For more: http://www.extension.org/67618 To develop a program to train ARPAS-certified (American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists) dairy and beef nutritionists on how to prepare and evaluate Feed Management plans as it relates to the NRCS Feed Management (592) practice in Pennsylvania. The objective is to compare how formulated diets match to the consumed diets. Phosphorus is monitored through manure testing and nitrogen by milk urea nitrogen and calculating milk nitrogen efficiency. Dry matter intake efficiency is also monitored as this can affect the total manure volume excreted.

1. Feed Management Planners
Certification Program to Reduce
Nutrient Loads in Impaired Watersheds
Dan Ludwig- USDA - NRCS, Natural Resources Specialist
Virginia Ishler- Penn State Extension, Nutrient Management Specialist
Rebecca White- Penn State Extension, Dairy Program Manager

2. Feed Management, NRCS 592
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
– Practice Standard – 592
• Manage the quantity of available nutrients
fed to livestock and poultry for their intended
purpose
• PA NRCS focus on Dairy & Beef operations

3. The Beginning - 2007
• Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Program
– Collaboration among:
• Land Grant Universities
• USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension System
• EPA Region III
• USDA NRCS
• Certification Training
– 8 locations (2007-2011)
• ARPAS Exam Opportunity
– 296 Participants
• 81 of 98 Nationally ARPAS Certified attended PA
trainings

4. NRCS Qualified Plan Writers
• Plan writing workshops
– Mandatory for a certified nutritionist
• Two plans submitted for
review by NRCS
– 24 NRCS Qualified
• 24 Dairy, 5 Beef

5. Contracting Feed Management Plans
• Animal production groups: 1 – 5
• Contract length: 1 – 3 years
• Payments are designed to help cover the cost
of implementing the plan
– Plan development costs
– Increased feed costs
– New infrastructure (mixers, pens, etc.)

7. Baseline data needed for the plan
• Actual versus formulated diet
• Nutrient utilization efficiency
• Nutrient analysis
– Forage
– Diet (Total Mixed Ration)
– Ingredients or grain mixes
• Nitrogen and Phosphorus assessment

8. Ration Phosphorous
• Track Actual vs. Formulated levels
– Compare Ration Sheet to TMR Test Analysis
– Use Spread sheet to calculate composite ration
from Component-fed herds
– Track Phosphorous amounts in terms percent of
requirement

9. 0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0.5
0.55
0.6
0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.55 0.6
ActualDiet%P
Formulated Diet %P
Diet %Phosphorus for Lactating Cows
Diet %P Goal= Actual within 0.03% of formulated
FY11 Farms
TMR Diets
59% outside of
+/- 0.03%
45% are below
formulated
levels
15% above
formulated
levels

10. 0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
0.5
0.55
0.6
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2
ActualDiet%P
Fecal %P
Actual Diet %Phosphorus vs. Fecal %Phosphorus in Lactating
Cows
ActualDi
and Feca
Fecal %P
FY11 Farms
TMR Diets
34% outside of
0.55-0.85%
23% are above
0.85%

11. Next Steps…
• Maintain/Reduce
– Ration crude protein/phosphorous
• Maintain implementation
– Benchmark through 7 quarters in progress
• Evolving plan writing workshops
– Revising resources and tools
• Still a high demand for training
– 13 nutritionists in 2012

12. Underlying Issue…
• Inconsistencies with results observed in
Component fed herds
– Individual ingredients fed separately
• Fecal P is trending higher than expected
• Feed Management Survey Objectives
– Evaluate feeding order effects on Fecal P
– Identify realistic fecal P levels in component fed
herds (lactating cows and various heifer groups)

13. Feed Management Survey
• Study involving 6 farms across Pennsylvania
– Manure collected from 5 groups
– Peak & Average milk production
• Lactating- 5 individuals then composite
– Post Wean Calf (3-7 months)
– Breeding Age (6-13 months)
– Bred Heifers (13-22 months)
• Sampling technique and procedures verified

18. Questions?