 lbs Sows– maintenance 5-6 lbs (limit fed) Sows- lactating 10-20 lbs

29. Feed Intake Guidelines—Ruminants and Horses Dry matter intakes Horses 2-2.5% BW Sheep 3-4% BW Goats 3-4% BW Beef- Stockers 2.5-3.0% BW Beef-Cow-Calf 2.0-3.0% BW Dairy Heifer 2.5-3.0% BW Dairy- Lactating cow 3-4% BW

30. Feeding Mgt… Take Home Messages Feed intake governs performance especially higher performance times in an animal’s lifecycle Water intake governs feed intake

31. Feeding Mgt… Take Home Messages Minimize competition Adequate bunk and water space Easy access to feed and water Size of groups or facility design Provide comfortable surroundings

32. Feeding Mgt… Take Home Messages

33. Questions??