Urea Supplementation

Why supplement with urea?

Following the growing season, as grasses mature and go to seed their nutritional feed value decreases. The grasses become harder to digest and the nutrients are less accessible and are generally a poor source of energy and protein. This decline in pasture quality, when not managed correctly, can lead to increasing weight losses as the season continues.

Nitrogen and the rumen

Most of the digestion occurs in the rumen(firststomach)through the activity of the microbes present in the rumen. To maintain healthy populations of microbes in the rumen, sufficient levels of nitrogen, sulphur and energy are required in the diet. When the pasture is actively growing, the protein content is high enough to maintain the microbe population. As the pasture matures, the protein content declines leading to a decrease in rumen activity and therefore a decrease in feed intake. Mature pasture also contain inadequate levels of nutrients critical to maintaining optimum health and productivity in the animals grazing them. This nutrient imbalance will reduce the animal’s ability to efficiently convert the available dry feed into meat, milk or wool.

Urea supplementation

microbial protein. Improved rumen function increases the rate at which digestion occurs, resulting in increased intake. Dry feed intake can increase by 30% to 50% with effective urea supplementation.The aim of urea supplementation is to reduce the rate of weight loss; it does not usually result in weight gain.

Feeding urea to livestock

Feeding urea to livestock can be a risky practice if it is not done correctly, as urea toxicity resulting from high consumption can kill livestock. It is not safe or practical to feed a urea and sulfur mix alone to livestock. Loose mixes are a practical option to provide both the nitrogen and nutrients to livestock grazing on poor quality grasses. Loose mixes can also be cheaper per unit protein than blocks and provides the livestock with a constant source of urea for more effective supplementation.

When introducing urea supplements to cattle, it is important to ensure that any dietary cravings caused by deficiencies are satisfied with a non-toxic supplement (general purpose) before the urea supplement is introduced. It also important to ensure that constant supply of supplement is available to avoid intermittent feeding, which may result in toxic levels of supplement being consumed.

Protein supplements are required to provide sources of nitrogen and sulphur to develop and maintain rumen microbe populations. Urea, a non-protein nitrogen source, is used by rumen microbes to improve rumen function and supply

References:

Daf.qld.gov.au,. (2015). Urea supplementation. Retrieved 7 October 2015, from https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/environment/drought/managing-drought/drought-strategies/urea-supplementation FutureBeef,. (2015). Protein and urea supplementation - FutureBeef. Retrieved 7 October 2015, from https://futurebeef.com.au/knowledge-centre/nutrition/protein-and-urea-supplementation/

Lamb Feeding Protocol

Grain introduction schedule when unprocessed hay (high quality hay always freely available) and grain fed separately.

Lambs must be introduced to grain slowly to give the rumen microbes time to adapt and reduce the risk of acidosis cases. If lambs have not previously been introduced to self-feeders, allow 2-3 days for lambs to become accustomed to eating from the self-feeders.

Concentrate is a 95% Whole Grain and 5% NUTRI- Lamb Concentrate Pellet. Please discuss composition ofwholegrainportionofdiettoensurethenutritional requirements of livestock are being met.

Lambs need to be monitored daily for any digestive disturbances and ensure that high quality hay is made available at all times.

Water points should be cleaned at least once a week or as required to ensure a good clean water is available at all times.

For advice for on feeding a total mixed ration (TMR) please contact your AAN representative.

*Ensuring induction procedures like drenching and vaccination are up to date helps decrease the risk of diseases associated with a grain based diet and general ill thrift.

DAY 0	ARRIVAL	Lambs placed on good clean water
		and access to high quality hay
		(preferably lucerne)
DAY 1	INDUCTION	Continue feeding high quality hay
	PROTOCOL*	until all lambs are feeding
DAY 2-4	CONCENTRATE	Introduce self-feeders with lambs
		consuming 100 grams per head
		of grain mix. High quality hay
		available ad lib
DAY 5-7	CONCENTRATE	Increase grain mix to 250grams
		per head per day. High quality hay
		available ad lib
DAY 8-10	CONCENTRATE	Increase grain mix to 400grams
		per head per day. High quality hay
		available ad lib
DAY 11-13	CONCENTRATE	Increase grain mix to 550grams
		per head per day. High quality hay
		available ad lib
DAY 14 -17	CONCENTRATE	Increase grain mix to 700grams
		per head per day. High quality hay
		available ad lib
DAY 18+	CONCENTRATE	ad lib feeding of grain mix is
		possible