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Feed Management

Ten Reasons to Implement a Systematic Approach to Feed Management

There are a number of reasons for nutritionists and nutrient management planners to consider the adoption of a systematic approach to Feed Management. A select Top Ten are noted below:

1. Society demands animal agriculture to be environmentally responsible.
2. Many farms are in a positive import-export balance for nitrogen and phosphorus, even when losses of nitrogen are considered.
3. Feed is the primary import of nutrients on most dairy farms.
4. Adopting feed management practices is proactive towards becoming sustainable.
5. Feed management is an additional practice that can assist in the mitigation of nutrient buildup.
6. There is an ethical obligation for nutritionists to consider a systematic Feed Management program to reduce import of nutrients to the farm.
7. Agriculture should get credit for practices already implemented.
8. Adoption of Feed Management 592 can likely increase profitability.
9. Adopting Feed Management 592 can result in incentive payments to the producer and consultant.
10. Adoption of Feed Management 592 provides a nutritionist the opportunity to increase their suite of services to producers.

Feed Management Plan Development Resources

• Whole Farm Balance Estimation Tools/Nutrient Planning Tools
  • Manure Management Planner is a Windows-based computer program developed at Purdue University used to create manure management plans for crop and animal feeding operations.
  • AFOProTM is a standalone nutrient management planning tool with optional connections to GIS (ArcMap© and ArcView©) and the NRCS’s Animal Waste Management (v 2.0.2 or higher) engineering software. The application allows the user to plan manure and commercial fertilizer allocation decisions
  • Nutrient Inventory estimates for an animal feeding operation manure nutrients excreted by animal feeding (based upon the new ASABE standard), available nutrients after losses, and land requirement for agronomic application rates. (from the University of Nebraska)
    • An archived video is available at mms://real.unl.edu:8080/programs/webex/asabe_manure.wmv . The program covers using the new ASABE Manure Standard with Nutrient Planning and introduces the new standard and impact of feed ration on excretion. (60 minutes)
  • Manure Utilization Planner, a spreadsheet developed by the University of Nebraska
  • FNMP$ Spreadsheet | Instructions for using the spreadsheet
• Feed Management Plan Implementation Fact Sheets
• Becoming a Certified Feed Management Planner
  • Nutritionist
  • Technical Service Provider (Tech Reg website by USDA NRCS)
• Estimating Excretion of Manure and Nutrients Based on Feed Parameters (Fact Sheet)

This page developed and maintained by: Joe Harrison, Washington State University