Feed Management Planners Certification Program to Reduce

Nutrient Loads in Impaired Watersheds

Dan Ludwig- USDA - NRCS, Natural Resources SpecialistVirginia Ishler- Penn State Extension, Nutrient Management Specialist

Rebecca White- Penn State Extension, Dairy Program Manager

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

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

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

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.)

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

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

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

Actu

al D

iet %

P

Formulated Diet %P

Diet %Phosphorus for Lactating Cows

Diet %P Goal= Actual within 0.03% of formulated

FY11 FarmsTMR Diets

59% outside of +/- 0.03%

45% are below formulated levels

15% above formulated levels

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

Actu

al D

iet %

P

Fecal %P

Actual Diet %Phosphorus vs. Fecal %Phosphorus in Lactating Cows

Actual Diet %P and Fecal %P

Fecal %P Goal

FY11 FarmsTMR Diets

34% outside of 0.55-0.85%

23% are above 0.85%

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

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)

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

Questions?