Practical 2 - monogastric and ruminant feeds, and pasture management

Question 1

what do the following abbreviations stand for: DM, GE, CP, DE, NDF

Answer 1

DM = dry matter
GE = gross energy
CP = crude protein
DE = digestible energy
NDF = neutral detergent fibre

Question 2

why are methionine and lysine added to the Supa Chook poultry feed

Answer 2

because they are essential amino acids and chickens cannot naturally synthesise their own methione and lysine

Question 3

what is lucantin, and why might it be added to formulated layer poultry feeds

Answer 3

lucantin is a carotenoid feed additive, that enhances yolk colour in layers

Question 4

Which Supa Chook feed components are providing largely energy to the diet?

Answer 4

• oats + barley
• wheat
• maize

Question 5

Which Supa Chook feed components is providing largely protein to the diet?

Answer 5

chickpeas

Question 6

In regard to its nutritional composition, what makes the Low GI Sport Nut, low GI?

Answer 6

Its NDF content

Question 7

Why is it referred to as dry matter

Answer 7

DM is the solid component of the feed that remains after it is completely dried out (with no water content).

Question 8

How do you convert dry matter to ‘as fed weight’ (wet/fresh weight)?

For example, if your pasture is 20%DM and you want to feed your cow 20kgDM/day, how much actual fresh pasture do you need

Answer 8

20kgDM/0.2 = 100kg of fresh pasture per day

Question 9

Approximately, what percentage (%) of pasture is made up of water?

Answer 9

85%

Question 10

What is the typical dry matter content (%DM) of pasture?

Answer 10

15%

Question 11

How much daily pasture dry matter (kg DM per day) does a 60 kg ewe at maintenance typically need to eat to meet her requirements?

Answer 11

1kg

Question 12

Assuming the pasture is 15% dry matter, how much (kg) fresh (wet) pasture is 1 kgDM?

Answer 12

6.7kg (1/0.15)