Enhance Dairy Cattle Nutrition (Continued from Page 48) to be representative of the group of animals. Mix the collected samples and place a pint-sized sample on a .05-.08 inch mesh sieve (flour sifter) or in a strainer. Using a hose, wash a gentle, steady stream of water over the sieve, passing across the sample continuously until the water running from the bottom of the sieve is clear. Then gently use running water to roll or float the particles to one corner of the sieve and remove all material from the sieve. Place the washed sample on a flat dark surface and examine it. It is inevitable that some long forage particles will appear, but if mdst are greater than 0.5 inch there may be cause for concern. Poor digestion of forages may be due to the makeup of the fiber component of the diet (low quality forages) or to the ability of the animal to digest the forage being fed (poorly bal anced rations). The small intestine is capable of digesting starch, allowing the cow to utilize this nutrient. However, the amount of starch digested is limited by the rate of digesta passage through the small intestine. Some grain will be observed in the manure of nearly all high producing cows. This is inevitable because high producers have a high rate of feed intake and a rapid passage rate of feeds out of the ■iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin'iiiitHiniiiitiuiiiuiiuiiiHtniiiHiiiiiiuiiiiHiiiiiuiiiHiimutiiuiiiiiimuimiw Poured In Place Insulated Concrete Walls ★ Cut Heating & Cooling Cost by 35% ★ Easily Adapted to Any Design & Configuration. Call for Details CONESTOGA CONCRETE WALLS ■ NRCS Approved * a TT*\ Manure Storage Pits —L-J ■ Cast in Place Foundation & Retaining Walls ■ Pre Cast Bunker & Retaining Walls 65 N. Harvest Rd. Contact Elam Bird-n-Hand, PA 17505 717*278*7150 rumen. In addition, these cows require higher ration energy density, and in turn high grain diets, to try to meet their energy needs. This often creates a situa tion where starch is fed in excess of the amount that can be utilized in the rumen. The feeding of excess grain should be minimized and must be monitored constantly by the herd nutritionist. It is possible for the starch in corn kernels to be partially or fully di gested, while the kernel remains intact. Corn silage often produces such kernels with the starch digested from the outer shell, so inspect kernels carefully, es pecially when corn silage is fed. Finding the opti mum amount of grain and extent of grain processing to optimize digestion in a high producing cow is part of the challenge of dairy nutrition, and may vary between cows and groups. Ruminal starch digestion is optimized when other dietary require ments are being met in the rumen. It is recom mended to attempt to minimize the grain level in the manure while understanding that some grain will always be present if the cows are being fed ade quate amounts of concentrates. Examining general herd health and nutrition in volves the collection of information from all areas of the farm, and fecal evaluation is one of several valu able sources of information. Paired with a close ex (Turn to Page 59) Thinking of expanding or remodeling your dairy facility? See us for all your financing needs...we offer loans and leases at very competitive rates! Please call us at 1-800-214-1222 1-800-FULTON-4 (717) 274-6906 Lebanon Valley M Farmers Bank Capital Division • Lancaater/Chester Division Droxers Bank Division • Great Valley Division www.lvfb.comwww.fultonbank.com Member FDIC Equal Opportunity Lender Final Thoughts Riltonßank
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