Education Commons^™

G02-1482 Guidelines For A Non-Fasting Feeding Program For The Molting Of Laying Hens, Sheila E. Scheideler, Mary M. Beck

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Laying hens are molted at the end of one laying cycle (i.e. one year) to induce a cessation of lay and rejuvenation of the reproductive tract and skeleton for a second cycle of egg production. This is based on the natural molting process that wild birds undergo annually and traditionally it has been induced by fasting the hens for a short period of time. This NebGuide offers guidance on non-fasting feeding program for the molting of laying hens.

Nf97-317 Managing Dairy Cows To Avoid Abomasal Displacement, Rick Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact discusses feeding strategies to reduce the incidence of displaced abomasum in your dairy herd.

Nf96-251 A Comparative Study Of Fiber Digestion And Subsequent Nutrient Absorption In The Ostrich Versus The Ruminant, Sheila E. Scheideler

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact compares the digestive systems of the ruminant and the ostrich.

Nf96-270 Handling Feed Moisture In Ration Formulation And Inventory Control, Richard J. Rasby, Rick Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact has information on livestock feed moisture.

G90-978 Byproduct Feedstuffs For Beef And Dairy Cattle, Don J. Kubik, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide details the type of byproduct feedstuffs available for beef and dairy cattle, a description of their characteristics and discussion of their nutrient value. Byproduct feeds have become a stabilizing factor in the economic success of many beef and dairy operations. Byproduct feeds are the residue that remains after feeds have been processed. The processing of soybeans into soybean meal results in a large supply of soybean hulls. Processing corn into high fructose syrup provides corn gluten feed and corn bran. Converting corn starch into ethanol provides distillers grains. Hominy, a byproduct of processing corn starch for human consumption, …

G86-783 Complete Rations -- Should You Feed Them?, Foster G. Owen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the advantages and disadvantages of feeding complete rations to dairy herds.

Using the complete ration system for feeding dairy cows has become increasingly popular. Nutritionists generally consider it the ideal method of feeding dairy cattle. Milk production per cow can be maximized, and feed and labor costs minimized, with this system. However, the necessary equipment is expensive and may be excessive for loose-housed herds of less than 100 cows.

G84-694 New Protein Values For Ingredients Used In Growing Cattle Rations, Rick Stock, Terry L. Mader, Terry Klopfenstein

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide assigns new protein values to feeds and describes two new systems for evaluating supplemental protein sources. Information about protein sources has changed greatly in the last 10 years. Words like "bypass," "escape," or "slowly degraded" have been used to describe some proteins. These terms have the same meaning and refer to a protein source's ability to escape breakdown in the rumen. Ingredient tables usually only list the crude protein content of feeds. Although this has been a useful system, it does not adequately evaluate supplemental protein sources. Digestible protein values have helped describe some forages, but can be …

G83-655 Management Of Early Weaned Calves, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the benefits and disadvantages of weaning beef calves early, including rations and methods for both drylot and pasture-grain feeding programs.

Early weaning of beef calves is a management practice that should be considered under situations such as fall calving, drylot cow-calf production and drought. In areas where forage quality is very poor in late summer and early fall, early weaning might also be considered as a regular practice. Early weaning can enhance the efficiency of drylot cow-calf operations by allowing greater use of poor quality roughages by the cow herd.

G79-434 Feeding Guides For The Ewes, Ted Doane

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

In utilizing the information in this publication, the sheepman and those advising him must keep in mind the ultimate objectives of the production program in question.

The major problem in nutrition is the definition of the desired animal function. Maintenance of the ewe, for example, is generally thought of in terms of the dry ewe. Yet maintenance of productive functions is a constant cost in ewe nutrition, whether she is pregnant, lactating, dry, or in the process of being bred for another year.

In utilizing the information in this publication, the sheepman and those advising him must keep in mind …

G79-433 Rearing Lambs On Milk Replacers, Ted Doane

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Rearing orphan lambs on milk replacers can help increase profit.

Orphan lambs can be an extra profit to the farm flock. As much as $40/lamb can be paid to labor if time is available. A warm room (in the winter) and some basic equipment are all that are necessary.

A large portion of the nation's lamb crop dies from starvation during the first week after birth. Orphan lambs less than 4 weeks of age usually require the use of milk replacer supplementation. Switching lambs to milk replacers shortly after birth has not reached its full potential in sheep husbandry.

G78-396 Making Quality Corn And Sorghum Silage (Revised December 1986), Paul G. Guyer, Foster G. Owen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Harvesting corn and sorghum forage as silage is popular because it adapts to complete mechanization of forage production, harvesting, and feeding. It fits operations where capital can profitably replace labor. If you are going to harvest corn and sorghum forage as silage you need to make quality silage. Here's how.

G77-363 Vitamin Requirements Of Beef Cattle, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Vitamins are organic substances that are required in very small quantities for various metabolic functions. Twenty-five to 30 have been identified, but cattle can synthesize all that are needed of these vitamins in the rumen except for two or three. Even though the supplemental amounts needed of these two or three vitamins (A and possibly D and E) are quite small, a deficiency can have a drastic effect on the animal. The NebGuide discusses these effects.

G77-360 Balancing Corn Silage Dairy Rations, Foster G. Owen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The grain required to balance a ration high in corn silage is much different from the grain needed when feeding high amounts of alfalfa hay. The most common problem is failure to properly balance for protein and calcium. This NebGuide discusses the points to take into account in balancing rations high in corn silage.

G77-350 Mineral Nutrition Of Range Beef Cattle, Marvin W. Heeney

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Minerals play a very important role in the well-being of the range beef herd. Minerals are essential for practically all of the metabolic functions of the beef animals. Minerals are classified as 1) major and 2) minor or trace. The major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine and sulfur. The trace minerals include copper, cobalt, iodine, iron, manganese and zinc.

Each mineral is discussed here in terms of its function, deficiency symptoms and availability in the range beef cattle diet.

G74-100 Feeding High Moisture Corn, Terry L. Mader, Paul Q. Guyer, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

In recent years the use of high moisture grain has become more popular due to the increased costs of handling and dry feed grains. For cattle feeders in particular, storing grains as high moisture is one practice that can improve their competitive position and reduce costs. Using high moisture grains allows greater opportunity to design a system that will minimize harvest, storage and feed processing costs.

Grains such as sorghum and wheat have been stored as high moisture, but corn is the principal high moisture grain stored. High moisture corn can be processed and stored as whole shelled corn, ground …

G74-136 Grain Sorghum Processing For Beef Cattle, Rick Stock, Terry L. Mader

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the feeding value of grain sorghum relative to corn and various grain processing methods for grain sorghum.

It has been widely recognized that grain sorghum (milo) must be processed to be efficiently used by finishing cattle. Grain sorghum shows more improved utilization from processing than corn, wheat and barley. Dry ground or rolled grain sorghum has a relative feeding value of 85% to 95% (avg 90%) of dry rolled corn. Processing grain sorghum by more sophisticated methods (early harvesting, steam-flaking, etc.) greatly enhances its feeding value.

Chemical composition suggests that there should be less difference in the …

G74-142 Harvesting And Preserving Hay Crop Silage, Rick Grant, Rick Stock

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes principles of successful hay crop harvest, silage preservation, management techniques to obtain high quality hay crop silage, and proper use of silage storage facilities.

Most hay (legume and grass) crops can be ensiled, or made into silage, successfully. For best feeding value and preservation, consider the special requirements for ensiling each crop.

Hays to be ensiled should be selected on the basis of economics. Which are the most profitable for supplying nutrients? For example, legumes have a relatively higher value for dairy herds than for beef finishing operations because of dairy cows' higher requirement for protein.

G74-170 Nitrates In Livestock Feeding (Revised July 1996), Richard J. Rasby, Bruce Anderson, Norman Schneider

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Most forages contain some nitrates. When feeds containing nitrates are consumed by ruminants, nitrates are changed in the rumen to ammonia that is then converted by bacteria in the rumen into microbial protein. Nitrates are not always toxic to animals.

This NebGuide describes signs, causes, prevention and treatment of nitrate poisoning in livestock.

G73-15 Handling Feed Moisture In Ration Formulation And Inventory Control (Revised December 1983), Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Nutritional quality control begins with knowing and adjusting for variation in the moisture content of feed ingredients. Moisture variations in feeds are almost always of more importance than variations in protein, mineral, and energy. Inventory control is affected by moisture content of feeds. Some feeds on hand are constantly changing in moisture content, and these changes frequently lead to financial losses when a price adjustment is not made for moisture losses.

G73-14 Grain Processing For Feedlot Cattle, Paul Q. Guyer

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Several changes have occurred in the cattle feeding business which have focused attention on grain processing. The first of these was, the arrival of big feedlots provided an opportunity to use larger and more sophisticated processing equipment at reasonable cost per ton of feed produced. Also, the need to minimize feed separation and digestive disturbances encouraged the use of more sophisticated methods of processing.

A second development that is now focusing attention on grain processing is the rapidly increasing costs of equipment, fuel and labor involved in grain processing. In recent years, these have been increasing more rapidly than the …