—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June >ll, 1977
16
Feeding terms defined
Before we can begin talking about feeding dairy cattle
(or any animal) we must be able to understand the special
terminology necessary for communication of ideas in that
particular field. We must be sure the terms have the same
meaning for author and reader to insure understanding
and avoid confusion and misinterpretation. In this column
we will only attempt to define some of the terms and
phrases necessary for a basic understanding of what we
will be discussing in the future.
Protein - is the nitrogen containing component of animal
and vegetable tissues. They are very complex, being a
combination of the various amind acids. They vary
greatly in their palatibility and digestibility.
Approximately 16 per cent of the protein is nitrogen. It is
essential for the structure, growth, and normal
functioning of the body.
Carbohydrates - include starches and sugars (glucose
and sucrose) and lignin (wood parts of stems, etc.) (low
feeding value) - provides some source of energy - no
known requirement.
Fiber - Cellulose and those carbohydrates which are
resistant to dissolving by weak acids (97 per cent cellulose
and lignin, pretty sure to resist digestion). It has very low
nutrient value but is essential in the diet to a considerable
degree. Feeds vary greatly in fiber content ( example corn
2 per cent oats 11 per cents).
Fat - supplies essential fatty acids and source of fat
soluble vitamins found in animal tissues and many plants
- very high in energy (2.25 times energy value of proteins
and carbohydrates). Essential to a considerable degree in
rations where high energy required, can be from plant or
animal source and vary greatly in digestibility (hay fat
can be up to 60 per cent non-digestible, grain fat up to 15
per cent non-digestible).
Nutrient - any food constituent that aids in the support of
life - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins,
and most importantly but most often forgotten, water.
Digestible nutrient - that portion of a nutrient which
may be digested and taken into the body - generally
applied only to protein, carbohydrates, and fats. - Total
gross intake minus that lost in the feces.
Total digestible nutrients (TDN) - The sum of all the
digestible organic nutrients • protein - fiber -
carbohydrates, and fat (fat is figured at 2.25 X its weight
because its energy value is that much greater than
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proteins or carbohydrates).' This is the approximate
energy value.
Concentrates - Feeds high in TDN and low in fiber (may
be low or high in protein) Ex. (cereal grains, oil meats,
meat scraps, bran).
Roughages - Feeds high in fiber and low in TDN Ex.
Hay, silage, pasture, haylage.
Ration - The feed allowed for a given animal during a 24
hour period.
Balanced ration - one which furnishes the nutrients in
such proportion and amount as will properly nourish a
given animal for 24 hours (Notice the .difference between
ration and balanced ration, this is the difference between
profit and loss, success and failure; this is the great
objective in feeding animals.)
Metabolizable energy - gross energy minus energy lost
in the feces, urine, and gases.
Net energy - metabolizable energy minus energy lost in
the work of digestion. This is what the animal has left to
work with.
Crude protein - total protein in the feed.
Digestible protein - that per cent of the gross intake
which is not excreted in the feces. It is usually quoted
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separately in feed tables because protein has sn e( .
functions which cannot be performed by other nutnem
Again digestibility can vary greatly from one f e J 7
another. , u t 0
Cereal grains are generally high in starch, low m fth.
phosphorus, and calcium and usually highly palatable!
all classes of livestock. Proteins are not of good qualitv 10
they usually have small amounts or lack certain essentia
amino acids. Legume hay (clover, alfalfa, etc.)
usually balance any reasonable grain diet.
There are over 400 recognized concentrates with new
ones being added constantly as by-products of m
industries. One cannot learn them all, - it is hopeless to trv
- the best thing to do is try to familiarize oneself with basin
feeding practices and make use of tables of information
when necessary. n
There is a very good and helpful publication entitled
Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, available for $3 on
from: Printing and Publishing Office National Academv
of Sciences 2101 Constitution Avenue Washington nr
20418. 8 ’ 1
I would strongly recommend having a copy for readv
reference. y
Tte satisfaction tbat cmnes
from doing a sood js& of fanniDo
It’s a great feeling to know that you are the master of
your farmlands ... that when you treat your soil right,
it will treat you right. Liming is one of the most impor
tant factors in keeping your soil in the highest produc
tive range. By raising the pH from a level below 6 0 to
6.5 or higher, you can expect to harvest as much as 5
more bushels of corn per acre, with similar increases
for all other forage and cash crops.
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