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Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

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Decision Tools <strong>to</strong> Overcome Nutrition Constraints in<br />

Dual-Purpose Cattle in Agro-Silvopas<strong>to</strong>ral <strong>Systems</strong><br />

Net Carbohydrate and Protein System Model<br />

Federico Holmann and Robert W. Blake<br />

CIAT-ILRI and University of Cornell<br />

The Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) model was<br />

developed <strong>to</strong> predict the nutrient requirements of cattle and feed utilization<br />

by different types of animals <strong>with</strong> diverse environmental and management<br />

conditions. It is a structure that was designed <strong>to</strong> integrate and apply<br />

nutritional knowledge <strong>to</strong>:<br />

• Solve feeding problems and reduce feed cost/production unit<br />

• Set research priorities<br />

• Design sensitive experiments<br />

• Interpret experimental results<br />

• Teach the application of biological principles through the integration of<br />

knowledge, and<br />

• Minimize nutrient excretion in<strong>to</strong> the environment per unit of product<br />

produced.<br />

The CNCPS simulates the effects of nutrient intake, ruminal<br />

fermentation, intestinal digestion, absorption, and metabolism on nutrient<br />

utilization and cattle performance. Specific uses of the model are <strong>to</strong>:<br />

• Predict the effects of feed composition and quantity on cattle<br />

performance<br />

• Predict the effects of digestive and metabolic modifiers on cattle<br />

performance<br />

• Evaluate and balance rations for the host animal and rumen bacteria<br />

• Adjust cattle requirements and estimates of performance for different<br />

environmental conditions, and<br />

• Simulate and predict the effects of gastrointestinal parameters on feed<br />

utilization<br />

Thus, this model predicts nutrient requirements and nutrient pool sizes<br />

interacting <strong>with</strong> changing diet composition available <strong>to</strong> animals.<br />

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