Balancing Rations

1
Balancing Rations

• Unit 8

2
Roughages

• Contain more than 18 crude fiber
• Legume roughages are plants that take nitrogen
  from the air
• Alfalfa, soybeans, peas
• Nonlegume roughages are lower in protein
• Corn silage, sorghum silage, grasses

3
Concentrates

• Contain less that 18 crude fiber
• Protein supplements contain 20 or more protein
• Animal protein
• Plant protein

4
Ration

• Total amount of feed that an animal is allowed
  during a 24-hour period
• May be fed all at once or in several feedings.
• Balanced ration has all the nutrients the animal
  need in the right proportions and amounts

5
Ration Functions

• Maintance
• Growth
• Fattening
• Production
• Reproduction
• Work

6
Balancing Rations

• Protein in the ration may be measured by
• Total protein (TP)
• Digestible protein (DP)

7
Balancing Rations

• Energy may be calculated
• Digestible energy (DE) gross energy- energy in
  feces
• Metabolizable energy (ME) gross energy-energy in
  feces- energy in gas- energy in urine

8
Balancing Rations

• Total digestible nutrients (TDN)digestible
  protein, digestible nitrogen-free extract,
  digestible crude fiber, and 2.25 times the
  digestible fat
• Net energy (NE) metabolizable energy minus the
  heat increment

9
Balancing Rations

• Calcium and phosphorus are important
• RATIO SHOULD BE BETWEEN 11 TO 21

10
Dry matter vs. As fed

• Dry matter 100 of moisture is removed from
  feed
• DM AF x moisture
• As fed (air dry) average amount of moisture
  found in the feed
• AF DM/ moisture

11
Substituting silage for hay

• Three parts silage to one part hay

12
Beef

• 2 AF basis of body weight
• 1.8 DM basis
• Nursing cows need 50 more than dry cows
• Fattening rations need 2 to 2.5 of body weight
• 1.8-2.25 DM basis

13
Swine

• 3.5 to 4.5 AF basis of body weight
• Nursing sows 9 to 13.5lbs AF
• Growing-finishing hogs- 6.5 of body weight AF
  basis

14
Sheep

• Maintenance rations 3 of body weight AF
• Fattening 1.5 to 2 of body weight on AF basis

15
Horses

• The higher the energy requirements, the less
  roughage required and increase grain.

16
Poultry

• Laying hens need a great deal of Ca
• 10 of body weight, AF basis