Feeding growing and finishing cattle for Better Returns manual - Eblex

EBLEX BEEF BRP MANUAL 7Feeding growing andfinishing cattle for Better Returns

The information in this book was compiled by: Donald Brown,Keenan Rumans and Mary Vickers, EBLEXBRP is grateful to all those who have commented and contributedto this production.Edited: Geoff Dodgson, ChamberlainIllustrations: Tebbit DesignEBLEX Beef Better Returns Programmehas funded the writing andpublication of this booklet. While theauthors have worked on the bestinformation available to them, neitherthe EBLEX Beef Better ReturnsProgramme, nor the authors shall inany event be liable for any loss, damageor injury howsoever suffered directly orindirectly in relation to the booklet orthe information on which it is based.Reference herein to trade names andproprietary products and serviceswithout stating that they are protecteddoes not imply that they may beregarded as unprotected and thus freefor general use. No endorsement ofnamed products or services is intendednor any criticism implied of otheralternative but unnamed products.For more information contact:Better Returns ProgrammeEBLEX LtdGraphic HouseFerrars RoadHuntingdonPE29 3EETel: 0870 241 8829Fax: 0871 433 6205Email: brp@eblex.org.ukwww.eblex.org.uk/betterreturns© 2008 EBLEX Ltd

ContentsPage 2 Growing andfinishing phasesPage 3 Feeding forgrowthPage 4 Maximisingdry matter intakePage 5 RationguidelinesPage 6 Making themost of grassPage 7 Growinghoused cattlePage 8 Growing tofinishing the bigchangePage 9 Finishinghoused cattlePage 10 Feedconversion efficiencyPage 11 Feeding forcarcase qualityPage 12 Optimisingnutrient balancePage 13 Choosing thesupplementPage 14Supplementing silageand strawPage 15 What is thedung telling youPage 16 Top 20 energyfeedsPage 17 Top 10 proteinfeedsGrowing and finishing cattle requires attentionto detail at all stages to be able to matchmarket needs and make the best return on yourinvestment. Best returns comes from cattle thatare well grown and efficiently finished. Feedingnot only determines animal performance but alsocontributes to animal health, cost of productionand therefore profit margins.This BRP manual will illustrate the importanceof distinguishing between the rearing, growingand finishing phase. As well as formulatingrations according to animal requirements tooptimise animal performance appropriate to thesystem and meet market specifications.The role of feeding in determining carcasequality is discussed, along with advice aboutchoosing the best feeds for your cattle tomeet their nutrient requirements.The manual complements our earlier publicationBRP Mini Feeds Directory which providesguidance from conception to market on usingeffective nutrition to achieve better returns ona range of feeds.John CrossChairmanEBLEX Ltd1

Growing and finishing phasesFeeding management of beef cattle divides into three distinct phases.Each requires different ration specifications.When to change rationWeightTarget weightHeightlarge framemedium framesmall frameRearing Growing Finishingis usually completeby the time a calfweighs 200kg andis centred aroundmilk feeding andweaning.a period of continuous growth, lasting up to 15 months.Developing height and length of body frame is the aimin this period.The length of each phase varies with breed, frame size and target market. Native breeds or small framedcattle usually require a longer growing, but shorter finishing period than larger continental cattle.Feeding management is crucial to meet market specificationKnow your end market; cattle finish at a variety of weights, different ages. Target specifications willvary depending on breeding and the target market. Here are some examples.Please note there will be variations on the above examples.2a short sharp period ofmaximum weight gain toallow well-grown animalsto maximise meat yieldand optimise fat cover.HitmarketspecMain market Target age Type Carcase weight ClassificationButchers 16-24 months Heifers, steers 250-320kg R4L or betterSupermarket 16-30 months Heifers, steers 280-380kg R3 or betterManufacturing beef 12-30 months Bulls, heifers, steers 280-400kg -02 or better

Feeding to growUnderstanding your stock and system will help you feed to exploitgrowth potentialYour choice of beef production system shouldbe based on your available resources.Stock – is determined by:Gender – bull, steer or heifersMature size – small, medium or large framedType – Native or continental.System – is determined by:feed, land, buildings, machinery, labour, finance.The frame size of an animal is a useful guideto its growth potential and which feedingsystem it is best suited to. Frame sizedetermines mature liveweight and is affectedby breed type and breeding within a breed.When assessing frame size in growing cattletake account of breed, age, weight and height.Large-framed animals, tall for their age, suitmarkets which target fast daily liveweight gainof over 1kg/head/day.Short–framed animals, short for their age,suit markets with slower target daily gain–under 0.8kg/head/day.Medium-framed animals of average heightfor their age are best grown between 0.8 and1kg/head/day and can be targeted to anumber of markets.Pointers Use the rails in a race to give a guide to frame size.Target height gain/monthAnimal Small frame Medium frame Large frame200kg – 300kg 3cm 4cm 5cm300kg – 400kg 2cm 3cm 4cm400+kg 1cm 2cm 3cm3

Maximising Dry Matter IntakeMaximising dry matter intake is vital to better growing and finishing of cattle. Improving animalperformance reduces days to slaughter and cuts production costs.It is important to present fresh palatable feed and have water available at all times to optimise intakeand remember the old saying a dry bed is as good as a feed.A well-designed and managed feed area can be as important as what is fed.✓✓✓✓✓✗✗✗very smooth, clean surfaceeating surface about 10cm above hoof heightbrisket board, preventing food being pulled under foot, suited to height of cattleclean out refused food at least 3 times a weeksite water troughs to avoid feed being splashedpitted concrete that can be rough on the tonguerub marks from neck rail – shows wrong positionstale feed build up•4

Ration guidelinesGrowing animals have a large appetite compared to body weight. Thus they thrive on high levels ofmedium energy forage, as long as there is enough degradable protein to ‘fuel’ microbial activity inthe rumen.Growing cattle – controlled continuousframe growthDMI = 2.3% bodyweight0.7 –1.3kg/day LWG30 – 60% DM (dry matter)*15 –16% CP (crude protein)10.5 –11.4 MJ/kg DM ME (metabolisable energy)*>40% NDF (neutral detergent fibre)– digestible*12.2 MJ/kg DM ME (metabolisable energy)*>25% NDF (neutral detergent fibre)– digestible*6– 8 % long fibre*33% starch and sugar*0.6% calciumGrowing rations should be high in both structuralfibre eg straw and digestive fibre eg sugar beetpulp, high in protein, high in minerals andvitamins and with a moderate energy density.High levels of starch are not recommended inthis period as this can lead to unwanted fatdeposition, especially in small-medium framed,‘easy fleshed’ cattle. Some ‘easy fleshed’ growingcattle can stay on this ration till finish to avoidgetting over fat while underweight.Finishing cattle are often heavier than growingcattle, with a reduced appetite in relation to bodyweight. Rapid liveweight gain requires feedinghigh energy cereal based feeds. High starch levelscan promote fast weight gains and more efficientfeed conversion particularly in the larger framed,more difficult to flesh animals.The key to profitable finishing is feed conversionefficiency (FCE), obtained by maintaining highdry matter intakes and live weight gains.Adequate quantities of structural fibre(0.5– 1.5kg straw/head/day) is essential.Animals that spend long periods lying downchewing the cud, are an indication of efficientfeed utilisation and good rumen health.* expressed relative to DM5

Making the most of grassGrazingGrazed grass is potentially the cheapest feed available. To achieve the best potential growth consider:stocking rates, sward, grazing quality and quantity.The use of modern grass varieties along with appropriate types of clover in the sward can bring bigyield benefits as well as reducing nitrogen fertiliser requirements. Target gains at grass depend ontype of stock, available grazing type and length of grazing season. Large-framed cattle turned outat 250-300kg onto good leys with a long grazing season can gain 200kg. Small-framed cattle onmarginal grazing may gain just half this weight.When grazing is insufficient supplementation will be needed:Concentrate supplementationHigh quality forage-based buffer ration• low levels maintain contact with stock • maintains growth rates• higher levels help maintain growth rates • reduces grazing time• does not reduce grazing time • allows grass regrowthFinishing cattle on grassHigh levels of grass quality and quantity must bemaintained for as long as possible to take ‘easyfleshed’ cattle through to finish. Bigger framedcattle struggle to achieve a good finish onpasture alone in summer and autumn. Finisherscan be kept out on full ad-lib finishing feed aslong as ground is dry enough to avoid poachingand there is a dry area to lie down.Keep lot sizes small and move bunkers, troughsand feed trailers regularly to avoid poaching .For finishing cattle, high quality grass silagecan be a digestible fibre source replacing sugarbeet pulp, maize gluten, etc. However, fed athigh levels alongside high starch feeds can resultin loose dung.Alternatively, silage can be made very maturewith a long chop length. Fed in small quantitiesit offers a structural fibre source to keep therumen healthy when high levels of concentratesare fed.SilageFor growing cattle grass should not beallowed to mature beyond 50% ear emergenceat cutting. Feeding silage with straw delaysprogress through the rumen allowing improveddigestion.6

Growing housed cattleGrower rations are mainly forage-based (silage, whole crop, straw and combinations of these). Thesecan be supplemented at least once a day with dry or moist feeds to add energy, protein, minerals andvitamins. Rations can be formulated with a wide range of home-grown and bought-in feeds. The mostlikely scenario for a winter ration would be grass silage plus a blend. It is important that silage ispalatable and consistent quality, it also helps if it contains reasonable levels of protein. Generally,only wholecrop legume silages can be fed without protein supplementation. The formulation andquantity of supplement depends on silage analysis and intake. Adding straw slows down the rate ofpassage of silage and promotes cud chewing.Feeding for growing – starting the processCattle already on the farmIntroduce suckler calves to creep feeding as andwhen required depending on target growth rates,available milk and grazing. Begin at least 4 weeksbefore weaning to minimise ‘weaning check’.Creep feed should be palatable, dust-free andcontain high levels of digestible fibre.Creep feed can include trace elements andvitamins to boost immune status beforerespiratory disease challenges in early winter.Typical creep ration:14 –16% crude protein in DM11–12 MJ/kg DM ME35% NDF (neutral detergent fibre) - digestibleTarget gain: 0.8 – 1.3kg/day LWGBought-in cattleCattle, tired after a journey, should be kept awayfrom other stock in a draft-free, well bedded pen,with plenty of space, good access to palatableforage-based feed with long fibre and cleanwater.After 12-18 hours rest:• check ear tags and weigh each animal• health check in accordance with farm’shealth plan• if necessary, treat and isolate• vaccinate.Then group animals by weight and type.Gradually introduce them to their new rationbefore moving to new accommodation.7

Growing to finishing – the big changeTiming is the key to changing successfully from the growing to the finishing ration.Targets Days on finishing ration DLWG Total LW gainLarge framed 80–100 1.5kg 120-150kgMedium framed 60 – 80 1.4kg 85kgSmall framed 0–60 1.3kg 0-50kgFinishing rations contain less forage and moresupplement than growing rations which leadsto increased rumen aciditiy which challengesanimal health. The rumen microbial populationhas to change from supporting a largepopulation of fibre digesting bacteria tosupporting a large population of starchdigesting bacteria.This costs time and money, so helping theanimal to adapt quickly delivers efficiency. Thefinishing ration should be introduced graduallyto the growing ration so that the high energyfeeds are fed in increasing amounts each dayover a period of a week and the amount offorage available is reduced at the same time.Alternatively, if the cattle are being introducedto ad lib feeding from a hopper then theconcentrate or blend should be fed at graduallyincreasing amounts over a week until the cattleare not eating all the ration between feeds.Bulls – changing directly fromrearing to finishingBulls around 200kg live weight can move fromthe rearing ration straight to the finishing ration.However they can be on the finishing ration for10 months and can become hard to finish. It isbest to introduce a slightly higher energy andmore palatable ‘2nd stage finisher’ ration for thelast 60 to 80 days to give them a boost. Sucklerbred or beef cross bulls from the dairy herdweighing over 200kg liveweight will respond bestto finishing rations formulated with proteinlevels of approximately 15% crude protein (CP).Whereas, pure dairy bulls over 200kg liveweightwill respond better to lower protein levels ofapproximately 12% CP. Feeding these bulls onhigh protein diets tends to make them grow tootall and lean, making them very hard to finish.Fibre baseddietStarchbased dietIntroduce finishing ration over seven days to adapt rumen bacteria8

Finishing housed cattleFinishing cattle – short sharp periodof maximum gainDuring finishing appetite falls in relation tobodyweight so intake should be encouragedthrough feed access, freshness and palatability.• Drier rations stay fresh longer in the trough.• Mix dry and wet rations to avoid very wet orvery dry rations.• Protein requirement should be met bymicrobial protein, but rumen microbes needa small amount of degradable protein. Ifinsufficient rumination takes place adding asmall amount of degradable protein will help.If the best cost option feeds available are highin protein the CP level can rise to a maximumof 17% before performance is compromised.• Energy, particularly from starch, is all importantto drive fermentation in the rumen. But at veryhigh energy densities (over 13 MJ ME/kg DM)intake will be compromised.• A small amount of long, hollow tube fibre, egstraw, which floats and scratches the rumenwalls promotes rumination, prevents acidosisand improves feed conversion efficiency.• Too much fat and oil coats fibre particles inthe rumen and prevents breakdown by rumenmicrobes, leading to acidosis and reducedintake. Brewers grains, oil-coated chips andbiscuit meal are good feeds but have upperinclusion limits. If two or more are fed togetherkeep well below the upper limit.• Requirements for major minerals are reducedbut trace elements and vitamins are stillimportant.Bull beefKeeping male calves entire only helps FCE ifthey are kept growing at maximum gain. In astore period bulls have no better feedconversion than steers.Grass silage has no major role in bull beefdiets. Small amounts help meet digestible fibrerequirements, but large amounts will reduceenergy density and extend days to finish.• Minimise aggressive behaviour to promoteprofitability.• Keep group sizes small – no more than 20.• Avoid mixing batches which leads to fightingand riding.• Keep bulls away from other stock,particularly breeding stock.• Keep bulls away from noisy farm activity.• Feed and bed in the morning and leave themin peace in late afternoon and early evening.In the evening, as the herd instinctivelysettles down for the night, if left undisturbedhead butting and pushing occurs in anassertive, but non-aggressive way. If thisdoes not happen stress and aggression willresult in reduced performance.9

Improving feed conversion efficiency (FCE)Genetic and environmental factors influence FCE. On the same ration, bulls are more efficientthan steers which are more efficient than heifers. Within a gender, breeding plays a large part indetermining FCE.Improving the environment (including feeding) can be achieved far faster than genetic change.Areas to target:Animal bodyweight-• FCE reduces as animals get older and heavier.Animal health• Worm burden soaks up inputs and depressesperformance.• Laminitis reduces feeding time and intake.• Disease – even sub-clinical disorders canreduce performance.Stress• Aim for group sizes of 20 at most.• Ensure every animal has space to lie down ondry bedding.• Avoid mixed sizes to avoid bullying.• Ensure feed and water are fresh.• Ensure good air quality – increased breathingrates reduces weight gain.Nutrition• Structural fibre eg straw promotes cudchewing and lowers rumen acid load. Correctlength is vital – just short enough to avoidrejection but no shorter than the muzzlewidth of the animal.• Balanced energy sources mainly fromstarch with some digestible fibre eg sugar beetpulp increases weight gain.• Protein balanced in speed of degradability tosuit the energy sources will increase rumenmicrobial population and weight gain.• Minerals and vitamins should be balancedto rest of diet.Feed• Improving FCE reduces feed cost/kg gain.• Farm-grown feed can cut cost and often boostperformance.• Selling high starch cereals and buying lowerstarch cereal by-products can reduce costeffectiveness due to haulage costs andpotentially lower performance.Animal weight Dry Matter % of daily Likely DLWG FCE Cost/kg LWGappetite feed intake from balance (£145/ton DM)maintenance of feed450kg 10kg 42% 1.2kg 8.3:1 £1.20550kg 11kg 44% 1.15kg 9.6:1 £1.39650kg 11.8kg 46% 1.1kg 10.7:1 £1.55750kg 12.5kg 48% 1kg 12.5:1 £1.81At these costs, carcase weights over 380kg or liveweights over 650kg are hard to justify as feedcost/kg gained exceeds value/kg gained. Depending on outlet, taking bulls to these heavy carcasesmay be viable provided liveweight gains exceed 1.6kg/head/day.10

Feeding for carcase qualityFat cover1 2 3 4L4H 5L 5HEU+Conformation-URO+-OP+-PMarket signals• Little or no demand• Discount prices• Poorest returns• Medium demand• Average prices• Moderate returns• High UK demand• Premium prices• Best returns• High demandfor specificexport markets• Premium pricesFast finishing maximises muscle developmentand improves conformation. Animals that arefinished slowly (1.2kg/day) grading R couldhave been a -U if finished faster (1.5kg/day).However faster finishing cannot turn an -0 intoa U+ that relies on breeding.Faster finishing will take animals through fatclasses faster. Animals finished at1.2 kg/day LWGcan take six weeks to go from 4L to 4H, whereasanimals finishing at 1.5+kg/day can take justthree weeks. Therefore, it is important to selectthe animal for market at the right stage.Fat colourSome markets require carcasses with white fat(mainly bulls for export). Fat colour comes fromfat soluble pigments in plants. These range fromvery strong pigments in carrots, fairly strongpigments in lucerne and normal pigments ingrass. Some pigment colour is lost in the silagemaking process so grass silage will not colour fatas much as grazed grass. Also pigmentsaccumulate in fat over time so with olderanimals it is harder to achieve white fat.11

Optimising nutrient balanceThe most important macro nutrients to consider for beef cattle nutrition are energy (mainly fromcarbohydrates) and protein. These nutrients can be present in feeds in different forms that makethem available to the animal at different rates. A balanced release of soluble carbohydrate and rumendegradable protein is required to fuel fermentation in the rumen and optimise cattle performance.FibresStarchSugarsCarbohydrate fermentationStrawLow D silageSoya hullsPalm kernelCitrus pulpHigh D silageSugar beet pulpCracked cerealsCrimped cerealsBiscuit blendsPotatoesRolled cerealsGround cerealsMolassesslowfastProtein degradationDigestible undegradable (DUP)Prairie meal (maize gluten feed) Distillers grainsSoyabean mealBeansLupinsPeasEffective rumen degradable protein (ERDP)Rapeseed mealPot ale syrupFeed grade ureaDetails and rationing advice for a range of feeds can be found in the BRP Mini Feeds Directory.Also consider fibre:As well as providing a source of energy in ruminant diets fibre is required for efficient rumen function.Fibre has two forms, either:Structural fibre – supplied by long stemmed,mature forages eg straw, hay. Chop length of thismaterial should be 5–10cm long, suited to themuzzle width of the animal your are feeding.Digestible fibre – supplied by products suchas sugar beet pulp and high D-value silage.12The content of digestible fibre in the total rationDM should be between 25– 40%.It is important to appreciate the differencebetween these two fibre sources, eg sugar beethas a high digestible fibre content but provideslittle structural fibre, whilst straw has a lowdigestible fibre content but is a valuable sourceof structural fibre if not chopped to short.

Choosing the right supplement for your rationRapidly fermentable carbohydrates in the formof molasses and finely ground cereals should befed with rapidly available nitrogen from urea orrapeseed meal.Slower forms of fermentable carbohydrates suchas high D-value grass silage or sugar beet pulpshould be fed with slower forms of degradableprotein such as soyabean meal.Very indigestible forms of fibre such as lowD-value hay, silage or cereal straw need to havesome rapidly fermentable carbohydrate andrapidly available nitrogen fed along side themto ‘kick start’ the rumen fermentation. Too muchrapidly fermentable material and the rumenempties too quickly for the fibre to break downand large quantities of undigested fibre willcome through in the faeces. Not enough and thefibre stays in the rumen for hours suppressingthe animals appetite and holding back itsperformance.Comparing supplementsWhen choosing supplements consider:• Nutrient composition• Quality and consistency• Storage needs• Medium term availability• Complementarity with other feeds in rationFeeds should be compared at the very leaston the basis of £/tonne DM, taking into accounttheir relative feed values. Comparisons madeon the basis of cost per unit metabolisableenergy or crude protein (CP) enable feeds tobe compared on the basis of the nutrientsthey supply to the diet.13

Supplementing silage and straw growing dietsExample: A 300kg animal eating 7kg DM with a target daily gain of 1kg.Both rations below supply the same amount of energy and protein but it is important to notice thatsince less supplementation is required with the better quality silage, the protein concentration in thesupplement is greater. Poorer quality silage is wetter and less is eaten on a dry matter basis hencemore supplement is required to meet energy requirements.Silage based rations kg FW kg DMStraw 0.5 0.4Good silage 20.0 5.729% DM, 14% CP, 11 MJ ME/kg DMBlend 25% CP 1.0 0.9Straw 0.5 0.4Poorer silage 20.0 4.2*21% DM, 12%CP, 10.2 MJ ME/kg DMBlend 20% CP 2.8 2.4Straw has been included to add scratch factor and improve rumen functionOther options for growing rations can include straw as the base forage.Straw based rations kg FW kg DMStraw 2.5 2.15Blend 18% CP 5.5 4.8Straw 2.0 1.7* Sugar beet pulp 2.5 2.3* Brewers grains 12.5 3.1* 5 parts grains to 1 part sugar beet pulpRation 11 MJ ME/kg DM, 15% CP in DM14

What is your dung telling you?Looking at the dung is a useful indicator of how well the rumenis functioning and how well an animal is digesting their diet.What the manure looks likeLoose manureDiarrhoeaFoamy manure or mucin casts(pieces of gut lining that indicategut damage)Large particles, undigested feedManure variable in a feeding groupPossible dietary causes (not disease)• High protein (total or soluble); pasture• Insufficient fibre in ration• Spoiled, mouldy feed or silage• Ruminal acidosis• Increased hindgut fermentation• Ruminal acidosis• Increased hindgut fermentation• Cattle are sorting feed; slow feeding• Not enough chewable fibre/forage/feed• Ruminal acidosis• Cattle are sorting feed; feeding slowly• Spoiled, mouldy feed or silage (spoilagedoes not usually mix uniformly)Source: US Dairy Forage Research Center, WisconsinIf the rumen is working well, you should see:•few feed particles over 1.5cm long•little recognisable feed•80% of cattle not sleeping, eating or drinking should be ruminating.Looking at the dung should be used alongside other observations/measurements to evaluatesuccessful ration formulation:CattleFeedClamp/feed storageWaterHousingEmployeesPerformance, coat, lameness, ruminationAvailability, mould/dust, analysis, consistency, mixing, refusalsMould, clean, fresh, heating, mixingClean, fresh, availableComfortable, used, clean and ventilatedHow they treat the cattle15

Top 20 energy feedsThere are a variety of feeds available to feedto finishing cattle, some are more suitablethan others. This chart shows the most popular20 energy feeds listed by their effectiveness inproducing high levels of performance in termsof weight gain, feed conversion efficiency andflexibility of use with other feeds.MJ Starch %* Sugar %* Strengths WeaknessesME/kgDM1 Maize grain 14.3 71 2 Slow degrading Low proteinstarch2 Wheat 13.8 69 3.5 High starch Low fibre3 Bread 14 69 4.7 High starch Low fibre4 Triticale 13.4 66.5 4 High starch Low fibre5 Potatoes 13.5 62 8 High starch Low fibre6 Barley 13.2 59 3 High starch Low fibre7 Biscuit blends 15 49 9 High starch Low fibre8 Breakfast 14 52 6 High starch Low fibrecereal blends9 Sugar beet 12.3 3 69 High sugar10 Fodder beet 12.1 2 65 High sugar11 Good maize 11.8 35 2 Low cost Can be variablesilage12 Molasses 12.6 – 65 High sugar Low fibre13 Beet pulp 12.5 1 20 High fibre Low starch14 Maize gluten 12.5 21 3 High fibre15 Oats 12.2 42 1 High fibre16 Good cereal 11 25 3.3 Low cost Can be variablewhole crop17 Wheat feed 11.5 27.5 7 High fibre Low energy18 Citrus pulp 12.5 6.5 24 High fibre Low starch19 Soya hulls 11.9 5 3 High fibre Low starch20 Palm kernel 12.3 4 3 High fibre Low starch* expressed relative to DM16

Top 10 protein feedsThis table shows the most popular 10 high protein feeds listed by their effectiveness in producinghigh levels of performance in terms of weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and flexibility of usewith other feeds.MJ Starch Crude Strengths WeaknessesME/kg and protein %*DM sugar %*1 Maize distillers 14.8 5.5 28 High energy –2 Wheat distillers 13.5 8.6 32 High energy –3 Soya 13.8 14 52 High energy –4 Lupins 14.3 13 38 High energy –5 Pot ale syrup 14 3 37 High energy –6 Beans 13.8 47 29 High starch Low fibre7 Peas 12.8 53 24 High starch Low fibre8 Linseed 13 11 37 – Low fibre9 Rapeseed meal 12.1 14.5 38.5 High fibre Lower energy10 Urea 0 0 287 Very low Must be wellinclusion mixed* expressed relative to DMVitamin and mineral supplementationVitamin and mineral supplementation should be included in all rations according to the requirementsof the class of stock being fed and the composition of the ration. Deficiencies will lead to reducedperformance.17

For more information contact:Better Returns ProgrammeEBLEX LtdGraphic HouseFerrars RoadHuntingdonPE29 3EEFunded bywww.defra.gov.ukTel: 0870 241 8829Fax: 0844 774 6253Email: brp@eblex.org.ukwww.eblex.org.uk© EBLEX LTD 2008The tables and contents of this publication may not bereproduced without the express permission of EBLEX.262696 November 2008