D52-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 20,1993 K Dairy Tipfe By Dr. Randy Lyle, Ph.D. WHAT ARE THE NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF COWS? A dairyman recently asked me “why can’t feed companies or universities agree on what to feed my cows?” His sincere tone revealed a serious desire to understand why there are so many different opinions on how and what to feed cows. I explained that there are no universally accepted nutrient requirements for lactating cows, nor are there absolute values that quantitate the nutritional value of feedstuffs. Even though the NEC (National Research Council) has published nutrient recommen dations for all types of livestock, these values still must be used as GUIDELINES, not as ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENTS. Further more, feed companies, such as Purina Mills, have researched nutrient requirements of cows for years, and have established their V ■ ■ WARRIOR’S MARK FEED CENTER P.O. Box #l3O Warrior* Mark, PA 16877 814/632-5490 FARMER'S UNION CO-OP 30 East Wallers Avenue Greencastle, PA 17225 717/597-3191 K & K FEED, INC. 23 N. Park Street Richland, PA 17087 717/866-2324 THE OXFORD GRAIN & HAY CO. 1212 Railroad Ave. Oxford, PA 19363 215/932-8521 BEDFORD FARM BUREAU Bedford PA 814/623-6194 Everett, PA 814/652-2313 New Enterprise, PA 814/766-3328 FARM CREST FEEDS Lititz, PA 17543 717-626-0331 800-432-3040 ANTHONY’S FEED MILL P.O. Box 212 Strausstown, PA 19559 215/488-6211 * Trademark of Ralston Purina Company CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PURINA DEALER kssANus Paradise, PA 17562 717/442-4183 717/768-3301 Unionvllle, PA 19375 215/347-2377 UMBERGER’S MILL R.D. #4 - Box #545 Lebanon, PA 17042 717/867-5161 H.C. SUMMERS, INC. 4002 Jefferson Pike Jefferson, MD 301/473-8300 FRANKLIN FEED & SUPPLY M.G. HENNINGER & SON, INC 1977 Philadelphia Ave. Berrysburg, PA 17005 Chambersburg, PA 717/362-3333 717/264-6148 DETRICH ELEVATOR, INC, 5458 Cedar St. Williamson, PA 17270 717/369-3724 WILLIAM GOWER & SON Rt 1, Box SO Williamsport, MD 21795 301/582-2818 by Dr. Randy Lyle HECKR-BOAR Knoxville, PA 16928 814/326-4178 HIGH BROS. MILL 441 Centerville Road Gordonvllte, PA 17529 WOODSTOWN ICE & COAL CO., INC, 50 East Grant Street Woodstown, NJ 08098 609/769-0069 OLEY VALLEY FEED RD2 • Box 271 A Oley, PA 215/987-3568 MARTIN’S FEED & FERTILIZER, INC. Cobum, PA 16832 814/349-8787 PURINA MILLS, INC own set of nutrient requirements, which may be quite different from those used by others. The same applies to the nutritional value of feedstuffs. There are no universally accepted values. Although the NRC APPROXIMATES the nutritional value of feedstuffs for cows, these values are NOT ABSOLUTE. Purina Mills has been measuring nutritional values of feedstuffs for cows since 1925, and has its own extensive data base. This information is obviously not shared within the industry, and our values may differ from those used by others. Why isn’t there agreement on what to feed cows? Because universal nutrient require ments of cows, and universal nutrient con tent of feedstuffs, do not exist! Therein lies the reason for disagreement. 239 W. Main St. 717/354-0301 SPENCER'S MILLING SERVICE 306 S. Rodney St. Clayton, DE 19938 302/653-8011 NISSLEY FEED CENTER Mill Rd., Box 377 Morgantown, PA 19543 215/286-9029 TRI COUNTY AG CENTER, INC. McVeytown, PA 17051 717/899-6772 R D BOWMAN & SONS, INC. Englar Rd Westminster, MD 21157 301/848-3733 NORTH GLADE FEED & SUPPLY, INC, 12435-A Woodsboro Pike Keymar, MD 21757 301/898-3414 DRAFT FEED & SUPPLY Jon Almarode PO Box 621, Rt. 340 Sturarts Draft, VA 24477 703-337-0408 WELLCO FEEp RR 2, Box 1-A Wyalusing, PA 18853 1-800-326-9651 717-746-3442 r Feeds designed with you in mind. Purina Mills Dairy Consultant K
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