<p> 592-1 NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD</p><p>FEED MANAGEMENT (Animal Units (AUs) Affected)</p><p>CODE 592</p><p>DEFINITION health, growth, production, performance and reproduction of livestock and poultry. Manipulating and controlling the quantity and quality of available nutrients, feedstuffs, or additives fed to The diets for specific species of animals shall be livestock and poultry. developed in accordance with recommendations from one of the following: PURPOSE * The most current recommendations of the * Improve feeding efficiency in a manner that National Research Council (NRC). facilitates and contributes to the conservation * Recommendations of the land grant of natural resources. university. * Reduce the quantity of nitrogen, phosphorus, * Science based standards developed by the sulfur, salts, and other nutrients excreted in professional nutritionists of livestock and the manure. poultry production companies, feed * Reduce the quantity and viability of pathogens companies, and/or feed suppliers. in manure. Laboratory analysis shall be done on the formulated * Reduce odor, particulate matter, and diet, or on the feed ingredients used to formulate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions production diet, to determine its nutrient content. from animal feeding operations. Feed and manure analyses shall be conducted by laboratories whose tests are accepted by the Land CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES Grant University, the State Department of Agriculture, Livestock and poultry operations with a whole farm or another appropriate body, in the state in which the nutrient imbalance, with more nutrients imported to the feeding strategy will be implemented. Data from farm than are exported and/or utilized by cropping analyzed feed ingredients and/or appropriate historic programs. feed analysis information for the operation will be used for adjustments of ration formulation. Livestock and poultry operations that have a significant accumulation of nutrients in the soil. Diets and feed management strategies shall be developed by professional animal scientists, Livestock and poultry operations that land apply independent professional nutritionists or other manure and do not have a land base large enough to comparably qualified individuals. When required by allow nutrients to be applied at rates recommended by state policy or regulation, animal nutritionists shall be soil test and utilized by crops in the rotation. certified through a certification program recognized Livestock and poultry operations seeking to improve within the state. nutrient use efficiencies. Diets shall be formulated to provide the quantities and Livestock and poultry operations seeking to reduce correct relative ratios of available nutrients required by manure pathogens. the animal species to meet the goals for which the plan is being developed. Livestock and poultry operations seeking to reduce odors and or GHGs from their manure. Adjustments to nutrient levels shall be provided to meet specific genetic potential, environmental CRITERIA demands, and/or requirements to insure health, well- General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes being and productivity. Sufficient nutrients shall be supplied to maintain the One or more of the following feed management </p><p>Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed. To obtain the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resources conservation Service. NRCS NHCP</p><p>August 2003 592 - 2 practices and/or diet manipulation technologies shall be Use management practices described in the NRCS used to reduce N, P, other excreted nutrients, Nutrient Management (Feed Management) Technical pathogens, odors, and/or GHGs, while maintaining the Notes for the specific animal species3. health, well-being and productivity of the animal. Consider different feed ingredients (e.g. by- products) * Formulating diets closer to animal and their potential impacts on the nutrient content of requirements. excreted manure. * Reducing protein and supplementing with Consider the potential impact of feed management on amino acids (non-ruminants). the volume of manure excreted and on manure storage requirements. * Manipulating the crude protein and energy (carbohydrate and fat) content of the diet to Consider the impact of feed management practices and enhance the availability of amino acids diet manipulation on manure odors, pathogens, GHGs, (ruminants). dust, animal health and well-being even if one or more of these are not included in the client’s objectives. * Using highly digestible feeds and forages, as appropriate, in the diet. Consider using concentrates and forages grown on the farm to minimize the quantity of nutrients imported to * Using phytase and reducing the supplemental the farm, and to maximize the recycling of nutrients on phosphorus content of the diet (non- the farm. ruminants) Analyze freshly excreted manure to determine manure * Reducing the phosphorus content of the diet nutrient content and to estimate the impact of the of ruminants when P is being overfed. feeding strategy. * Using selected scientifically supported, enzymes or other products to enhance feed PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS digestibility or feed use efficiency. Plans and specifications for feed management shall be * Using scientifically supported and in keeping with the requirements of this standard. environmentally benign growth promotants They shall describe the specific feed management and additives as allowed by law. practices and/or technologies that are planned for the operation. * Implementing phase feeding. The following components shall be included in the feed * Implementing split-sex feeding. management plan: * Using other feed processing, management, or * The type of technology, or technologies, diet manipulation technologies that have and/or feeding practices that will be used on demonstrated the ability to reduce manure the operation, and their intended outcome. nutrient content, pathogens, odors, or GHGs. * Feed analyses and ration formulation * When livestock are obtaining their diet by information prior to and after implementation grazing pastures a well as mechanically of feed management on the operation. harvested and processed feeds, pasture forages will be tested for nutrient content and * Protocols for sampling and preserving feed accounted for in the feed ration and balance of ingredients, manure, and water, as applicable, nutrients. All feeds, including grazed pasture prior to sending for analysis. will be included in an analysis for meeting the * The estimated, or measured, nutrient content livestock’s nutritional requirements and of the manure prior to the implementation of avoiding excess nutrients being fed. Forage feed management on the operation. tests will meet the Land Grant University’s acceptance and certification process. * The estimated impact that feed management will have on manure nutrient content. CONSIDERATIONS * The expected impact on pathogen content, Feed management can improve net farm income by odor, and GHG reduction of manure. feeding nutrients more efficiently. * Guidance for how often the feed management Consider nutrient requirements for production based plan shall be reviewed and potentially revised. upon stage of growth, intended purpose of the animal * The quantities and sources of nitrogen and and the type of production (e.g., meat, milk, eggs) phosphorus that will be fed. involved. * Identification of the qualified feed NRCS, NHCP September 2011 592-3 management specialist who developed the Records of plan implementation shall be maintained plan. for five years, or for a period longer than five years if required by other Federal, state, or local ordinances, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE program, or contract requirements. The producer/client is responsible for the operation and REFERENCES maintenance of the feed management plan. Operation and maintenance activities address the following: National Academy of Sciences Animal Nutrition Reports. http://dels.nas.edu/Agriculture/Animal- * Periodic plan review to determine if Nutrition/Reports-Academies-Findings adjustments or modifications are needed. USDA-NRCS, and USDA-ERS. 2000. Manure * Routine feed analysis to document the rates at Nutrients Relative to the Capacity of Cropland and which nitrogen and phosphorus were actually Pastureland to Assimilate Nutrients. fed. When actual rates fed differ from or http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/na exceed the planned rates, records will indicate tional/technical/nra/dma/?&cid=nrcs143_014126 the reasons for the differences. USDA-NRCS. 2003 Nutrient Management * Maintain records to document plan Technical Note #1 – Effects of Diet and Feeding implementation. As applicable, records Management on Nutrient Content of Manure include: USDA-NRCS. 2003. Nutrient Management  Feed analysis and ration formulation, including Technical Note # 4 – Feed and Animal the record of ration formulation used prior to Management for Poultry. implementing the feeding strategy. USDA-NRCS. 2003. Nutrient Management  Records estimating the impact the feeding Technical Note #2 – Feed and Animal strategy is having on reducing manure nutrient Management for Beef Cattle. content. USDA-NRCS. 2003. Nutrient Management  Manure analysis that was done after the feeding Technical Note #3 – Feed and Animal strategy was implemented to determine manure Management for Swine (Growing and Finishing) nutrient content. USDA-NRCS. 2003. Nutrient Management  Dates of review and person performing the Technical Note #5 – Feed and Animal review, and any recommendations that resulted Management for Dairy Cattle from the review.</p><p>Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed. To obtain the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resources conservation Service. NRCS NHCP</p><p>August 2003</p>