Feeding Management in Nutrition and Nutrient Management for Livestock - Poultry Professionals

Feeding Management in Nutrition and Nutrient Management for Livestock - Poultry Professionals

Summary

This was a successful year for the WIN2ME (Western Integrated Nutrition and Nutrient Management Education) project. The educational materials and events conducted in 2004 were well received by the audiences that attended. A summary of educational materials and education venues during 2004 include: 1 survey, 5 workshops, 1 field day, 15 fact sheets, 16 PowerPoint presentations, and 2 newsletter articles. Four workshops were targeted toward individuals with limited to no experience in animal nutrition, and one workshop was targeted toward animal nutritionists. A notebook that included fact sheets and PowerPoint presentations was provided for participants at the workshops.

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. Provide training to Ag Professionals in feed management concepts and practices that minimize the import of nutrients to the farm and provide economic and environmental sustainability

   Provide training in the use of computer models and software for strategic ration balancing, whole farm nutrient balance, and whole farm economics

   Develop educational materials that are specific to the Pacific Northwest regional animal industries while utilizing national curriculum developed to address nutrition in the context of nutrient management

   Provide workshop materials that could be used by other states in the region.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Work Done

There were many activities accomplished associated with the WIN2ME project since the project’s initiation in September 2003. There have been 10 scheduled conference calls with the WIN2ME team to develop materials, schedule events, and plan activities associated with the grant. There were also multiple conference calls separate from the WIN2ME core project to plan specific events. For example, there were 4 conference calls directly related to planning the Bueler Field Day, and multiple conference calls to plan the Phosphorus Workshop. The WIN2ME project was advertised in the Progressive Dairyman, Capital Press, Commercial Review, and Idaho Dairy Monthly during 2004. Specific events associated with the WIN2ME grant were advertised through the WSU Dairy Newsletter on the WSU Dairy website.

Five workshops were conducted during 2004

Phosphorus Workshop, March 3 and 4, 2004. The purpose of the workshop was to create a greater understanding of phosphorus effect on water quality and phosphorus management alternatives. 37+ attended

Feeding Management in the Context of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan, WADE (Washington Association of District Employees) Conference, June 15, 2004. The purpose of this workshop was to create a greater understanding of nitrogen and phosphorus feeding management strategies, and their effects on whole-farm nutrient balance. 9 attended

Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference Post Conference Workshop, Nitrogen Management in a Whole Farm Nutrient Management Context, October 7, 2004. The purpose of this workshop was to create a greater understanding of nitrogen feeding management strategies, and their effect on whole-farm nutrient balance using computer models including CPM ration balancer and IFSM whole-farm nutrient balance model. 28 attended

Ag and Water Quality in the Pacific Northwest, WIN2ME Workshop, October 18, 2004.
The purpose of this workshop was to create a greater understanding of nitrogen and phosphorus feeding management strategies, and their effects on whole-farm nutrient balance. 8 attended

Oregon Conservation District employee meeting, November, 2004. The purpose of this workshop was to create a greater understanding of nitrogen and phosphorus feeding management strategies and their effects on whole-farm nutrient balance. ~45 attended

One workshop was organized and advertised for November 2004

Advanced Feed Management Workshop, Washington, McMinville, OR, Twin Falls, ID. The purpose of this workshop was to create a greater understanding of nitrogen and phosphorus feeding management strategies. Cancelled due to poor registration

One field day was conducted in 2004.

Bueler Field Day, June 29, 2004, Snohomish, WA. The purpose of this field day was to educate dairy producers and others associated with animal agriculture about nutrient management data collection and data analysis and interpretation, and to discuss grass silage management strategies that impact dairy cattle nutrition. 77 attended

Fact Sheets and PowerPoint Presentations were developed:

Each fact sheet from the Phosphorus Workshop was peer reviewed by 2 people. These articles will be made available on a Nutrient Management website once it is available.

Other fact sheets from the workshops will also be made available on the website in 2005.

The nutrient management website is still in development. It is in the final phases of review, and is very close to functioning. However, the programmer that was working on the development of the website has not been able to complete the task, and another website developer is being recruited.

Fact sheets that were developed and peer reviewed include:

101 – Nutrient management at the whole-farm level, Joe Harrison, Washington State University (peer review: Dr. Al Rotz, USDA-ARS, Pennsylvania State University; Dr. Richard Kohn, University of Maryland)

102 – Phosphorus on the farm from feed grains and by-products, Mike Gamroth and Troy Downing, Oregon State University (peer review: Dr. Zhiguo Wu, Pennsylvania State University; Dr. Katherine Knowlton, Virginia Tech)

103 – Phosphorus requirements of different species, phytase feeding, and ration balancing, Ron Kincaid, Washington State University (peer review: Dr. David Beede, Michigan State University; Dr. Wendy Powers, Iowa State University)

105 – Effect of phosphorus on reproduction – dairy cows, Alex Hristov, University of Idaho (peer review: Dr. James Ferguson, University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Zhiguo Wu, Pennsylvania State University)

104 – Phosphorus and potassium feeding practices on Oregon dairies, Patrick French, Oregon State University (peer review: Dr. Zhiguo Wu, Pennsylvania State University; Dr. Randy Shaver, University of Wisconsin)

106 – Strategies to lower phosphorus application on the farm, Mike Gamroth and Troy Downing, Oregon State University (peer review: Dr. Al Rotz, Pennsylvania State University; Dr. Richard Kohn, University of Maryland)

Fact Sheets that were developed include:

107 – Introduction to Feeding Management, NRCS Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning, and Whole-farm Balance, Joe Harrison, Washington State University

102 – Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on reproduction – dairy cows, Alex Hristov

109 – Importation of nutrients in feed supplements and by-product feeds, Mike Gamroth, Troy Downing, Oregon State University

110 – Strategies to increase nutrient export from the farm – Mike Gamroth, Oregon State University

111 and 115 – Nutrient needs across species with emphasis on N, P, and K feeding reduced nutrients in the diet – Ron Kincaid, Tamilee Nennich, Washington State University

112 – Western Washington dairy farm case study – focus on grass silage quality and nitrogen use efficiency, Lynn VanWieringen, Washington State University

113 – Computer simulation to evaluate farm nutrient management – Alan Rotz, USDA/Agricultural Research Service, Joe Harrison, Washington State University

114 – Nutrient balances and management changes on Oregon livestock operations – Mike Gamroth and Troy Downing, Oregon State University

Work Left to Do

Develop assessment tools (check list) that can be utilized by agricultural professionals to help livestock and poultry producers assess what feed management practices they currently use, could potentially use, or would not use on their specific operation that would help to reduce nutrient loading. The goal of the assessment tools would be to be used at both a local level and a national level.

Plan workshops and field days for 2005.

Possible workshops include:

Minerals and the Environment

Nutrient management education for beef industry

Advanced feed management education for nutritionists

Nutrition and nutrient management training for nutritionists at the Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference

Feed management education relevant to nutrient management issues for horse producers

Possible field days

Oregon field day with dairy producers

Nutrient management field day on dairy in Idaho

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

-Create regional-specific materials on Feeding Management education that complement the National Livestock Environmental Stewardship Curriculum

Fifteen fact sheets were developed and provided to workshop participants. This educational material is available for workshop participants to use as reference material when working with producers

-Develop a network of professionals in the region that can assist each other with feed management and nutrient management issues

Many people have contributed to the success of the WIN2ME project this year. The network of people has been categorized into 4 groups (resource people, collaborators, workshop participants, and field day participants). Contact information for all of these individuals is currently in a spreadsheet, and is used by the WIN2ME team as needed.

Four groups of people have been identified
Resource people (grant personnel) – Joe Harrison, Ron Kincaid, Lynn VanWieringen, Mike Gamroth, Troy Downing, Patrick French, Alex Hristov, Ron Sheffield

Collaborators – Alan Rotz – presentation of IFSM (Integrated Farm System Model), William Chalupa (CPM – Dairy Cattle Ration Formulation Model)

Workshop participants
Phosphorus Workshop – 37+ attended
WADE Workshop – 9 attended
Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Post Conference Workshop – 28 attended
Ag and Water Quality in the Pacific Northwest Workshop – 8 attended
Oregon Conservation District Employee Workshop – ~45 attended

Field day participants
Bueler Field Day – 77 attended

-Increase the understanding of the positive environmental and economic role that feed management can play in livestock operations in the region

The workshops were planned to contain material that would address positive environmental and economic role that feed management can play. The evaluations are evidence of the knowledge that was gained from participants in these areas. In each evaluation, there were questions that asked for a ‘before workshop knowledge rating’ and ‘after workshop knowledge rating.’ For all the questions asked in this part of the evaluation there was an overall increase in knowledge gained about feed management effects on the environment and economic impacts. Please refer to the attached evaluation summaries.

-Increase the knowledge of whole farm nutrient management by professionals

The workshops were planned to contain material that would increase the knowledge of whole-farm nutrient management by professionals. The evaluations are evidence of the knowledge that was gained from participants in these areas. In each evaluation, there were questions that asked for a ‘before workshop knowledge rating’ and ‘after workshop knowledge rating.’ For all the questions asked in this part of the evaluation there was an overall increase in knowledge gained about whole-farm nutrient management. Please refer to the attached evaluation summaries.

-Create an awareness and competency with computer tools that are available to assist with evaluation of feeding management and whole-farm nutrient management

Three computer models were demonstrated at various workshops

Whole-farm Balance Spreadsheet tool – This tool was developed by Joe Harrison toevaluate how different management changes affect whole-farm balance of nitrogen and phosphorus. The spreadsheet was designed to fit on one computer screen so the user can instantly see how changes in a management practice can impact whole-farm balance.

IFSM – Integrated Farm System model was developed by Alan Rotz, and is designed to evaluate whole-farm nutrient balance. This model was presented at the post conference workshop of the Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference to introduce animal nutritionist to whole-farm nutrient balance.

CPM – Cornell-Penn-Minor Ration Evaluator was presented by Bill Chalupa at the post conference workshop of the Pacific Northwest Animal Nutrition Conference to demonstrate how to reduce nitrogen content of a dairy cattle diet while still meeting the nutrient requirements of the cattle and maintaining milk production.

-Increase the adoption of Feed Management and other related practices on livestock facilities beyond the dairy sector

The evaluations that were completed at each educational event have a question that states ‘Please list one or more things that you intend to do in your work as a result of attending this session.’ The results listed below are responses that were received at the various educational events, and demonstrate that there was an interest in using the educational information presented.
Advise on diet changes (7)
Check diet and nutrient sources more closely (3)
Change manure handling method (1)
Discuss export options (1)
Ensure all forages get tested for P (1)
Get more local data to better assess situation (1)
Get producers aware of the problem (1)
Keep current on new information being developed (1)
Read up on nutrient management (1)
Work with technical staff in assisting cooperators (1)
Work with producers on feed contributions (3)
Use Joe’s software of whole-farm balance to experiment with reducing N and P (2)
Develop material emphasizing benefits to dairies in balancing nutrients
Try to learn more about nutrient management and feed quality
Learn more about relation between ration and nutrient management economics
Continue to learn more about the topic (2)
Helps me provide more information to other livestock owners
Impart my skill and knowledge to clientele
Promote these principles
Talk to producers more about cropping to P and N levels
Work on own phosphorus issue
Present information in producer newsletter
Write a story
Tell people about the field trip
Try to keep records/better records (2)
Emphasize more testing/use of records
Take more soil samples
More soil and manure sampling (2)
Use less commercial fertilizer
Quicker application/Recommend applying manure very soon after cuttings/seasonal manure applications
Look more at nutrition
Share forage ideas with producers (in addition to other ongoing info pieces)
All
Ask more intelligent questions of my clients
Keep on with nutrient management
Take a closer look at my own operation
Better management of nutrients and crops

Evaluations were conducted at each education event. The results of the evaluations are attached.

Collaborators: