Lesson 1Feed additives and supplements: buffers, yeast, ionophores, anthelmintics and mineral premixesWe look at main feed additives and supplements for ruminant diets, like buffers, yeast, ionophores, dewormers, and mineral mixes, explaining how they work, their advantages, drawbacks, and rules for use in local settings.
Mode of action of buffersYeast cultures and rumen microbesIonophores and feed efficiencyAnthelmintics in feeding programsFormulating mineral premix packagesLesson 2Macro- and micro-mineral requirements and common deficiencies (Ca, P, Mg, Se, Cu, S, Co, I)This part discusses roles, needs, and interactions of major and trace minerals in ruminants, focusing on calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, copper, sulphur, cobalt, and iodine, with signs of shortages and prevention in dairy, beef, and small stock.
Functions of Ca, P and MgTrace minerals Se, Cu, Co, IClinical signs of key deficienciesAntagonisms among minerals in dietsDesigning mineral supplementationLesson 3Fiber, NDF, ADF and their effects on intake and rumen functionWe explain fibre types like NDF and ADF, and their impact on chewing, rumen capacity, digestion speed, and milk quality, stressing how to balance fibre for good feed intake, healthy rumen, and better animal output.
Definitions of fiber, NDF and ADFPhysically effective NDF and chewingFiber effects on rumen pH and VFAFiber, intake regulation and gut fillManaging low- and high-fiber dietsLesson 4Practical feeding management: grouping strategies, feed delivery, bunk management, water quality and intake driversWe cover day-to-day feeding practices, such as grouping animals, feed timing, trough care, water standards, and factors boosting intake, showing how routines influence health and production on the farm.
Grouping by production and stageFeed delivery timing and frequencyBunk scoring and refusals controlWater quality and access checksEnvironmental factors affecting intakeLesson 5Formulating rations: balancing energy, protein and fiber using Pearson square and least-cost principlesWe show simple ways to make rations, balancing energy, protein, and fibre with Pearson square and basic cost-saving methods, considering available feeds and farm limits.
Setting nutrient specificationsUsing Pearson square for energyBalancing protein and fiber levelsBasics of least-cost formulationChecking rations for practicalityLesson 6Feedstuff composition tables and how to source reliable feed analysis dataThis part teaches reading feed tables, checking data sources, and getting lab tests, to pick trustworthy figures for ration making and farm choices.
Key nutrients listed in feed tablesOfficial and commercial data sourcesSampling and sending feeds to labsInterpreting lab reports and unitsUpdating on-farm feed librariesLesson 7Estimating maintenance, lactation and growth requirements for Holstein dairy cows, beef steers, and growing lambsWe explain calculating needs for upkeep, milking, and growth in Holstein cows, beef calves, and lambs, using weight, output, and local climate factors.
Maintenance energy and protein needsLactation requirements in HolsteinsGrowth needs of beef steersRequirements of growing lambsAdjusting for climate and activityLesson 8Energy systems and units: ME, NE, TDN and converting feed energy valuesThis clarifies energy measures in ruminant feeding like ME, NE, TDN, how they are figured, when to use each, and converting values between systems.
Gross, digestible and metabolizable energyNet energy for maintenance and gainTotal digestible nutrients conceptConverting between energy systemsUsing energy values in ration softwareLesson 9Forage quality assessment: sampling, laboratory tests, and in-field evaluation (DM, CP, NDF, energy)We detail checking forage quality from sampling to lab work and field checks, focusing on dry matter, protein, fibre, and energy to guide mixing and cutting.
Sampling hay, silage and pastureOn-farm dry matter determinationLab analysis for CP, NDF and energyScoring visual and sensory qualityUsing results to adjust rationsLesson 10Protein requirements and degradable vs undegradable protein in ruminantsWe cover protein needs in ruminants, rumen degradable vs bypass protein, microbe growth, balancing types, and risks of too little or too much.
Rumen degradable versus undegradable proteinMicrobial protein synthesis in rumenBalancing RDP and RUP in dietsProtein needs by class of animalImpacts of protein excess or deficit
