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Introduction

This factsheet has been developed to support the implementation of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Feed Management 592 Practice Standard. The Feed Management 592 Practice Standard was adopted by NRCS in 2003 as another tool to assist with addressing resource concerns on livestock and poultry operations. Feed management can assist with reducing the import of nutrients to the farm and reduce the excretion of nutrients in manure.

Please check this link first if you are interested in organic or specialty dairy production

Why Is Feed Management Important?

Feed represents the largest import of nutrients to the farm, followed by commercial fertilizer CAST Issue Paper # 21 – Animal Diet Modification to Decrease the Potential for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution. Feed management practices impact the amount of nutrients that are imported to the farm and excreted in manure. The excreted nutrients are subsequently available for volatile loss (nitrogen) to the atmosphere and are potentially lost via surface runoff (nitrogen and phosphorus) or leached to groundwater (nitrogen and phosphorus).

Feed management opportunities currently exist to reduce imports of nutrients (particularly nitrogen and phosphorus) to most animal livestock and poultry operations. Because consulting nutritionists play such a key role with regard to importation of nutrients to the farm, a systematic approach to evaluate the role that feed management has on whole-farm nutrient management is warranted.

What Is the NRCS Standard 592?

The NRCS Feed Management Practice Standard is defined as “managing the quantity of available nutrients fed to livestock and poultry for their intended purpose.” The purposes of the 592 standard are:

• To supply the quantity of available nutrients required by livestock and poultry for maintenance, production, performance, and reproduction, while reducing the quantity of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, excreted in manure by minimizing the overfeeding of these and other nutrients
• To improve net farm income by feeding nutrients more efficiently

The ultimate goal of utilizing the Feed Management Practice Standard 592 is to develop a farm-specific Feed Management Plan, or FMP. A five-step process has been adopted for the development and implementation of a FMP.

Implementing a FMP as outlined in NRCS Feed Management Practice Standard 592 can be expected to have the following environmental benefits:

1. Reduce on-farm import of nutrients
2. Reduce nutrients in manure for subsequent land application and potential loss to ground and surface water
3. Reduce nutrients in manure and subsequent volatile losses

A complete copy of the national version of NRCS Feed Management 592 Practice Standard can be found at the end of this publication. Please check your state-specific version of the standard.

 

 

Text of the 592 Standard

Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Practice Standard
Feed Management
(No. of Systems and AUs Affected)
CODE 592

Definition

Managing the quantity of available nutrients fed to livestock and poultry for their intended purpose.

Purpose

• To supply the quantity of available nutrients required by livestock and poultry for maintenance, production, performance, and reproduction, while reducing the quantity of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, excreted in manure by minimizing the over-feeding of these and other nutrients
• To improve net farm income by feeding nutrients more efficiently

Conditions Where Practice Applies

• Confined livestock and poultry operations with a whole-farm nutrient imbalance, with more nutrients imported to the farm than are exported and/or utilized by cropping programs
• Confined livestock and poultry operations that have a significant buildup of nutrients in the soil due to land application of manure
• Confined livestock and poultry operations that land apply manure and do not have a land base large enough to allow nutrients to be applied at rates recommended by soil test and utilized by crops in the rotation
• Livestock and poultry operations seeking to enhance nutrient efficiencies

Criteria

General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes

The diets for specific species of animals shall be developed in accordance with recommendations from one of the following:

• Standards outlined in the most current recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC).
• Recommendations of the land-grant university.
• Standards developed by the professional nutritionists of livestock and poultry production companies, feed companies, and/or feed suppliers. Laboratory analysis shall be done on the formulated diet or on the feed ingredients used to formulate the diet, to determine its nutrient content.
• Feed analyses by laboratories whose tests are accepted by the land-grant university in the state in which the feeding strategy will be implemented. Data from analyzed feed ingredients and/or appropriate historic feed analysis. information for the operation will be used for adjustments of ration formulation.
• Diets and feed management strategies developed by professional animal scientists, independent professional nutritionists, or other comparably qualified individuals. When required by state policy or regulation, animal nutritionists shall be certified through any certification program recognized within the state.
• Diets shall be formulated to provide the quantities and correct relative ratios of available nutrients required by the animal species to meet species goals for which the plan is being developed.
• Adjustments to nutrient levels shall be provided to meet specific genetic potential, environmental demands, and/or requirements to insure health, well-being and productivity.

One or more of the following feed management practices and/or diet manipulation technologies shall be used to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and other excreted nutrients while maintaining the health, well-being and productivity of the animal:

• Formulating diets closer to animal requirements
• Reducing protein and supplementing with amino acids (nonruminants)
• Manipulating the crude protein and energy (carbohydrate and fat) content of the diet to enhance the availability of amino acids (ruminants)
• Using highly digestible feeds, as appropriate, in the diet
• Using phytase and reducing the supplemental phosphorus content of the diet (nonruminants)
• Reducing the phosphorus content of the diet of ruminants when it is being overfed
• Using selected enzymes or other products to enhance feed digestibility or feed use efficiency
• Using growth promotants as allowed by law
• Implementing phase feeding
• Implementing split-sex feeding
• Using other feed management or diet manipulation technologies that have demonstrated the ability to reduce manure nutrient content

When analysis of manure is done to determine manure nutrient content, the analysis shall be performed by laboratories whose results are accepted by the land-grant university in the state in which the feeding strategy was implemented.

Considerations

Consider nutrient requirements for production based upon stage of growth, intended purpose of the animal, and the type of production (e.g., meat, milk, eggs) involved.

• Use management practices described in the NRCS Nutrient Management (Feed Management) Technical Notes for the specific animal species.
• Analyze the drinking water consumed by the animals to determine its nutrient content, and adjusting the diet to account for this source of nutrients.
• Different feed ingredients (e.g. by- products) and their potential impacts on the nutrient content of excreted manure.
• The potential impact of feed management on the volume of manure excreted and on manure storage requirements.
• The impact of feed management practices, animal management practices, and diet manipulation on manure odors, pathogens, animal health and well-being.
• Using concentrates and forages grown on the farm to minimize the quantity of nutrients imported to the farm, and to maximize the recycling of nutrients on the farm.
• Analyzing excreted manure or manure from storage facilities to determine manure nutrient content and to estimate the impact of the feeding strategy.

Plans and Specifications

Plans and specifications for feed management shall be in keeping with the requirements of this standard. They shall describe the specific feed management practices and/or technologies that are planned for the operation. The following components shall be included in the feed management plan:

• The type of technology, or technologies, and/or feeding practices that will be used on the operation
• Feed analyses and ration formulation information prior to and after implementation of feed management on the operation
• The estimated, or measured, nutrient content of the manure prior to the implementation of feed management on the operation
• The estimated impact that feed management will have on manure nutrient content
• Guidance for how often the feed management plan shall be reviewed and potentially revised
• The quantities and sources of nitrogen and phosphorus that will be fed
• Identification of the qualified feed management specialist who developed the plan.

Operation and Maintenance

The producer/client is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the feed management plan. Operation and maintenance activities address the following:

• Periodic plan review to determine if adjustments or modifications are needed
• Routine feed analysis to document the rates at which nitrogen and phosphorus were actually fed; when actual rates fed differ from or exceed the planned rates, records will indicate the reasons for the differences.
• Maintaining records to document plan implementation. As applicable, records include:
  • Records of feed analysis and ration formulation, including the record of ration formulation used prior to implementing the feeding strategy
  • Records of the initial estimate of the impact the feeding strategy was expected to have on reducing manure nutrient content
  • Records of any manure analysis that was done after the feeding strategy was implemented to determine manure nutrient content
  • Dates of review and person performing the review and any recommendations that resulted from the review.

Records of plan implementation shall be maintained for five year, or for a period longer than five years if required by other federal, state, or local ordinances, program, or contract requirements.