Optimised Ruminant Rations: a Profit Lever in Ruminant Farming

An inappropriate ration will result above all in a waste of nutrient intakes: energy, protein, minerals ... Optimising the content of a ration means increasing the share of nutrients that contribute to the production of milk or meat and reducing the proportion of nutrients designed for other purposes (maintenance needs, undigested nutrients). This helps to limit environmental waste.
An unbalanced ration may also result in health issues at the herd level. Nutritional shortages, including inadequate energy, insufficient fibre, excessive fermentable energy, excessive degradable protein in the rumen, a poor balance between energy and protein intake, as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies, can lead to various metabolic disorders. The severity and duration of these deficiencies may result in serious health issues, including:

• ketosis;
• ruminal acidosis;
• alkalosis;
• hypocalcemia.

These diseases can have a long-term impact on animals’ health and their breeding performance.

• Adjustment of the distributed feed. Having accounted for the above factors, one can adjust the amount of distributed feed to the quantity and quality of forage in the diet while keeping in mind the production targets. A formulation software such as CARTALIM allows for the precise matching of the useful nutrients to the animals' requirements in order to reduce the factors hindering the full realisation of their potential -- whether related to rationing or herd management. On the basis of an analysis of the current diet, this software is designed to identify the strengths and limits of each ration. Nutritional strategies can then be conceived to maximise protein, fibre, and energy content in future rations.
• Optimising the use of nutrients in the diet. Ultimately, the nutritional value of the ration can be maximised thanks to the inclusion of additives with proven beneficial properties (protein enhancement, energy and fibre). In-depth knowledge of how essential oils and plant extracts work in ruminants allows for their targeted use depending on the zootechnical objectives.
   

The feed efficiency of a ration is both an economic and health issue. Its optimisation can be achieved through a better command of nutrition and management techniques based on the identified strengths and areas for improvement of each farm. Experts from the Techna Group offer products and services to optimise the evaluation of livestock diets, regardless of their context. For more information, please contact our experts!