Measuring food values for dairy cows

Kleiber, M; Regan, W; Mead, S

Measuring food values for dairy cows

Authors

Max Kleiber
W. M. Regan
S. W. Mead

Authors Affiliations

Max Kleiber was Professor of Animal Husbandry and Animal Husbandman in the Experiment Station; W. M. Regan was Professor of Animal Husbandry and Animal Husbandman in the Experiment Station; S. W. Mead was Associate Professor of Animal Husbandry and Animal Husbandman in the Experiment Station.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 16(11):511-571. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v16n11p511. May 1945.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

Abstract does not appear. First page follows.

The Evaluation of Feeds

Feed accounts for over half the total cost involved in animal production (Hopkins, 1940).6 Obviously, then, it is important to evaluate feeds correctly.

Replacement Equivalent.—The problem can be best introduced by a simple example: If a dairy farmer can secure corn for $38 a ton or wheat for $37 a ton, which is the better buy?

To answer this question the farmer must know how much wheat will replace in his ration a ton of corn so that the result—milk yield and change of body substance in the cows—will remain the same.

In this paper the figure that indicates how much of one feed is necessary to replace a certain amount of another feed is called replacement equivalent. Since, as a rule, a ration consists of several feeds, the farmer is especially interested in knowing the replacement equivalent of feeds when they form only a part of a ration. If, for example, a daily ration includes 10 pounds of hay, 1 pound of beet pulp, 1 pound of cottonseed meal, and 3 pounds of corn, how much wheat would be required to replace these 3 pounds of corn so that the new ration with wheat has the same food effect as the old ration with corn? In this case, as usually in food evaluation, only a part of the ration is replaced; and we therefore speak here of partial replacement equivalents.

Data Available at Present.—Replacement equivalents can be derived from the standard tables on total digestible nutrients: digestible protein plus digestible carbohydrates plus (2.25 × digestible fat). As (Morrison (1936)) shows, corn contains 83.7 pounds of total digestible nutrients per 100 pounds, and wheat 83.6. This is 94.6 pounds of total digestible nutrients per 100 pounds of dry matter for corn, 93.8 for wheat. Assuming that the offered corn and wheat, in the example cited in the preceding paragraph, have the same moisture content, the wheat is a slightly better buy: it contains 99 per cent of the total digestible nutrients of corn, and it costs only 3738×100=97 per cent of the price of corn.

Literature Cited

Armsby H. P. The nutrition of farm animals 1922. p.743. (See specifically p. 271.) The Macmillan Company, New York, N. Y.

Armsby H. P., Fries J. A. Net energy values of feeding stuffs for cattle. Jour. Agr. Res. 1915. 3:435-91.

Armsby H. P., Fries J. A. Net energy values for ruminants. Pennsylvania Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 1916. 142:19

Armsby H. P., Fries J. A. Net energy values of alfalfa hay and of starch. Jour. Agr. Res. 1918. 15:269-86.

Axelsson J. Die wissenschaftliche Grundlage des Stärkewerts. Tierernährung. 1939. 11(2):176-205.

Bratzler J. W., Forbes E. B. The estimation of methane production by cattle. Jour. Nutr. 1940. 19:611-13.

Brody S., Procter R. C. Relation between basal metabolism and mature body weight in different species of mammals and birds. Univ. Missouri Col. Agr. Res. Bul. 1932. 166:89-101.

Brody S., Procter R. C., Ashworth U. S. Basal metabolism, endogenous nitrogen, creatinine and neutral sulfur excretions as functions of body weight. Univ. Missouri Col. Agr. Res. Bul. 1934. 220:1-40.

Carpenter T. M. The combustion of carbohydrates in man after ingestion of common foods. Jour. Nutr. 1940. 19:423-35.

Forbes E. B. Net energy of completely balanced nutriment as a measure of nutritive value of rations and of nutritive requirements of animals. Amer. Soc. Anim. Prod. Proc. 1932. 1932:38

Forbes E. B., Kriss M., Braman W. W. The computed as compared with the directly observed fasting katabolism of cattle as a measure of the maintenance requirement of energy. Jour. Agr. Res. 1927. 34(2):167-79.

Forbes E. B., Swift R. W., Black A., Kahlenberg O. J. The utilization of energy-producing nutriment and protein as affected by individual nutrient deficiencies. III: The effects of the plane of protein intake. Jour. Nutr. 1935. 10:461-79.

Forbes E. B., Swift R. W. The minimum base value of heat production in animals. Pennsylvania Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 1941. 415:1-26.

Guilbert H. R., Hart G. H. Minimum vitamin-A requirements with particular reference to cattle. Jour. Nutr. 1935. 10:409-27.

Hamilton T. S. Factors affecting the thermogenic action of food; report of the conference on energy metabolism. National Research Council. 1935. 1935:26-49.

Hamilton T. S. The effect of added glucose upon the digestibility of protein and of fibre in rations for sheep. Jour. Nutr. 1942. 23:101-10.

Hansson N. Futtereinheiten und Stärkewert. Fühlings landwirtschaftliche Zeitung. 1914. 63(2):41-53.

Hansson N. Fodermedlens nettoenergivärde vid Mjölkproduction Beretning om Nordiske Jordbrugsforskeres Kongres i Göteborg. 1923. 1923:83-94. (See specifically 91.)

Hansson N. Husdjurens Utfodring 1928. p.244. (See specifically p. 228.) E. Fritze, Stockholm.

Hopkins J. A. Elements of farm management 1940. p.489. (See specifically p. 258.) Prentice-Hall, New York, N. Y.

Kellner O. Die Ernährung der landwirtschaftlichen Nutztiere 1919. 8th ed.p.667. (See specifically p. 96.) Paul Parey, Berlin.

Kellner O., Köhler A. Untersuchungen über den Stoff und Energiewechsel des erwachsenen Rindes bei Erhaltungs und Produktionsfutter. Landw. Vers. Sta. 1900. 53:1-474. (See p. 450.)

Kellner O., Köhler A., Barnstein F., Zeilstorff W., Hartung L., Lürig H. Untersuchungen über den Stoff- und Energieumsatz volljähriger Ochsen bei Erhaltungsfutter. Landw. Vers. Sta. 1896. 47:273-331. (See specifically 287.)

Kleiber M. Milchwert und Stärkewert. Fortschr. der Landw. 1929. 4:33

Kleiber M. Body size and metabolism. Hilgardia. 1932. 6:315-53. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v06n11p315 [CrossRef]

Kleiber M. Contribution to the method of gas analysis for respiration trials. Jour. Biol. Chem. 1933. 101:583-94.

Kleiber M. Tiergrösse und Futterverwertimg. Tierernährung. 1933. 5:1-12.

Kleiber M. The California apparatus for respiration trials with large animals. Hilgardia. 1935. 9:1-70. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v09n01p001 [CrossRef]

Kleiber M. Problems involved in breeding for efficiency of food utilization. Amer. Soc. Anim. Prod. Proc. 1936. 1936:247-58.

Kleiber M. Food value and metabolic unit of body size. Amer. Soc. Anim. Prod. Proc. 1938. p.341. 1938

Kleiber M. The measurement of partial nutritive equivalents. Amer. Soc. Anim. Prod. Proc. 1940. 1940:332-39.

Kleiber M., Mead S. W. Body size and milk production. Jour. Dairy Sci. 1941. 24:127-34. DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(41)95393-6 [CrossRef]

Kriss M. Quantitative relations of the dry matter of the food consumed, the heat production, the gaseous outgo, and the insensible loss in body weight of cattle. Jour. Agr. Res. 1930. 40:283-95.

Kriss M. A comparison of feeding standards for dairy cows with especial reference to energy requirements. Jour. Nutr. 1931. 4:141-61. (See specifically p. 156.)

Lewis G. N., Randall M. Thermodynamics and the free energy of chemical substances. 1923. 1st ed. New York and London: McGraw Hill Book Company. 653p. p.

Lush J. L., Christensen F. W., Wilson C. V., Black W. H. The accuracy of cattle weights. Jour. Agr. Res. 1928. 36:551-80.

Mayer A. Agrikulturchemie. Vol. 1925. 4:2d ed.423 (See specifically p. 194.) Carl Winter, Heidelberg, Germany.

Maynard L. A. Animal nutrition. 1937. New York and London: McGraw-Hill Book Company. 483p.

Meigs E. B. The energy requirement of dairy cows. II: Is net energy or metabolizable energy the more useful index for practical purposes? Jour. Dairy Sci. 1925. 8:523-36.

Mendel L. B., Fine M. S. Studies in nutrition V. The utilization of the proteins of cotton seed. Jour. Biol. Chem. 1912. 11:1-26.

Mitchell H. H. The net protein value of feeds and food materials. Amer. Soc. Anim. Prod. Proc. 1922. 1922:55-58.

Mitchell H. H. The determination of the protein requirements of animals and of the protein values of farm feeds and rations. Natl. Res. Council Bul. 1926. 55:1-44.

Mitchell H. H. Balanced diets, net energy values and specific dynamic effects. Science. 1934. 80:558-61. DOI: 10.1126/science.80.2085.558 [CrossRef]

Mitchell H. H. The importance of the relations between energy, protein, and minerals in measuring the nutritive value of feeds and rations. Amer. Soc. Animal Prod. Proc. 1937. 1937:29-42.

Mitchell H. H., Carman G. G. The biological value for maintenance and growth of the proteins of whole wheat, eggs, and pork. Jour. Biol. Chem. 1924. 60:613-20.

Mitchell H. H., Hamilton T. S., Haines W. T. The utilization by calves of energy in rations containing different percentages of protein and in glucose supplements. Jour. Agr. Research. 1940. 61:847-64.

Mitchell H. H., Villegas V. The nutritive value of the proteins of coconut meal, soy beans, rice bran, and corn. Jour. Dairy Sci. 1923. 6:222-36. DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(23)94081-6 [CrossRef]

Möllgaard H. New views regarding the scientific feeding of dairy cattle. Experiments in connection with the problem of the requirements of energy and matter for milk production and investigations into the question of the possibility of a general unit for measuring the productive value of feeding stuffs 1923. pp.272-89. Report, International Congress for the Production of the Bovine Species. The Hague. 1923(sect. 1b)

Möllgaard H. Wert der Futtermittel bei der Milcherzeugung und rationelle Fütterung des Milchviehes. Mitteil. Deutsch. Landw. Gesell. 1927. 24:621-33.

Möllgaard H. Fütterungslehre des Milchviehs 1929. p.246. (See specifically p. 165, 205.) M. and H. Schaper, Hanover, Germany.

Möllgaard H. Grundzüge der Ernährungsphysiologie der Haustiere 1931. p.395. (See specifically p. 327.) Paul Parey, Berlin. (German translation of the second Danish edition, by E. Bass.)

Morrison F. B. Feeds and feeding 1936. 20th ed.p.1050. (See specifically p. 978.) Morrison, Ithaca, N.Y.

Peterson Wm. E. A formula for evaluating feeds on the basis of digestible nutrients. Jour. Dairy Sci. 1932. 15:293-97. DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(32)93416-X [CrossRef]

Richmond H. D. Dairy chemistry 1920. 3d ed.p.490. (See specifically p. 50, 457.) Charles Griffin, London.

Schneidewind W., Meyer D., Gröbler W. Fütterungsversuche über die Wirkung der verdaulichen Nährstoffe im Rauhfutter und Kraftfutter. Deut. Landw. Presse. 1910. 37:1123-24.

Smuts D. B. The relation between the basal metabolism and the endogenous nitrogen metabolism with particular reference to the estimation of the maintenance requirement of protein. Jour. Nutr. 1935. 9:403-33.

Soskins S. The blood sugar. Physiol. Rev. 1941. 21:140-93.

Soskins S., Levine R. A relationship between the blood sugar level and the rate of sugar utilization affecting the theories of diabetes. Amer. Jour. Physiol. 1937. 102:761-70. (See specifically p. 768.)

Terroine E. F., Sorg-Matter H. Loi quantitative de la dépense azotée minima des homéothermes, validité interspecifique. Arch. Internatl. de Physiol. 1927. 29:121 DOI: 10.3109/13813452709144071 [CrossRef]

Tippett L. H. C. The method of statistics 1931. p.222. (See specifically p. 57.) Williams and Norgate, London.

Watson C. J., Campbell J. A., Davidson W. M., Robinson C. H., Muir G. W. Associative digestibility of grains: barley, oats, and oilcake. Sci. Agr. 1939. 20(4):238-53.

Winchester C. F. Mechanized gas analysis apparatus. Rev. Sci. Instruments. 1938. 9:134-38. DOI: 10.1063/1.1752452 [CrossRef]

Wolff E., Cousins H. H. Farmfoods. (English translation from Landwirtschaftliche Fütterungslehre. 1895. 6th ed. London: Gurney and Jackson. 365p. 1st ed. 1874

Wolff E. Grundlagen für die rationelle Fütterung des Pferdes. Biedermann’s Zentbl. f. Agr. Chem. ?. 17:241-52. 299-314. Sieglin, C. Kreuzhage C. Riess. 1888.

Woodman H. E., Evans R. E. The mechanism in cellulose digestion in the ruminant organism. IV. Further observations from in vitro studies of the behavior of rumen bacteria and their bearing on the problem of the nutritive value of cellulose. Jour. Agr. Sci. 1938. 28:43-63. DOI: 10.1017/S002185960005053X [CrossRef]

Zuntz N., von der Heide R., Klein W., Markoff Dschandieri, Djakoff . Zum Studium der Respiration und des Stoffwechsels der Wiederkäuer. Landw, Vers. Sta. 79-. 1913. 80:781-814.

Also in this issue:

The university's role in the control of pests and diseases injurious to agriculture and public health

Sulfur critical for maximum production of Subterranean clover forage

Aphids on Imperial Valley beets

South Coast Field Station

Water, nitrogen and varieties in lower desert cotton production

Pesticide resistance in citrus mite control

Strawberry fruit rot losses in both field and storage reduced with fungicide application

Nitrogen fertilizer effects on yield and composition of Coastal Bermudagrass forage