Topic 2 - Feeding Monogastric Livestock, Introduction to Feeding Programs

Question 1

What is a feeding program?

Answer 1

-a strategic plan to supply animal production objectives

Mechanism to deliver nutrients to an animal based on a specific composition of the feed

-a critical component of the food chain

program decisions influence the wholesomeness of the food product

Question 2

What are the goals of a feeding program?

Answer 2

Controlling..

-Nutrients (energy, protein, etc.)
-Health and constant production
-Production goals based on the business model

Cost/ROI
Consumer demand
Customer retention

Question 3

Responsibilities of a Nutritionist

Answer 3

1. Determining the nutrient requirements based on different environmental and managerial conditions
2. estimation of nutrient content and digestibility of different feed ingredients
3. Determination of optimum feed forms or feeding systems (ex. pellets vs. mash, etc)
4. Complete 1-3 with an understanding of available feed manufacturing resources

Question 4

Responsibilities of the Feed Mill

Answer 4

1. Ensure incoming ingredients are of good quality
2. Manufacturing feeds according to the specifications laid out by the nutritionist
3. Control processes to avoid any contamination, nutrient imbalances, or other hazards
4. Get feed to the animal

Question 5

Responsibilities of the Farm

Answer 5

1. Oversee animal health and welfare

• both are important to production, consumers, and the basic responsibility of anyone working with animals for any purpose

2. Keep up with feed needs and inventory
3. Conduct necessary management activities

• animals have feed, water, lighting, adequate ventilation

The best feed in the world will do no good for a poorly managed farm!

Question 6

Feed Formulation

Answer 6

Set Ingredient Restrictions

-which ingredients
-min (ex. fat to increase pellet quality)
-max
-equal to a predetermined requirement

Set Nutrient Restrictions

-which nutrients
-min
-max
-equal

Question 7

Ingredient Restrictions

Answer 7

Minimum/Maximum
- Minimize anti-nutritional factors
-quality, handling, dustiness, etc. will determine max. inclusion

ex. wheat (bulky, fine, dusty — may not flow well)

ex. fat —- max. inclusion typically 7% (flow and handling problems.

Tricky Ingredients

-Salt and limestone (Ca) They are cheap and will often appear in the ration at excessive levels if a min. is not set