Multiblend
Agri Visser Consultancy gives a new meaning to least cost formulation:
TailoredDiet is freeware.
Formulating rations for horses may be accomplished by some rather basic mathematical calculations or by a series of complex procedures to formulate least-cost rations by computer. The most accurate method would be to consider the requirements for all nutrients .protein, energy, minerals and vitamins.in making the calculations. In practice, however, it usually is not necessary to be concerned with calculations of exact needs of all individual minerals and vitamins, since adequate amounts of trace minerals commonly are assured through inclusion of a trace mineralized salt in the ration. Other nutrients, such as the B vitamins, often are present in natural feedstuffs, or may be synthesized by bacteria present in the intestinal tract of the horse. The nutrients of major concern in horse ration formulation are energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin A. To formulate a ration for your horse, you must:
1. Determine the class of your horse (see Table 1 ).
2.List the nutrient concentrations needed in the ration for your class of horse (see Table 1 ).
3. List the feeds which are available to you, or which you wish to use in the ration (see Table 2).
4. From the digestible energy composition of the forage to be used in the ration, decide the percentages of forage and grain mix to be used (see Table 3).
5. Calculate the amounts of nutrients which will be provided by the forage, and subtract these from the total requirements listed in step 2, above. The remaining nutrients must be provided by the grain mix.
6. Calculate the amounts of the concentrate feeds (grains, soybean meal, etc.) needed to provide the remaining nutrients in the following order: A. Digestible energy; B. Crude protein; C. Calcium; D. Phosphorus; and E. Vitamin A.
A .balanced ration. is a combination of feed ingredients furnishing the various nutrients in proportions, forms and amounts that will, without waste, properly nourish a given animal for a particular purpose for 24 hours. In formulating a horse ration, remember that the basic ingredients of the ration.normally a forage, such as hay and/or pasture, plus a grain mix-must provide the needed energy and, at the same time, part or all of the required protein, minerals and vitamins. Since energy and protein are required in greatest amounts, it is common practice to balance the ration with respect to these nutrients and then to provide the necessary mineral and vitamin supplementation. Following are tables listing the approximate nutrient requirements for various classes of horses and the approximate composition of some commonly- used horse feeds. This information can be used in formulating rations adequate for the various classes of horses.
*****************************
Agri Visser Consultancy gives a new meaning to least cost formulation: TailoredDiet is freeware.
Welcome to the Feed Ration Balancer program. The Feed Ration Balancer program allows you the versatility of calculating least-cost (optimal) rations and/or evaluating a ration’s nutrient analysis for different species while using one program. One program allows the user the convenience of using the same general features and commands for each species. The Feed Ration Balancer program has been designed using equations for each species derived from the respective NRC manuals. However, these equations can be adjusted or customized to fit or design a company’s own system. Ingredient analyses were taken primarily from the Dairy NRC, but these values can be changed to the specie’s NRC values or the company or customer's individual laboratory analysis. Also each company can select which species are included in the balancer. This manual is designed to assist the technical user in setting up and operating many of the program-based script files associated with the operation of Feed Ration Balancer. The manual first describes the installation procedure and then the basic setup of the program. Following the basic setup, the more intricate operation of many of the setup and script functions are detailed in this manual. This manual is intended to be a companion to the User Manual that is installed along with the program and is available through the Help menu of the FRB Main Window.
**********************
Agri Visser Consultancy gives a new meaning to least cost formulation: TailoredDiet is freeware.
This portion of the manual deals directly with the use of the NRC 2001 Dairy Simulations. This section of the manual is intended to provide details on how the NRC 2001 Dairy model calculations have been implemented in the FRB system. It also covers the procedures required to integrate these model calculations into an existing system, and the problems likely to be encountered during this process. This portion of the manual assumes that you are generally familiar with the details of the NRC 2001 Dairy model calculations. These can be found in the NRC publication Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 7th Edition. The program distributed on the CD with the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 7th Edition, also has a help file containing excellent documentation on the model calculations. The FRB implementation of the model is based upon the computer code supplied on this CD, in the file “NRC Dairy Cattle Program Computations.rtf”.
The NRC 2001 Dairy model calculations are highly dependent upon model-specific information stored in the ingredient library. Because of the difficulty in determining this information for some ingredients and for isolating the model calculations to avoid unnecessary complication, FMS decided not to integrate the NRC Dairy model into the standard demo dataset at this time. Instead, a separate dataset was created that contains only information for the NRC Dairy Model. Versions of this NRC dataset is available in both Metric and USA units. This new dataset contains the ingredients, nutrient definitions, and model logic used in the NRC 2001 Dairy Model program. It essentially duplicates the working of the NRC program for the Lactating, Dry Cow, and Replacement Heifer animal types. For various reasons, the Young Calf animal type was not included in this implementation of the model. This dataset makes full use of the new functionality introduced with the release of Feed Ration Balancer and requires Version 1.2 or higher to work properly. Part 1 of this manual covers the nutrient definitions and the ingredient database. It gives details on how the model-specific nutrients are used and which ones are likely to have to be added to an existing system. Part 2 explains how the NRC Dairy model calculations have been implemented in the FRB system.
***************************
Agri Visser Consultancy gives a new meaning to least cost formulation: TailoredDiet is freeware.
Bypass protein is a commonly used term to refer to dietary protein that is not degraded in the rumen of the cow. Dietary protein is either undegradable (bypass) or degradable. Rumen microbes break down degradable protein to small peptides, amino acids, and ammonia. These products can in turn be used by rumen microbes to produce microbial protein that can be digested by the cow in the small intestine. Microbial protein is an excellent quality protein, unfortunately not enough can be produced to supply the requirement for the high producing dairy cow. Therefore, undegradable protein must be available to make up the difference between what the cow requires and what the microbial protein supplies. Feeds vary in their ability to supply undegradable protein and quality of undegradable protein will vary by source and depend on digestibility and amino acid composition. If the undegradable protein is indigestible or has a poor amino acid profile it will be of little value. Commonly accepted nutrient requirements for nonlactating and lactating cows in the United States are presented below and are expressed on a dry basis. Far-off Close-up Early Midlate dry cow dry cow lactation lactation Crude protein, % 12-13 14-15 17-19 15-17 Rumen undegraded protein, % of crude protein 25-30 30-35 36-40 32-36 Net energy, Mcalories/kg 1.28 1.54 1.72 1.65 Acid detergent fiber, % 28-32 22-26 19-21 21-22 Neutral detergent fiber, % 38-42 30-34 28-32 32-36 Nonfiber carbohydrates, % 32-34 34-36 37-40 34-37 Fat, % 2-3 2-3 3-7 3-6 The far-off dry cow is defined as being more than 3 weeks before calving and the close-up dry cow is within the final 3 weeks of pregnancy. Notice that we recommend that the nutrition program be increased for the close-up dry cow in order to make a smooth transition from being nonlactating to lactating. After calving the nutrient requirements increase further to reflect milk production. Mid to late lactation animals will need fewer nutrients than early lactation because they produce less milk. Crude protein, energy, and fiber are traditional nutrients for which dairy cattle rations are formulated. Rumen undegraded protein (RUP) and nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) are new terms and concepts that have been added in the past few years. Notice that rumen undegraded protein in the table is expressed as a % of the total crude protein. Nonfiber carbohydrates are calculated with the following equation: NFC = 100 – (neutral detergent fiber + crude protein + fat + ash). In other words nonfiber carbohydrates are what is left that is not fiber, protein, fat, or minerals. Nonfiber carbohydrates are an energy source that is fermentable in the rumen and are mainly starch and sugars. A certain level is needed in order to stimulate rumen fermentation and production of microbial cells, but excess can result in acid rumens. Therefore, proper levels of rumen degradable and undegradable protein along with nonfiber carbohydrates are needed for optimal animal performance. Fat is included in the table because it is added to many rations to increase energy content, but excess amounts (greater than 7%) should be avoided. The following are some selected feeds that are commonly fed to dairy animals and their nutrient analysis expressed on a dry basis. Dry Crude RUP Net NDF Fat NFC matter protein energy % % % CP Mcal/kg % % %
Forages Alfalfa, dehydrated 90 20 30 1.34 45 3 23 Alfalfa, silage 35 20 15 1.34 45 3 23 Barley, silage 31 10 20 1.36 50 3 27 Corn, silage 35 8 20 1.50 45 3 39 Wheat, straw 90 4 70 .97 85 2 2 Grains Barley 90 12 20 1.91 19 2 64 Corn 90 10 65 1.96 13 4 71 Protein Supplements Blood meal 90 92 82 1.50 1 1 0 Fish meal 90 65 80 1.67 1 10 3 Soybean meal, solvent extract 90 49 30 1.87 24 1 19 mechanical extract 90 49 55 2.07 24 5 15 Soybeans, whole raw 90 42 20 2.18 15 20 17 heated 90 42 50 2.18 15 20 17 Ensiling alfalfa results in less rumen undegraded protein then when dried because of protein breakdown that occurs during the ensiling process. Barley and corn silages also have relatively low levels of undegradable protein. Corn silage does have more nonfiber carbohydrates than barley and alfalfa silages due to the grain content. Also energy in corn silage is greatest of any of the forages due to the higher level of grain or starch. Wheat straw is low in protein, energy, and nonfiber carbohydrates, but high in fiber. Although on a percentage basis it does contain high rumen undegraded protein it is not a major source because the overall level of protein is very low. Straw is mainly a fiber source. Of the feed grains corn contains the greatest amount of energy and nonfiber carbohydrates. Barley has greater fiber and protein. Neither would be a significant supplier of rumen undegraded protein because of the relative low level of total protein. Animal (blood meal) and marine (fish meal) feeds have been used as sources of rumen undegraded protein in dairy cattle diets. Notice that both contain 80% or more of the total protein as rumen undegradable. Fish meal does have more energy and fat but less protein than blood meal which is mostly protein. Soybean meal resulting from solvent extraction of fat is not a good source of rumen undegraded protein (30% of total protein). Mechanical extraction of fat results in friction and heat resulting in protein that is more resistant to rumen degradation (55% of total protein). Mechanical extraction also is not as efficient at removing fat; therefore, there is more fat and energy in mechanically extracted soybean meal. This is considered a benefit when feeding high producing dairy cows. In addition mechanically extracted soybean meal is very palatable and of uniform quality with an excellent amino acid profile. Whole soybeans contain about 20% fat and are high in energy as a result. They have less protein than soybean meal. Raw or unheated beans have a protein that is rapidly degraded in the rumen. Heating will reduce the rate of breakdown and about 50% of the protein is resistant to degradation with moderate heat. Excessive heating can result in indigestible protein. Work at Virginia Tech by Dr. C. E. Polan indicates the benefits of mechanically extracted soybean meal versus solvent extracted or whole soybeans. The soybeans were fed whole not cracked as is normally recommended. Mechanical Solvent Raw Roasted Sign. SBM SBM soybeans soybeans DM intake, kg/day 23.1 22.8 21.5 22.1 N.S. Milk, kg/day 38.7 35.5 32.8 33.3 p<.1 Milk fat, % 3.2 3.1 3.3 3.4 N.S. Milk protein, % 2.6 2.8 2.8 2.9 N.S. N.S. = not significantly different at p>.1. Another recently published study (Journal of Dairy Science 80:714, 1997) from Kansas State University indicated milk production was increased 3%, fat yield 5%, and efficiency (milk per unit of feed intake) 4% by replacing solvent soybean meal with expeller or mechanical processed meal. Dry matter intake and milk protein yield was not different. In this study the rumen undegraded protein in the ration was 35% for the solvent soybean meal diet versus 40% for mechanical. In an on farm demonstration we observed cattle on pasture fed mechanically processed soybean meal to consume more concentrate than when fed solvent soybean meal. Concentrate was fed only twice a day during milking unlike what is done in many controlled studies. Therefore, research indicates beneficial results when mechanically processed soybean meal is substituted for solvent soybean meal under some conditions. In the following table are rations that have been formulated with solvent or mechanically extracted soybean meal. Ration 1 Ration 2 Ration 3 Ration 4 Feeds, kg/cow/day Alfalfa, dehydrated 4.5 4.5 4.5 - Corn,silage 25 25 25 25 Wheat, straw - - - 4.5 Barley, grain 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 Corn, grain 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 Soybean meal, solvent 3.6 - - - Soybean meal, techanical - 3.6 3.6 3.6 Fat, animal - - .36 .36 Urea - - .07 .07 Nutrient Composition, dry basis Crude protein, % 16.9 16.9 17.4 14.5 Rumen undegraded protein, % of crude protein 30 40 38 42 Net energy, Mcalories/kg 1.63 1.67 1.72 1.65 Neutral degergent fiber, % 33 33 34 41 Nonfiber carbohydrate, % 42 41 39 35 Fat, % 3 3 5 5 Using solvent soybean meal (ration 1) as supplemental protein results in a ration low in rumen undegraded protein and energy for early lactation cows. Substituting mechanically processed meal results in a ration adequate in undegradable protein and higher in energy (ration 2). Ration 3 was formulated with animal fat to boost the energy content to the recommended amount for early lactation cows. Urea was added to add some soluble protein needed by the rumen microorganisms. Ration 3 is considered to be the superior ration and is more balanced for all nutrients. Finally, ration 4 was formulated with wheat straw replacing alfalfa. Protein is low and fiber high. The potential of milk production is lower on this ration demonstrating the problem with trying to maintain high milk production with feeds of poor quality. Increasing the amount of rumen undegraded protein in the ration should result in an increased supply of amino acids for digestion in the intestine. However, these proteins must be digestible or they will be wasted by excretion in the feces. Also it is important that the amino acid profile be acceptable. One commercial mechanically processed soybean meal product is reported to have 2.93% lysine and .66% methionine (SoyPLUS Technical Manual, 1997). This is a 4.4:1 ratio of lysine to methionine. One model predicts that for every 4.5 kg of milk produced there are 12 grams of lysine and 4 grams of methionine required. This is a 3:1 ratio. A recently released product in the U.S. is a combination of mechanically extracted soybean meal and methionine. The reported composition is 3% lysine and 1.22% methionine. This would be predicted to better meet the amino acid needs of the lactating cow. Other feeds high in methionine in combination with mechanically processed soybean meal could also be effective in supplying needed methionine. In summary, the concept of bypass or rumen undegradable protein is being used in the United States to balance rations. One of the main limitations is the lack of a laboratory test to accurately predict amounts in feeds. This is especially a problem with forages because levels can vary greatly. Mechanically processed soybean meal is a consistent, palatable product that is relatively high in rumen undegradable protein. Because it has more fat than solvent extracted soybean meal it is also higher in energy. Being 100% plant protein makes it an attractive source of undegradable protein.
****************************HELPS PRODUCERS GET THE MOST OUT OF EVERY ANIMAL. When producers look at their ani- mals, one big question always arises: What feeding program will maximize our profits while fitting into the way we manage our opera- tion? How do thousands of livestock specialists, nutritionists, veterinari- ans, researchers and consultants provide the answers every day? With Feed Ration Balancer. It's the industry-leading modeling tool for customizing nutrient requirement calculations, print-outs and perfor- mance projections. No other tool is as powerful or easy to use. And no other tool makes it easier to win sales, keep customers happy and improve profitability. That's why more than 50% of the Top 50 Feed Companies use Feed Ration Balancer. And now, the new multi-user Windows-based version makes it easy for your business to enjoy the same bottom line bene- fits. WORKS THE WAY YOUR BUSINESS WORKS. You may have dozens or even hun- dreds of specialists who need the power of a sophisticated ration bal- ancer. And they may be scattered over a large territory. But who has time to support multiple copies of software on multiple platforms and worry about whether they are all updated with the same ingredi- ents, formulas or rations? With its Windows-based multi-user architecture, Feed Ration Bal- ancer easily meets this challenge. Feed Ration Balancer is a true 32- bit Windows program. It accommo- dates network or client/server deployment. It lets users cut and paste across Windows applications and interfaces to the leading Win- dows-based feed formulation and multi-blending applications. That substantially reduces the need for technical maintenance and support. And it ensures that users in the field always have access to information that is both current and correct. Moreover, this allows livestock specialists, nutri- tionists and other consultants to use Feed Ration Balancer with the familiar Windows applications they currently use. FEED MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AND SERVICES EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ANIMAL FEED INDUSTRY FEED RATION BALANCER FEED RATION BALANCER - NOW ON WINDOWS© Sales tool. Develop custom feeds create & price. Balance/customize and supplements. Programs/projections rations. on-farm producer
MULTIPLE SPECIES. COMPLETE NRC DATA. ONE DATABASE. Feed Ration Balancer is the indus- try-leading multi-species modeling tool for developing individually designed rations for any specific group of animals - Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, Poultry and Horse! And it's all done with one database. That means you don't have to maintain separate sets of numbers for different species. Nothing could be more powerful and convenient. Even better, Feed Ration Balancer is the only software available that contains all of the National Research Council'snutrient restric- tions and equations for each indi- vidual species, including the 2001 Diary NRC. You can easily custom- ize the NRC nutrient restrictions and recommendations using pro- gram scripts and custom-designed lookup tables in any way you want. So you've got everything you need in one program for the most power- ful and complete feed ration bal- ancing capabilities ever. YOU' RE IN CONTROL LIKE NEVER BEFORE. Feed Ration Balancer makes it easy to inject proprietary ingredient and nutrient expertise into your ration balanc- ing models. Plus, Feed Ration Balancer offers virtually unlimited report- ing capabilities. And Feed Ration Balancer's optional Distribution and Customization Kits make it easy to distribute easy- to-use privately-labeled ration balancer software to customers with the level of data protection you need. If you've got multiple language needs, don't worry. Feed Ration Balancer supports screens, prompts, error messages and print- outs in English, Spanish, French and other languages. And Feed Ration Balancer is totally secure. Driver files containing your proprietary data are encrypted. And since you've got different users with different needs, levels of access can be restricted by User ID. So there's no need to worry about improper usage or compro- mising proprietary information and trade secrets. ONE COMPANY, ONE COMPLETE SOLUTION. THAT' S THE FMS DIF- FERENCE. The leading ration balancer is just one part of the only total solution for operational efficiency and cus- tomer satisfaction. Other capabili- ties you need include least-cost feed formulation software, multi- blending and tag generating appli- cations, mill management, and financial and accounting applica- tions. Feed Management Systems is the only company that offers all these applications in one integrated and streamlined feed production man- agement system. We're the largest supplier of integrated Feed Resource Planning solutions in the industry. Our software is the most widely used feed management software in North and South Amer- ica. And it's integrated into one complete system so you get a total solution from a single source. And no company offers more nutritional, technical, or operational expertise and support. Bottom line: Increased operational efficiency that can save you up to $3.80 on every ton of feed you make. Feed Ration Balancer is the lead- ing system for developing custom feeds and supplements; creating feeding programs and projections; and balancing and customizing on- farm producer rations. But that's just for starters. As part of the industry's onlycomplete Feed Resource Planning Solution, Feed Ration Balancer interfaces with the industry's leading least-cost formu- lation, mill management, feed tag generation, price and quoting, and financial accounting applications. That means information can be automatically shared between all the applications that run your busi- ness for the most efficient, error- free and customer-satisfying oper- ations imaginable.
FEED RATION BALANCER •Multi-user. •Multiple species within one pro- gram (Dairy, Beef, Swine, Poultry, Horse, Sheep, and Grain Mix Cal- culator) using same database. •Allows multiple data folders on the same computer •Includes NRC Nutrient Restric- tions for each species, including NRC Dairy 2001. •Complete data security. Program scripts and lookup tables are encrypted to protect proprietary company information •Customizable nutrient restrictions and recommendations. • 999 nutrients can be customized in system. •Report Generator makes custom- ized printouts easy. •Features Nutrient Equations that allow nutrients to be calculated for all species or specific species; for all ingredients or specific ingredi- ents; and as ration independent or dependent. •Enhanced Nutrient Equations pro- vide even more user control. •Least Cost Ration Balancer, a double precision optimizer, uses ingredient cost, ingredient restric- tions, nutrient restrictions, and ingredient ratios to optimize the best ration. •Least Cost Ration Balancer allows you to see the nutrient analysis of the Current and Suggested rations while working on them. •Sophisticated Ration Evaluator. •Allows changing nutrient restric- tions on a ration-by-ration basis. •Displays ingredients as amounts/ day, percentage or batch mode, as fed/dry matter basis •Displays ingredient ratios on as- fed basis or dry matter basis. •Provides sub formulas nesting. •Allows adding upto three margins to formulas -- margin, processing/ pelleting, and delivery •Spec Generator lets users to set nutrient and ingredient restrictions on formulas that are exported to Brill Formulation INGREDIENT CHARACTERISTICS •One master ingredient file for all species. •Allows lab analysis files to be downloaded directly into the bal- ancer data directory and imported into the ingredient lab library for a specific customer •Stores customer ingredients anal- ysis in lab overlays specific to each customer. •Allows user-defined ingredient types for sorting ingredients. •Allows unlimited ingredients FARM/RATION CHARACTERISTICS •Animal performance/feeding pro- jections based on series of rations. Allows users to customize calcula- tions/equations and printouts. •Allows users to compress/uncom- press grain mixes in a ration and move mixes to other rations. •For beef cattle, blend rations are based on the starter and finisher rations. Cow/calf model is included. •For dairy cattle, you can generate milk step rations based on one ration. This holds ingredient restric- tions constant across all rations •Allows unlimited farms/producers. •Allows up to 400 rations within a farm/producer. INTERFACE CAPABILITIES •Imports and exports ingredient information as well as supplement/ formula information with ingredient and nutrient restrictions to/from Brill Formulation and Feed Mill Manager. •Imports ingredient prices from Brill Formulation and Feed Mill Man- ager. •Exports formulas/mixes/supple- ments to Brill Formulation and Feed Mill Manager. Spec Genera- tor allows nutrient and/or ingredient restrictions to be included in the export. •Feed Tags interface exports grain mix or formula analysis directly to custom tags generation applica- tion. TECHNOLOGY •32 bit Windows •Client/server architecture allows data to be maintained at one loca- tion and user network access, resulting in up-to-date pricing, ingredient analysis, printouts, and other information. •Internet/dial-up modem deploy- able.
*******************************
Agri Visser Consultancy gives a new meaning to
least cost formulation: TailoredDiet is freeware.
Ration balancing is critical to livestock productivity and profitability. It might be said that an animal "is what it eats". Extensive research in livestock nutrition brings a whole new dimension to ration balancing. Our consultants use advanced ration balancing software combined with their training and experience in either dairy management or animal agriculture. They have an understanding of the science of ration balancing, along with the "art" of nutrition. This comes from walking the cows- eyeball to eyeball, sifting manure and shaking out the feedstuffs, analyzing forages and understanding what goes on inside (and outside) the animal. Rations need to be adjusted on a regular basis to ensure your livestock are getting the most from their feed all the time. Whether it is protein levels, fats, and sugars in the diet, amino acid profiles, and a host of other elements that make up a complete and balanced diet...Renaissance consultants can make a positive impact on your rations.
******************************
Agri Visser Consultancy gives a new meaning to least cost formulation: TailoredDiet is freeware.
Properly balancing rations is dependent on a couple of key items. Initially, target values for the ration are set usually in percentage of lysine and a set value for energy per kilogram of feed. The values chosen are appropriate for the age and weight of the pig as outlined in a table of values.
The new NRC 1998 publication has updated values for pigs of various lean tissue deposition rates.
While this approach gives a well-balanced ration, results from farm to farm can vary widely. A ration that works well on one farm could produce substandard results on another farm.
Upon examination, the most frequently overlooked elements in the equation are those that impact on feed intake. By formulating a ration to specific nutrient levels we are actually expecting the pig to consume a specific amount of each nutrient each day. The pig must eat a specified number of grams of lysine and other amino acids and calcium, phosphorous, etc. to achieve maximum growth.
Any large reduction in intake translates into reduced growth. Similarly large excesses in consumption can complicate digestion. This is particularly noticeable with young pigs during the transition phase. During this period a piglet’s body is totally dedicated to animal protein and energy sources coming from sows’ milk.
What we want to do is transition the piglet’s system from animal protein and energy to plant protein and energy. At weaning, the piglet’s body has not developed adequate amounts of enzymes for plant starch digestion or stomach acid for plant protein digestion. Through the introduction of highly digestible plant material blended with highly digestible animal source protein and energy, two things are accomplished. Growth can continue, since the pig’s body can deal with animal source protein and energy. Secondly, the pig must develop sufficient enzymes and stomach acid to deal with the presence of plant material in the diet. In a warm, dry, sanitary environment, appropriate digestion of plant material can occur within 10 days. Once transition occurs, a higher amount of plant material can be added in a step-wise fashion until no animal protein sources are necessary. Economics often dictates when animal protein such as herring meal will be removed from the ration.
The step-wise approach is taken so as not to overwhelm the developing amounts of stomach acid that is vital in several ways. Hydrochloric acid (HCL) breaks up the long protein molecules into smaller pieces (peptides) which can later be further split up by enzymes and then absorbed from the small intestine. This process is dependent on the acid working on the protein and also creating an acid environment (pH2 to pH4) to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying.
If feed intake is as predicted, all goes well. However if our genetics are generous eaters then higher levels of all nutrients are consumed. In the early days after weaning, this is desirable but we need to be conscious of the fact that high daily intakes of calcium can neutralize stomach acid.
This causes stomach acid levels to be reduced. With lower acid levels in the stomach, digestion is not as complete and harmful bacteria in the intestine have a food source to work on and a more favourable pH. For example, E-coli is well known to cause scours in pigs but it has difficulty functioning when pH levels are below pH4. Normal stomach conditions prevent these bacteria from multiplying but excessive dietary protein or excessive calcium levels can allow a flare-up of scours. Ration acidifiers can assist in keeping intestinal contents at proper pH levels, but attention should be directed at watching daily intakes of the various nutrients. Lowering calcium in the ration does not negatively affect growth of young pigs but can reduce scours where this is a problem.
Poor growth can also be a result of poor intake. Where conditions combine to reduce daily intake, it is necessary to reformulate to increase nutrient density. Even the properly formulated ration will disappoint if intake is not as expected, regardless of age or weight category.
Before discarding a ration as "no good" be sure to check intake to see if the pig is receiving the predicted amounts of nutrients daily.
******************************
Bull Growing and Development
Agri Visser Consultancy gives a new meaning to
least cost formulation: TailoredDiet is freeware.
The proper growth and development of young bulls presents a unique set of challenges not encountered in most feedlot scenarios. The nutritional specifications for developing bulls must be at an optimal level to provide sufficient gains to reach puberty at a young age while allowing them to attain their genetic potential for the frame and muscling required to effectively enter the breeding herd as yearlings. Accurate nutrition must assure this level of performance while not causing over-conditioning problems. Bull feeding programs require intensive nutritional management to avoid digestive upsets that may predispose animals to acidosis, foot problems and liver abscesses.
Weaning/Starting
As with any feeding program, the starting phase may ultimately be the most important factor in the overall success of the rest of the program. Bull calves should be weaned using a sound calf-starting program, including pre-weaning vaccinations, followed by post-weaning boosters and control of internal and external parasites. Weaning medications should include a 28-day Coccidiastat program and respiratory medications as needed. Calves should be started on grass hay and introduced to the concentrate portion of the diet in an orderly manner. Properly formulated commercially prepared pelleted products containing protein, energy, fiber and all of the necessary fortifications and medication have become increasingly popular in weaning programs. Due to stress induced intake depression and the fact that nutrient deficiencies exist in most fresh weaned calves, the ration nutrient content should be relatively dense containing a minimum of 14% protein, the addition of chelated minerals and increased levels of Vitamin A, D, and E. By the end of the starting program, calves should be consuming a ration that is 40% concentrate with the remainder of the ration consisting of the forage mix that will be fed during the growing program.
Growing/Developing
There are many ways of growing and developing bulls. Most producers, however, utilize similar performance data records and EPD’s for selection criteria and marketing purposes. Therefore, in order to produce bulls that are competitive in the market place and ready to join the breeding herd, they must weigh at least 50% of their mature weight by the time they are 14 – 15 months of age. Depending on the breed, this will require they gain from 3.0 to 4.0 pounds per day during the growing period. During this time, they should be constantly monitored for structure, muscle development, frame and fleshing ability.
Following are some nutritional guidelines useful in bull growing programs:
Once bulls have reached the growing phase of their development, the ration will need to be stepped up to an increased energy level. Under normal circumstances, the energy level will need to be increased to 46 – 52 Mcal NE gain/cwt, which will require concentrate to comprise 50 – 60% of the ration, depending on the quality of the roughage portion of the diet. Concentrate can safely be increased at a level of one half pound per head per day in most transition rations without causing undue dietary stress. As a general rule, the best choice and safest grains for bulls are those that ferment the slowest in the digestive tract. Corn and oats are traditionally very popular grain sources, while barley and wheat should be avoided due to the potential for digestive upset. Byproducts such as wheat midds, distiller’s grains, corn gluten feed, brewer’s grains, soy hulls, etc. may be used as sources of soluble fiber, fat and bypass protein in the ration, but likely will cause problems if not used properly. Concentrates must be fed at least twice daily and the uniformity of the mix must be such as to not allow feed separation and inconsistency of intake within the herd.
The roughage portion of the diet fed to bulls should be nutritious while supplying an effective level of fiber to stimulate rumination and provide for an adequate and effective ruminal fiber mat. Forages may include grass hay, a uniform mixture of grass and alfalfa hay, grain hay, straw or silage and can be fed separately from the concentrate or as a total mixed ration (TMR). The best way to avoid bunk-sorting of TMR rations is to condition the ration by adding silage, molasses based supplements or water to achieve a moisture level between 25 and 45 percent. All roughage feedstuffs should be accurately sampled and analyzed for the purpose of ration balancing, supplementation requirements and toxic compounds such as nitrates, prussic acid, etc. Forages must also be free of mold, excess dust, dirt, hardware, toxic weeds or any other potential problems.
Lastly, a very important element in a precisely balanced bull ration is the supplement. A correctly formulated supplement may contain protein, minerals, vitamins, soluble fiber, fat, buffers and either Rumensin or Bovatec. The ration should be 14 – 15% protein with a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2 to 1. Trace mineral and vitamin levels should be 2 times NRC and chelated minerals should provide 1/3 of the zinc and copper. Acidosis, whether acute or sub-acute, may be very detrimental to the overall life expectancy and performance of a herd bull. Therefore, additives such as ionophores and buffers can also be included in the supplement to help alleviate acidosis.
Many producers are now purchasing commercially manufactured fortified pelleted products, designed to be fed along with roughage as the sole source of concentrate in the ration. Pelleted concentrates are generally economical and can be used successfully at varying feeding rates determinant on the desired level of performance and the nutrient quality and feeding rate of the roughage in the ration. These products may also reduce bunk sorting and can simplify the ration process immensely.
Ration Let-Down
Bulls coming off of a highly fitted growing and developing program must be properly ‘let-down’ gradually and orderly to maintain maximum fertility and libido for the breeding season. It is a good practice to reduce the grain intake by 10% per week until the desired level is achieved. This level should probably support a 2.0 to 2.5 pound average daily gain to maintain continued growth and body condition.
Conception rates influence ranch profitability more significantly than any other single item. The herd bull affects herd fertility more than any other single animal in the breeding herd. A young bull in his growing phase must reach puberty, develop outstanding libido and exhibit social dominance as well as attaining the physical characteristics of muscling, frame, scrotal circumference and proper body condition. Improper nutrition or health practices can reduce a bull’s productive and reproductive life significantly.
CHS Nutrition provides a full line of products to help you properly develop your bulls, including Bull Challenger, HI-EN Bull Challenger and HI-EN 14 pellets and a full line of protein supplements for total mixed rations. Contact your local CHS Nutrition feed consultant for details.
*******************************************
Cow/Calf Mineral Supplementation
Agri Visser Consultancy gives a new meaning to least
cost formulation: TailoredDiet is freeware.
Introduction
Various mineral elements are needed by animals to support life. These minerals are essential to certain physiologically important systems within the body and can only be provided through the diet. If not provided in the basal ingredients of the diet (for example, hay, grass, grains or water), supplementation of these minerals is required. This concept is particularly important in the third trimester of pregnancy and through rebreeding as range forages will be deficient in some minerals.
Minerals are characterized as either major (macro) minerals or trace (micro) minerals. The major minerals refer to those minerals needed by the animal in larger amounts and they include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, sodium and chorine. Trace minerals are those minerals needed in smaller amounts and include zinc, copper, iron, manganese, cobalt, iodine and selenium. Although trace minerals are needed in smaller amounts than the major minerals, they are no less important to the physiological well being of the animal. In other words, deficiencies can result in major problems for the animal as well as the producer.
Some general physiological functions of minerals include regulating acid-base balance, providing essential components of cell membranes, certain proteins and the skeletal system, activating certain enzyme and immune systems, and as an important component of energy utilization and growth. Deficiencies of certain minerals can result in severe physical problems for the animals including poor performance and immune status. Therefore, providing adequate supplementary amounts of minerals can increase average daily gain, body condition scores, and feed efficiency in cattle on range.
The most critical time to ensure cattle are receiving adequate amounts of minerals is 90 days prior to calving (3rd trimester of pregnancy ) and throughout lactation and rebreeding. If breeding cattle are deprived of adequate mineral at this time, energy utilization will be inhibited and uterine involution may be delayed. Subsequently, estrus will be suppressed and the cow will not be able to rebreed. As a result, more cows will come in open at the end of the breeding season. This will reduce production and economic viability of your operation.
Major minerals
Calcium is required in large amounts in the diet of cows because of the important role it plays in bone and teeth formation. The Beef NRC (1996) recommends the Ca concentration of the beef cow diet to be 0.25-0.27% of diet dry matter. Calcium is particularly important in early lactation because deficiencies may result in the condition known as milk fever. Milk fever occurs when the cow is unable to mobilize enough calcium from her bone for milk production. This lack of mobilization coupled with reduced dry matter intake results in low blood calcium levels. Although this condition is rare in beef cattle operations, some incidences have been observed in cows capable of high milk production. Deficiencies of calcium in cattle can also lead to osteoporosis, a condition where bones become weaken due to prolonged withdrawal of calcium deposits from the bone.
Phosphorus is also important to bone development in the beef cow and is the major mineral of the energy compound ATP, which is the molecule that provides energy to the cells. The phosphorus requirement of beef cows is approximately 0.18-0.22% of diet dry matter (Beef NRC, 1996). Phosphorus receives high consideration in mineral supplementation programs primarily due to the fact that most range forages are low in phosphorus and high in calcium. Due to the fact that most cow/calf operations utilize forage-based grazing systems, a need to supplement adequate phosphorus is critical. Since plants receive minerals from the soil, it is important to be familiar with phosphorus conditions of your soils. For instance, when soils are low in phosphorus, forage material will also be low in phosphorus. Therefore, the mineral provided to your cattle must contain additional phosphorus. On the other hand, if your soils are sufficient, less phosphorus needs to be supplemented, saving you money.
Potassium needs of the range animal can usually be met mainly by the forage consumed. Potassium requirements are approximately 0.70% of diet dry matter. Potassium functions in the body by activating transport systems that move nutrients in and out of cells. Potassium needs are greatest when animals are stressed such as during transport or high ambient temperatures. The level of potassium following periods of stress should be increased to replenish potassium levels in the body.
Magnesium can be deficient in the early spring when lush pasture growth is utilized by cattle. Providing cattle with additional magnesium prior to turnout is critical to prevent a condition known as grass tetany. It is recommended cattle be given additional magnesium 45 days prior to turnout. Grass tetany incidence increases when cattle are placed on fertilized pastures and when grasses containing high levels of potassium are fed.
Trace Minerals
Trace minerals are just as important as the major minerals to the animal but are sometimes neglected in supplementation programs. Deficiencies in trace minerals in cows can lead to lower reproduction rates and immune compromised calves. Ensuring cows have adequate trace minerals status is especially important when producers retain ownership of calves through backgrounding and finishing. If calves are deficient in minerals, immune function will not be as strong and morbidity and mortality rates will be high.
Zinc activates certain enzyme systems in the cow and is particularly important in immune functions. Zinc has also been implicated as an important mineral for hoof health. The requirement for range cows is 30 ppm in the total diet (Beef NRC, 1996). It is important to remember that zinc and copper are antagonistic to one another. A zinc:copper ratio of less than 3- 4:1 should be maintained.
Copper is an important part of some enzyme systems as well. Copper requirements of beef cows are 10 PPM of the diet dry matter (Beef NRC, 1996). Copper, sulfur and molybdenum can form insoluble compounds known as thiomolybdates, which prevent the copper from being absorbed and utilized by the animal. Therefore, it is important that when grazing cattle in areas with high sulfate containing water and high molybdenum containing soils that the copper concentration in the supplement be increased to ensure the cattle are receiving enough copper. Deficiencies of copper can lead to poor performance, rough and discolored hair coats in cattle and lower resistance to disease.
Manganese functions in skeletal development and has been implicated as a contributor in reproductive efficiency. The cow requirement for manganese is 30 PPM Manganese deficiencies are not common; however it is important to monitor the diet to ensure adequate levels of manganese are being fed.
Iron is a component of the protein hemoglobin in the red blood cells which is responsible for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the cells. The iron requirement of beef cows is 30 PPM of the diet dry matter (Beef NRC, 1996). Iron oxide, which provides the red color to mineral, has no value as an iron supplement due to low digestibility. Therefore, eliminating its use will allow more space within the formulation to add digestible ingredients.
Selenium is an important element in reproduction and immune functions. Selenium works in conjunction with vitamin E in reducing damage to cells caused by substances called free radicals. Low selenium diets have been involved in low reproductive performance due to retained placentas. Also, cattle fed low selenium can develop white muscle disease and have poor immunity due to damage to cell membranes in the muscle and cells involved in the immune system. The legal limit for Se supplementation has been set at 0.3 PPM
Iodine requirements of the beef cow are 0.5 PPM Iodine functions in the thyroid gland and is important in growth and metabolism. Low iodine intake leads to unthriftiness and poor performance.
Cobalt is not utilized directly by the cow but is needed by ruminal microbes to synthesize vitamin B 12, which is used by ruminants to convert propionate to energy. Cobalt needs can be met by feeding a diet containing 0.1 PPM cobalt.
Vitamins
Vitamins are compounds that are involved in many systems throughout the body including energy metabolism, reproduction, nutrient absorption and tissue development and integrity. Vitamins that are needed in supplementation programs include vitamins A, D, and E. The B vitamins, and vitamin K are synthesized by ruminal microbes in sufficient quantities under normal conditions.
Vitamin A enhances immunity and decreases the incidence of reproductive disorders. Supplementing cows with 40,000 IU of vitamin A 90 days before and throughout the calving and breeding season can increase conception rates 10 % and decrease calf morbidity by as much as 50 %. Vitamin D is important in Ca and P absorption from the small intestine and in bone formation. Normally, vitamin D is produced when cows are exposed to sunlight. However, supplementing cows with 4,000 IU of vitamin D may be beneficial to replenish stores during the low sunlight days that are common prior to and following the calving season. Vitamin is an antioxidant important in decreasing cell damage by neutralizing free radicals, which are byproducts of metabolism. Deficiencies of vitamin E can lead to white muscle disease in calves and decrease immune function due to free radical damage to immune cells. Supplementing brood cows with 50 IU of vitamin E prior to calving and throughout the breeding season can help to alleviate these problems.
Diet sampling
The easiest way to determine excessive or inadequate mineral content of the plants in your area is to obtain a representative sample of the plants your cows are eating and have it tested by a well respected forage lab. The Nutrition Consultant in your area can then recommend the mineral product that will best suit your particular operation.
***************************
Agri Visser Consultancy gives a new meaning to least cost formulation: TailoredDiet is freeware.
Introduction
A new technology or a new approach to formulating dairy rations is of particular value if it results in consistent perceptible on-farm improvements in milk performance, and an increase in milk returns without significantly increasing ration costs.
Does the approach of formulating dairy rations to meet optimum metabolizable lysine (LYS) and (MET) specifications fulfill these criteria?
Income over feed cost (IOFC) will be improved by 20 to 70 cents per cow per day…
Application of the ration amino acid (AA) balancing approach need not necessitate a significant change in ration costs.
For a marginal increase in ration costs of 0 to 10 cents/cow/day, milk performance, particularly milk composition, can be improved, increasing milk returns by 30 to 80 cents/cow/day
* an increase in income over feed cost (IOFC)
of 20 to 70 cents/cow/day.
Economics of Ration Amino Acid Balancing
Increase in milk returns – 30 to 80 cents/cow/day
Change in ration cost - 0 to 10 cents/cow/day
Benefits…
In order to improve milk composition there are two main formulation approaches being practiced :
1. Balance rations to meet metabolizable lysine(LYS) and methionine(MET) requirements…
Rations are formulated to meet minimum metabolizable LYS and MET specifications. This will increase milk protein content and to some extent milk fat %.
2. Balance rations to meet metabolizable LYS and MET requirements and supplement with HMB (Rhodimet AT 88) to maximize the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis…
In addition to applying the principles in (1), HMB (methionine hydroxy analogue) is also included to stimulate rumen microbial protein synthesis and rumen fermentation, and increase milk fat percentage.
Scenario 1. – Ration Balanced for LYS and MET
Ex. 80 lb cow at 3.5% FAT, 2.9% True Protein
Benefits :
When HMB (methionine hydroxy analogue) is also included, improvements in fat % are more perceptible (+0.20%) and it also helps to bolster the response in milk protein %.
These improvements are such that milk revenue is increased by over 50 cents per cow per day.
Please refer to this page for further justification on the technical benefits of AA formulation and the use of HMB.
Ration Costs…
Whether one chooses to use HMB or not, the costs of reformulating a ration on a metabolizable LYS and MET basis will be somewhere between 0 and 10 cents/cow/day.
Actual cost of reformulation will depend on the composition of the current ration, forage quality and inventory and the flexibility to eventually introduce new ingredients into the ration.
Under most circumstances there will be no appreciable difference in ration costs irrespective of whether HMB (Rhodimet AT 88) is included or not.
Cost of Reformulation
0 to 10 cents/cow/day
Income over feed cost will be improved by 20 to 70 cents per cow per day…
Depending on the improvements in metabolizable LYS and MET that can be practically achieved, IOFC can be increased by 20 to 70 cents/cow/day.
Economics of Ration Amino Acid Balancing
Increase in milk returns – 30 to 80 cents/cow/day
Change in ration cost - 0 to 10 cents/cow/day
Improving the efficiency of use of dietary protein is the key to minimizing ration costs…
1. Balancing for LYS and MET improves the efficiency of use of all absorbed amino acids (MP). MP requirements can be effectively reduced by 4% points (from 100 to 96). This effectively reduces the inclusion level of RUP sources - the most expensive protein sources in the ration.
2.
Adding HMB (Rhodimet AT 88) potentially increases the efficiency of microbial protein synthesis by at least 10% and thus MP supply by at least 4%. Thus balancing rations for LYS and MET and including HMB will permit the formulation of rations to 92 % of MP requirements.
One of the main reasons why reformulating costs can be kept to a minimum is through a reduction in the crude protein (CP) content of the ration.
It has been shown that balancing rations on a MET and LYS basis improves utilization of MP by at least 4% points, thus MP supply can be reduced by this amount and still maintain performance.
Moreover the use of HMB can increase the microbial protein contribution by up to 10% and thus total MP supply by up to 5%.
Rations balanced for LYS and MET and including HMB can thus be formulated to 92% of conventional MP requirements.
Formulation Constraints to Balance for LYS and MET and use MP more efficiently…
This is an example of balancing a ration for metabolizable LYS and MET using the formulation constraints in the current beta version of CPM (2.0.23).
Please note to always turn off the ILE constraint. It is not a potentially limiting amino acid.
Enter 96% instead of 100% for the MP minimum. This indirectly takes into account the increased efficiency of utilization of MP.
Enter 87.5 and 93.5 for MET and LYS respectively. Use the Percentage and Rulquin options. Entering these values corresponds to formulating a ration to contain 2.19 MET and 6.83 LYS as a % of MP.
Formulation constraints to take advantage of balancing for LYS and MET and including
HMB…
The economic benefits of reformulating on a metabolizable LYS and MET basis look very pretty on paper but does it work in practice. Can we really reduce ration crude protein levels through reducing MP requirements and at least hold milk production and still improve milk composition?
A recently competed trial at OSU indicates that this is indeed possible.
The objectives were first to compare the incorporation of a selected animal protein blend (ProvAAl) high in intestinal digestibility (Trt 2) in place of an unselected meat meal (Trt 1) at a conventional dietary crude protein level (18.3%). Secondly the objective was to lower also the CP in the ration while incorporating this selected blend (Trt 3). Lastly, was to observe the effects of balancing rations for metabolizable LYS and MET at a lower dietary crude protein level while also incorporating Rhodimet™ AT 88 as a ruminal source of HMB (Trt 4).
The retrospective measurements and estimates showed that TRTs 2, 3 and 4 had improved metabolizable LYS contributions compared to the Control (1). Only treatment 4 had an enriched level of metabolizable MET and a LYS to MET ratio close to recommendations.
The Control had a lower intake than the other 3 treatments and this probably partly contributed to the lower observed milk yields.
Regardless, the substitution of the more highly digestible animal protein blend increased milk yield by nearly 6kgs per day. However reducing dietary CP at the same time lost part of this response (TRT 3). But balancing for LYS and MET at the lower Dietary CP level while including HMB ensured optimum production with the best milk components – both fat and protein.
The retrospective calculation of MP allowable milk for each treatment again shows clearly the superior efficiency of dietary protein utilization on Trt 4. NRC would only predict that there was sufficient MP in the diet to support a daily yield of 39.5 kg (87lbs) whereas the cows on this treatment achieved 46.6 kg (102.5 lbs)
1. Noftsger et al – Income over feed costs
One of the most pertinent economic comparison to make in this trial is Trt 2 vs Trt 4. There was only a marginal increase in feed costs of 6 cents per cow per day. In return due to the improved milk components milk income was increased by 42 cents a net benefit of 36 cents per cow per day.
Trts 1 and 3 show what can happen if you do not respect some of the basic principles of amino acid formulation – milk performance is compromised and profitability hurt.
2. Schwab et al – Ingredient composition of “Conventional” and “New” UNH diets (% of DM)
A field trial was conducted at the University of New Hampshire. After the publication of the New NRC, the rations at UNH were reformulated to be balanced for metabolizable LYS and MET.
The changes in formulation constraints resulted in a selected blood meal based animal protein blend (ProvAAl Elite) being incorporated at the expense of the protected soybean meal.
Smartamine M inclusion ensured a LYS:MET ratio of 3.0 : 1. Rhodimet AT88 was also included to maximize rumen digestive processes.
2. Schwab et al - Chemical composition and 2001 NRC evaluation of “Conventional” and “New” UNH diets
Rations -The conventional ration had been fed from May 2000 to the University of New Hampshire Experimental herd. The ration was reformulated in February 2001 according to the new NRC recommendations.
In the new NRC, MP requirements have been estimated from datasets where the ‘quality of MP was considered moderate. It is recognized within NRC 2001 that improving LYS and MET as a % of MP improves the efficiency of utilization of MP for milk production.
To take advantage of this increased efficiency MP balance was formulated to be 5% below requirements, largely by decreasing RUP concentration.
2. Schwab et al – RESULTS
Estimated Nutrient Composition - CP,RDP and RUP (% of DM) , LYS and MET (% of MP)
OLD - 18.1 CP, 10.8 RDP, 7.3 RUP, 6.37 LYS, 1.73 MET
NEW - 17.2 CP, 10.6 RDP, 6.6 RUP, 6.55 LYS, 2.20 MET
Schwab et al (Adisseo in house publication)
During the eight week observational period following the ration formulation changes the above evolutions in milk performance were observed.
2. Schwab et al - Milk income, feed costs, and income-over-feed costs (IOFC)
Item
Old diet
At the time of this observation, milk protein was being paid at $2.00/lb and milk protein at $1.00/lb.
The observed increases in milk fat and milk protein output after the ration change were thus worth 73 cents per cow per day – an increase in IOFC of 70 cents per cow per day after discounting the 3 cents/cow/day increase in feed costs.
Both the experimental observations of Noftsger and St-Pierre and the field observation of Schwab, Whitehouse, Sloan and Stucker validate the positive impact of amino acid balancing on IOFC through increasing milk returns with minimal effects on ration costs.
Goodbye Protein – Hello Amino Acids : Are you prepared to go the next step ?
1. The only way to optimize milk protein %
2. Maximize the efficiency of utilization of dietary protein.
3. Reduce the variability in milk performance related to conventional protein feeding.
4. Minimal or no additional cost – large potential benefit.
The way forward in protein nutrition of dairy cows is through proper balancing of rations on an individual amino acid basis.
This is one of the principle nutritional steps needed to help dairy cows express their genetic potential for milk protein production.
Not only will milk components be enhanced but dietary protein inputs can be reduced, as providing the correct balance of amino acids in MP will optimize the efficiency of utilization of all amino acids.
The potential increase in ration costs due to the incorporation of Smartamine M and Rhodimet AT 88 will be largely offset by the reduction in the amount of RUP in the ration.
Milk gross income can be enhanced (30 to 80 cents per cow per day) with minimal or no increase in ration cost.